Ticket To Work & Iowa State Workforce Partners

Employment Network

Karen GoehringDisability Program Navigator

11-17-2008

Ticket to Work

• A voluntary employment program

• Assigned to persons age 18-64 receiving SSDI or SSI

• Ultimate Goal: Reduce reliance on Social Security disability benefits, increase self-sufficiency, and improve the quality of life for beneficiaries

What does a ticket look like?

Region 14 Ticket Holders

» Montgomery - 406

» Adair - 161

» Adams – 131

» Taylor – 200

» Union – 503

» Ringgold – 146

» Clarke – 257

» Decatur – 293

» Total = 2097

What is an EN?

• Employment Networks (EN) are private (for profit and non-profit) organizations, government agencies, employers and other service providers that offer employment services, education, and job training

• Federal agencies are not eligible• A single entity, a partnership, or a coalition of

providers functioning as a single EN (one-stop centers)

About Employment Networks

• Emphasis on Client Choice• Beneficiaries and EN agree on services/supports

to be provided and develop an individual work plan (IWP)

• SSA pays the EN based upon the beneficiary attaining specific milestones and outcomes related to self-supporting employment

Benefits for Clients

• Using a ticket and making timely progress towards a beneficiary’s employment goals can postpone regularly scheduled medical continuing disability reviews (CDRs)

• If the beneficiary stops working, there is an expedited reinstatement to benefits

Benefits for EN

• EN earns milestones earlier, more often, and at a higher rate

• Some payments based on part-time work• Milestone payments based on gross earnings

encourage use of work incentives• New regulations are encouraging collaboration

among agencies – Sharing tickets

Employment Networks in Region 14

• Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services

• Department for the Blind

• Iowa State Workforce Partners

Iowa State Workforce EN

• Collaboration of 7 state agencies• Located at your local One-Stop Center• Programs include WIA, Vets, Job Corps,

Workforce Development, Proteus, Older Workers programs, Benefits Planning

• Emphasis on partnership development with other regional EN’s

Process for Ticket Assignment

• Client walks into One-Stop Center• Staff determine eligibility• Refer to Navigator – Client chooses the right EN

for them and their situation• Navigator completes the Individual Work Plan

(IWP)• Staff are ALREADY working with ticket holders

Success Stories for EN

• Job Seeker met w/ Navigator, assigned ticket, referred to WIPA & Older Worker Program

• Job Seeker met with Navigator/Vet Rep., assigned ticket, eligible for vet services, referred to WIPA, referred to IWD resource center, found a new career path and had an interview within a week

• Mary Lynn

Interested in Becoming an EN?

• Contact CESSI at: 1-877-743-8237• Visit Social Security’s work site at:

www.socialsecurity.gov/work• Visit the Ticket To Work Web site at:

www.yourtickettowork.com• Submit questions about the NEW Ticket to

Work program to: Ticketprogram@ssa.gov

QUESTIONS?

Karen GoehringDisability Program Navigator300 W. Broadway; Ste. 13Council Bluffs, IA 51503

712-242-2103 (W) 712-371-2237 (C)Karen.goehring@iwd.iowa.gov