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  • Learning More about the Ticket to Work Program
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Learning More about the Ticket to Work Program

Where would I find more information on the Ticket to Work program?

If your State VR agency or some of your vendors are interested in learning more about the Ticket program, there are many on-line resources that can be easily accessed from your computer.

Recorded Teleconferences: A variety of teleconferences have been recorded to provide easy access to additional information about the Ticket program. To check out recorded teleconferences, visit: www.cessi.net/ttw/resources.html.

Archived Webinars: Check out the Ticket to Work webinars that have been archived by CESSI’s partners at Cornell University. To access the following webinars, visit: www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/m-cessi-webinars.cfm:

• Ticket to Work Webinar for Universities/Higher Education Entities "Reaching Higher, Strengthening Abilities" (October 29, 2009): Designed for postsecondary educational institutions interested in learning more about the Ticket program and how to become an EN.
• Ticket 201 for One Stops (September 28, 2009): Designed for One Stop staff, Workforce Investment Board members, and One Stop operators interested in gaining a deeper understanding of EN operations as it pertains to workforce entities.
• Turning Diversity into Dollars: The Business Case for Hiring an Untapped Pool of Talented Employees (July 30, 2009): Focused on employers as Employment Networks (ENs).Service Providers as Employment Networks (July 10, 2009): Focused on service providers as ENs.
• EN Application Walk-Through (June 25, 2009): Detailed instructions on how to complete the EN application, known as the Request for Proposal (RFP).
• Ticket to Work 201 (April 29, 2009): Addresses more complex policy issues and issues of particular interest to One-Stop Centers, Mental Health providers, Youth Transition projects. Discusses Work Incentive Seminars (WISE Events).
• Ticket to Work and Chronic Homelessness: Let's Dig Deeper (March 26, 2009): A follow-up to an archived teleconference on chronic homelessness.
• Ticket Tools to Support You as an Employment Network (February 27, 2009): SSA, DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, and CESSI hosted a Ticket to Work webinar for Workforce Development entities.

The following archived webinars are at: www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/m-cessi.cfm:

• Ticket 101 (July 21, 2008): Provides basic information about the Ticket program, highlights regulatory improvements, and explains the two EN payments systems (Outcome and Outcome/Milestone) in detail.
• Ticket Payment Process (July 11, 2008): Provides details on the EN payment process and introduces the three options for submitting Requests for EN Payments. Particularly useful for potential and new ENs.

Podcasts: For anyone who prefers listening to a podcast to learn about the Ticket program, they can check out the Ticket to Work episodes of “Disability Law Lowdown” at http://dll.ada-podcast.com or the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance at http://www.softconference.com/dbsa/sessionDetail.asp?SID=168864.

What resources are available to VR vendors who might be interested in becoming Employment Networks (ENs)?

EN Application—Request for Proposals (RFP): Organizations interested in becoming ENs under the new Ticket program will need to complete the EN application, referred to as the EN RFP, which can be downloaded at www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html.

CESSI: Organizations that want assistance in completing the EN RFP should contact CESSI, SSA’s Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach for the Ticket program. CESSI provides a variety of resources to help organizations through the EN application process, including Account Managers that are available to provide consultation and individualized technical assistance on how to complete the EN RFP. These Account Managers will even conduct a complimentary review of an organization’s completed RFP to assure accuracy prior to submitting it to SSA for approval. Account Managers are assigned by geographic region and organizational types. Visit www.cessi.net/ttw/contactus.html or call 1-877-743-8237.

CESSI also offers bi-weekly EN Application Walk-Through Teleconferences every other Wednesday at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. These free teleconferences will guide an organization through the entire EN application, section by section, page by page. Call 1-877-743-8237 (V/TTY) or e-mail application@cessi.net to get the call-in information.

SSA’s Employment Network Contract Team (ENCT): The ENCT is also available to answer questions about the EN RFP, walk organizations through the EN contract award process, and help them complete the EN application. Contact SSA ENCT at 1-866-584-5180 (V) or 1-866-584-5181 (TTY), or e-mail encontracts@ssa.gov.

What types of assistance are available for VR vendors after they become ENs?

MAXIMUS, SSA’s Operations Support Manager for the Ticket, offers a wide array of training and support services to help organizations get started, develop and implement their business models and implement the Ticket program as an integral component of their organization. Contact MAXIMUS at 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) or visit www.yourtickettowork.com

• Ticket Training Tuesdays are interactive training modules designed to assist State VR agencies and ENs with the fundamentals of working within the Ticket program. These toll-free conference calls occur every Tuesday at 1:00 pm EST. They last 60 to 90 minutes and are open to anyone. There is no need to pre-register. The call number and participate code are the same for each call. Simply dial 1-800-480-6924. The participant code is “Ticket to Work.”
• Beneficiary Outreach: Working with local Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects, CESSI facilitates community Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) and other outreach activities involving national and community partners to help connect beneficiaries with State VR agencies and local ENs. Contact CESSI at 1-877-7438237 (V/TTY) for more information or visit www.cessi.net/WISE/.

Are there written resources that can help a VR vendor decide whether to become an EN and that provide assistance in completing the EN application process?

Yes, check out the following “Cool Tools.”

• Employment Network (EN) Revenue Estimator: An online tool allows an organization to estimate Ticket revenue based on answers to a few key questions. Visit the CESSI web site at www.cessi.net/en_estimator/.
• Individualized Work Plan (IWP) Template: This template includes all of the elements that must be included in the Individual Work Plan (IWP) that an EN must negotiate with a Ticket Holder prior to securing a Ticket assignment. Visit the MAXIMUS web site at: www.yourtickettowork.com/training_2.
• 18-Month Prior Earnings Tool: This tool can be used to explore a Ticket Holder’s work history when a State VR agency that is functioning as an EN or an EN begins working with the Ticket Holder. By recording a Ticket Holder’s work history when earnings were above the Trial Work level during the 18 months just prior to Ticket assignment, a State VR agency or an EN can estimate whether the Phase 1 Milestones would be available based on the “Recent Work” rule. Visit the MAXIMUS web site at www.yourtickettowork.com/training_2.
• Employment Network Handbooks: Two new handbooks, one for Service Providers and one for Employers, explain the Ticket program, how an organization can become an EN, and the benefits of becoming an EN. The EN Handbook for Service Providers provides an overview of the new Ticket regulations, detailed information on how to become an EN, examples of EN models, and information on options for State VR agencies and ENs to partner under the new Ticket regulations. It highlights resources of interest to service providers and beneficiaries with disabilities. In addition to providing detailed information on how to become an EN, the EN Handbook for Employers provides information of particular interest to employers such as facts that dis-spell myths about hiring individuals with disabilities, facts about individuals with disabilities and employment, resources on work place accommodations, and other incentives for hiring individuals with disabilities (i.e., the Work Opportunity Tax Credit). Visit CESSI’s Ticket to Work Resources page at www.cessi.net/ttw/resources.html to download these valuable resources.
• SSA Redbook: A summary guide about employment supports for individuals receiving benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This document is updated annually and provides a great summary of SSA’s Work Incentives. Available at www.ssa.gov/redbook.

Where can a State VR agency or an EN find additional information on the Ticket to Work program?

• Visit the SSA’s Work Site at: www.ssa.gov/work.
• Visit CESSI’s Ticket to Work Recruitment & Outreach site at: www.cessi.net/ttw.
• Visit the MAXIMUS Ticket Operations web site at: www.yourtickettowork.com.

To learn about “Ticket Traffic” in your state, check out SSA’s Ticket Tracker: www.socialsecurity.gov/work/tickettracker.html.

For presentation and general requests, please email tickettowork@cessi.net.
If you have policy-related questions about the Ticket program, submit them to: TicketProgram@ssa.gov.