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>> Good afternoon, everybody. This is Ray Cebula from Cornell University's Yang-Tan Institute, and I want to welcome you to today's webinar. We are going to be talking today about finding and keeping the job that's right for you. Lots of people are making an effort to move from benefits to work and needless to say, the right fit is very, very important. It's important to think about when you begin your job search and it's very important when you are in that position to make sure that this is all a good fit for you. And we've got some great speakers. But before we do that, let's talk a little bit about the technology that we're using today. For those of you that are on a computer, you have a webinar console on the right side of your screen and you have been connected to today's presentation through your computer and your speakers. We do want to hear your questions, or we want to see your questions more importantly. And in order to ask a question, if you hit the Q and A tab at the top you're going to open up the Q and A Box over here. You'll be able to type your question into the Question Box, hit Send, and your question is going to appear on Jamie's desktop. Now we have a lot of people who are attending today's session. We're not going to get to all of your questions but we do what to hear them. We're going to take the questions that pertain to the largest number of people. However, we will also be giving you information about where you can get information for your specific questions. If, for any reason during today's presentation, a storm, whatever happens out there in cyberspace, you lose our connection or you can't hear me, or you're having trouble if we're breaking up a little bit, you can choose to call in by phone. And you need to click the Audio Conference Box. What it's going to do is open up. You're going to hit "Use Phone" and it's going to give you today's call-in information and access code. So, in case you need that, let me move ahead a couple of slides and give that to you now. If you have a pencil it would be handy to write this down. Today's toll-free number is 855-749-4750, and today's access code is 640053838. Again, the toll-free number for today's callers, 855-749-4750; and the access code 640053838. Now, we have a slide here that simply says "Webinar Accessibility." Webinar Accessibility is absolutely critical to our doing business and we want as many people as possible to be able to participate. We believe we have a fully accessible product. However, if anyone has any issues with connection, with hearing us, let me know, let us know, and more importantly than having a problem, if you are aware of a solution to the problem that you're having please don't hesitate to make a suggestion because oftentimes if we have a problem, we'll be spending weeks and months trying to resolve a problem. But if you know of a solution to your problem, then we can get right on top it. Again, we want as many people as possible to be able to participate. Let me go back one. Today's webinar, a PowerPoint presentation, you have received that with the confirmation and the access link today, and you received an accessible PDF. And the texts are located in that URL link with that confirmation letter. So you have the presentation for your reading pleasure. It is printable and it will also be archived so we can access that later on. Real-time captioning is provided during today's webinar. The closed captioning link is http://www.edi.cornell .edu/captions.cfm?activity underscore id equals 4979. The captions can also be found in a media viewer panel which should appear at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. If you want to make that larger you can minimize some of the other panels, the Chat Box, the Participant List, the Q and A Box, to make that media viewer larger. The presentation today, transcript, and audio recording will be available in about two weeks. We like to give Mike two weeks. He generally gets it done quicker but give him two weeks to get it posted. And it will be available at www.ilr.cornell.edu /edi/m-wise -webinars.cfm. There's also going to be links there to all of the other webinars that have been archived so you can listen to webinars on other topics. Today we're going to have a question and answer period. We have some natural breaks in-between speakers, so we will stop now and again to ask the speaker certain questions. Then we hope to have time at the end to ask some additional questions. Again, get those questions in by opening up your Question Box, type in your question, and hit Send. And it appears that lots of you already know how to use that Question Box because there's a lot of activity in there. During the webinar you can submit your questions in the Chat Box as well. We'll be watching that. Or if you'd rather send them to webinars@choosework.net we can receive them that way. Anytime after today's webinar, if you have a specific question for one of us, please send an email to support@chooseworkttw.net. We'll also be giving you lots of other phone numbers that you can get information from. Now today, again, we're talking about getting the job that is right for you and finding a good fit. We've got lots of great people. We're going to explore your work goals and Sherman Gifford from the Choice Groups is going to lead us through that discussion. Then we're going to talk about the Ticket to Work Program, a Social Security program that can really provide you with some great assistance. And Linda Johnson from Endependence Center, and David Leon from the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services are going to lead us through that discussion. You don't have to do this alone. And building your employment team is going to be a critical part of this. David's going to lead us through that discussion. Then we're going to switch to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Networks. What can those two types of agencies do to help you get to your goal? David and Sherman are going to talk about that. Work Incentives, Linda Johnson, who is also a member of a WIPA Program and an EN will talk about work incentives and will talk a little bit about WIPA. And then at the end I'll take control back and talk to you about other resources that we have and we'll get into our Question and Answer series. Now, we're going to show you a little video that's going to talk about work incentives. But before we do that, I have to put you to work. You know, before we're going to get ourselves together here, we want some help from you. I have five simple questions that are going to help us know who's listening, help us know how you found about us so we can do better outreach and reach more people. The first question is, how did you learn about today's session? Did you learn via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter, the website, a family or friend, a WIPA agency, or some other agency? You know, some other way. And if it is another way, type something into the Question Box so we know how you found out. Just make a selection, and we'll give you a couple of seconds to do that. I like to have my certain percentage up there. And the Question and Answer Box is lighting up again so we're going to have a lively crew today, Jamie. All right. Oh, good. All right, you have 20 seconds left. And some good participation here. Thank you very much. The more participation we have the better for everyone else who's coming in behind you. Okay. What do you hope to learn about during today's webinar? The Ticket to Work, work incentives for SSI, work incentives for SSDI, employment networks and vocational rehabilitation, legal protection and advocacy, or something different? And again, if you want to know about something different, type something into the Q and A Box. We've been known to take those suggestions and build entire webinars around them. And you speakers have your job cut out for you. Everybody wants to know everything. We have an even split. All right, a couple of more seconds before I close out. Okay, 20 seconds left and it's going to close our poll. And we have more participation than we did the last time which makes me very happy. Five more seconds. Now, Poll Three. We just want to know a little bit about who's listening to us. What's your gender, male or female? All right. Lots and lots of people participate in these. I'm going to shut that down. I have my percentage so we'll give it another 20 seconds. Sometimes the computer doesn't make me wait; sometimes it does. This time it's making me wait. Five more seconds. All right. Thank you for that. What is your age? Are you 18 or younger, 19 to 25, 26 to 40, 41 to 55, 56 to 65, or 66 and older? And there's no "Other" here. Everybody has to be honest. But we do have people who aren't telling. Okay, we've got a great percentage on that one. We can't match your age up with your name, so it's okay with that. And we've got 10 seconds. Three, two, one. And lastly, we know that at times there are groups of people sitting in front of the same computer screen. So besides yourself, how many other people are sitting with you today listening to the webinar? That looks like we got a couple of groups. This gives us a really good idea of actually how many people are listening. All right. Twenty more seconds and then we'll be done. These 10 seconds seem to take an eternity. All right. Okay. Mike, if you could queue up then the video.

>> These are some of the benefits that work provides [Background Music]. By working you can earn more income, meet new people, and learn new skills. What is the Ticket to Work Program? How can it help you? Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary program from Social Security that provides you employment support services to help you go to work while still providing access to Medicaid and/or Medicare. It can help you go to work which can give you a greater sense of purpose and help you give back to your community. With time, you'll be able to replace your cash benefits with your earnings from work, putting you on the road to financial independence with the peace of mind that your benefits will be available to you if you need them due to your disability. Meet Ben. Ben qualifies for the Ticket to Work Program because he is age 18 through 64 and receives Social Security Disability Insurance. If Ben receives Supplemental Security Income, he would also qualify for the program. Ben wanted to work but needed to understand how work would impact his benefits, especially his healthcare. Ben did some research and found out that over 316,000 people with disabilities have participated in the program. After doing more research, he decided that Ticket to Work was just the ticket he needed to be successful in going to work. When Ben contacted the Ticket helpline, they talked to him about support from Social Security he could use to go to work. He found out with Social Security Ticket to Work and work incentives he might be able to work while keeping his Medicaid or Medicare with the peace of mind that if he needed to stop working due to his disability, there would be a fast track back to restarting his benefits. With the Ticket program Ben had a choice of service providers, employment network, and state vocational rehabilitation agencies. He was able to select one of these service providers to work with him, one on one, to help him reach his work goal. Both could offer him specialized services and he could choose which was right for him. VR Agencies work with individuals who need more significant services. The services that Ben could receive include benefits and career counseling, education, training, and job search support. ENs, our private or public organization, that may help with career counseling and assistance with job placement and more. Different ENs offer different types of services, so Ben could pick an EN that was just right for him. Ben also had the option to receive services from his state VR Agency, and then when those services end he could work with an EN to receive additional services that would help him find a job or keep an existing job. Ben took some time to think about his options and decided to assign his ticket to an EN. Ben's commitment to participate in the Ticket to Work Program forged a partnership between him and his service provider. They both agreed to work together, and shortly developed a plan that was just for him. His plan to find his work goals and describe the specialized services the EN would provide or arrange for to help him meet his goals. Ben's return to employment through the Ticket Program is a two-way street. In return for assistance in getting a job, Ben pledged to Social Security that he would take specific steps determined by the plan he developed with the EN within timeframes set by Social Security, to work at a specified earnings level, will complete certain educational or training requirements. Taking the agreed-upon steps for employment with timeframes set by Social Security is called "making timely progress." By taking these steps, Ben was able to fully take advantage of the support and protection of the Ticket to Work Program provided. You can be like Ben. The Ticket to Work Program is here to help you become and stay employed, meet new people, and gain fulfillment and financial independence. We know it's a big step, but there is so much help for you all along the way. The Ticket Program offers many tools and resources to help you learn about starting your journey to financial independence. Are you ready to work? Call the Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-968-7842; for TTY, call 1-866-833-2967 to talk to one of our knowledgeable representatives. Or visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work to learn more. Good luck on your journey to financial independence. We are ready to help you on your way.

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>> Okay. Thank you, Mike. Let's talk about why Ben was choosing to go to work. Why would somebody choose work? Clearly, and the easiest answer is to earn more money as Linda will point out when she discusses work incentives. If you build an employment team and take the steps that are necessary according to your plan, you will have more money at the end of every month because we will make sure of that. We want to make sure that your work efforts pay and are profitable. To gain independence, not only from the agency you depend upon now, but independence to make choices, to make choices of where you live, how you want to live, what you do with your money, anything you could possibly imagine. You're gaining independence to make your own decisions about your life. Meeting new people? Another benefit of work. You know, a benefit that got me married. I met my spouse at work, you know, so it can cause all kinds of trouble [laughter]. No. But you do meet lots of people and have lots of lasting friendships. And to learn new skills. You may be learning new skills when you work with David or Sherman before you begin to go to work. But every day in our work lives, we're learning new skills, whether they're skills involving a computer and technology, whether they're real heavy-duty skills regarding hammers and nails, or whether they're intellectual skills. I don't think a day goes by where one of us doesn't learn something new. And notice the list that we just put up for you. Earn more money is only one element. This is all very, very important and incredibly valuable as well. It gets you out of the house; it gets you active in your community; and gets you participating. And that's what we all want from work. Now before we get into the niceties of getting that job, I just want to explain very briefly about some of the benefits that Social Security provides because they're very, very different. The first benefit program Social Security administers is the Social Security Disability Insurance Program. It's sometimes known as SSDI or Title Two. And this is a program that is paying disability benefits to people who have a work history and have paid FICA taxes. If you pay FICA taxes, you're becoming insured for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration should you need them. This program is not needs based, so there is no resource level. It's only impacted by earned income and could potentially provide benefits to a dependent spouse and dependent children. The other program that Social Security administers is remarkably different. It is called Supplemental Security Income or SSI, sometimes called Title 16. Now SSI is a needs-based Federal welfare program. It's provided to people who are aged, blind, or disabled, and have little or no income and little or no resources. The Federal Government sets a limit on this amount of money every year. And in 2014 the Federal Government pays an SSI recipient who lives alone $721. For those of you who may think wait a minute, I live alone and I get more than that, states are allowed to supplement that money. If you do live in an expensive place to live, that may be the case. Now there's also a third group of people and those are the people who receive both benefits. Their SSDI insurance benefit may be below that $721 figure. As a result, after we use the mathematical formula, we can determine how much SSI you might be eligible to receive. Both of these programs can be received by the same person. Both of these programs are remarkably different and the work incentives that apply to these programs are very, very different. So the first thing that you need to do is determine what type of benefit do you receive. And you can find out by calling Social Security or every notice that you receive will say what it is, what type of benefit you receive in large print across the top. So that's the first job that you have to do, is let us know what type of benefit you receive so we can start the discussion correctly. Now, we're going to move into Sherman Gifford's discussion. He's with the Choice Group. And he's going to talk about finding and keeping the job that's right for you and how you'd want to go about exploring your work goals. So, take it away, Sherman. Sherman, we can't hear you. You need to unmute your phone. Sherman, are you still with us? Okay.

>> Hello, Ray?

>> There you go, Sherman. We can hear you now.

>> Thank you. I'm not sure what happened there. I apologize for that.

>> Hey, it's live TV [laughter].

>> My name again is Sherman Gifford and I work with the Choice Group here in Richmond, Virginia. We serve beneficiaries in the State of Virginia, and this section is titled "Finding and Keeping the Job That's Right for You: Exploring Your Work Goals." So I see lots of you have taken the first step today, and that is to be here and to learn more about a decision to explore work. So, could I have the next slide, please? This one is, "What are Your Work Goals?" Take some time to think about these questions. The first one is, what type of work do I like to do? One way to think about this is whether you're most comfortable working with data, people, or things. For example, some of us love to work with people. Others are more comfortable working with numbers or maybe repairing a computer. Another question is, what are my interests? Sometimes the people we work with never intended to make a change but are no longer able to perform the work they once did. There are pencil and paper assessments that help people identify their interests so they can narrow their exploration. We help people with this frequently. What kind of job do I want now? You may wonder, is it a short-term opportunity to explore career goals? Or do you know what you want to do and just need an opportunity to do it. It may be a warm introduction to an employer or help with networking. We can help you with this. What kind of job do I want five years from now? The opportunity for career growth could be very important for you, so it's good to think about where you want to be two, three, and five years from now, so you have something to work towards. Next slide, please. What are my long-term goals? Having a long-term goal gives you something to reach for, to build towards, or to grow into. It also reminds you that you're involved in a process. Very few people who are doing what they were [phone ringing] started their work doing that the very first day. They got into a job and they worked toward their long-term goals. Where do I want to work? At home? In an office? Outside? What are your preferences? What's realistic? And we work with everybody on a very individual basis to learn what their goals are. So, you may be energized by working with a team in an office. Or you may prefer to work at home independently. You may enjoy working outside, nowhere near a desk or a computer. These are all personal preferences that should be taken into account when you establish your work goals. Do I want to be self-employed or work for someone else? You may want to think about the pros and cons of each. This is just another way you can tailor your new work to suit your interests, your personality, and your previous life experiences. Next slide, please. After you get a sense of what you want, ask yourself these questions: Do I have a particular job in mind or do I need help finding a job? As you will see, there are supports available to help you identify a career and find a job. Do I need help with my resume or interview skills? Resumes and interviews both serve to introduce you in a very positive way to a prospective employer. Please make the most of these opportunities. ENs and VR are both available to help you prepare, and we'll talk more about that in a minute. Do I need help to understand how working will affect my benefits? This is really important. Many times it's fear of what we don't know that keeps us from moving forward. Being clear about how earned income will affect your benefits and when that will happen gives you the opportunity to plan for it so you can focus on work. There are work incentives available that help you maximize your benefits while you transition to work and independence. Linda's going to talk with you more about that shortly. Could I have the next slide, please? After you get a sense of the kind of job you want, ask yourself these questions: What type of training or education might I need to reach my goal? And it might be as simple as learning an accounting software application to qualify for a position or getting a required certification in order to work in a healthcare position. Or you may need to earn a degree in a related field. This all plays into your goal. Will I need assistance at my workplace? Special equipment? A job coach or a special schedule? A job coach can help you through the entire process including assistance at your workplace. You may not need a job coach at work, but you might need special equipment or a special schedule. Are you comfortable advocating for yourself and asking for these accommodations? Support is available through ENs and VR to help in this area as well. And now I think it's going to David.

>> Okay. It's not going to David just yet, Sherman --

>> Okay.

>> -- because the questions are coming in fast and furious.

>> Oh, okay.

>> You mentioned that an EN or VR can help update or create a resume. The question that came in is, how do I explain gaps in my employment history?

>> We would look at the individually and see what you did during that time to -- I think employers want to just know what you did that could contribute toward the goal you have. So I work with people to, number one, I could do resumes that tend to -- they're called functional resumes where you're looking at the skills that you've had and not so much looking at a chronological resume that identifies gaps in your work history. So it would be an opportunity to present your strengths before it becomes time to talk about gaps. But I'd suggest people be honest and you may say that you were taking time to deal with things or you needed to go back to school or you had unexpected situations. It really is unique to each person and I think it's a good idea to talk to an EN or VR to help you work through what's best for you in your situation.

>> Okay. Thank you. And somebody's looking to know if there is a process to help find the type of job that would be a good match.

>> Is there a process?

>> Yeah.

>> The approach we take is to really try to get to know a beneficiary and what their skills and interests are, and their goals, and to see what -- also consider any disability factors and also look at the labor market information for the area the person -- where they live. So the process would just be to see where all those overlap. There may be interests and skills that people have that overlap with opportunities in your community. So it would be kind of just stepping back and taking a fresh look at it. And we do this frequently with people who really never intended to make a change in their job and are kind of lost about where to go from there. So there's definitely a process.

>> So it sounds like your services are very much individualized.

>> Very much so, yes. We work with everybody individually. It's one-on-one.

>> That's a good thing. That's a good thing. Now I'm going to ask you this one, too, before we turn it over to David. When I apply for a job, should I disclose my disability?

>> That's a very personal decision that we would certainly discuss in advance. With the new regulations that just went into effect recently regarding Section 503 -- that is about Federal contractors asking you prior, even to a job offer, whether you have a disability or not. And you have an option of disclosing then. You also are asked after the job offer. You have another option too. And it's a very personal decision. If you do disclose, of course you're covered by the ADA. If you don't disclose, you're not. I've had clients want to do both or either. And it doesn't mean they can't disclose later; it's just where in the process does it make sense for them. When are they comfortable with it and who do they disclose to? And we would talk about all that so you're comfortable about it going into an interview.

>> All right. Thank you very much, Sherman.

>> Thank you.

>> And let's turn things over to Linda Johnson from Endependence Center, and David Leon from the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Take it away, guys. And you both have to unmute your phones. There's Linda.

>> Okay. Well I think the next slide is mine. So, David --

>> All right.

>> -- made me --

>> David

>> -- help you out, so.

>> Oh, okay.

>> So what is the Ticket to Work Program? This is a free and voluntary program to assist SSI and SSDI beneficiaries who have a disability to go back to work, enter the workforce for the very first time, or to increase their current work hours. So the biggest thing is, is, you know, everyone comes in at different levels. Some people may not have worked for an extended period of time or they may be just changing jobs. So they want to come in and find out more about the Ticket to Work Program. What we suggest is that you talk to the Ticket to Work Helpline and they can help you understand the program. Their information is 1-866-968-7842, and that's voice. And it is 1-866-833-2967, and that is TTY. Or you can visit the Social Security website which is www.socialsecurity.gov/work. Next slide, please. So with the Ticket to Work Program, when you're thinking about going back to work, you have to think about why you want to go back. So do you want to go back because you're ready to earn more money? Well, the Ticket to Work Program's great if that's what you would like to do. With the Ticket to Work and work incentives, it can also increase your earning potential; helps you to keep more money in your check; put more money in your pocket which is another great reason to go back to work. Just getting personal fulfillment that comes from working. As I said, you get to meet people; you get self-confidence; you're able to enjoy things you were not able to do before. And it provides the assurance and the stability that you need, you know, to feel more confident while you're pursuing your employment. What is going to happen to your benefits when you go back to work? People are afraid to go back to work because they're afraid that they're going to lose their benefits. This is where it's really, really important to talk to a benefits planner. They can give you information on how working's going to affect your benefits, any work incentives that you may qualify for, and it puts you on the fast track back to receiving your benefits if, for some reason, you are unable to continue to work. People get overwhelmed and they don't know where to go, don't know where to turn to. Again, an employment network or VR is great because you always have the support of someone there to help you each step of the way, to give you guidance, give you encouragement, helps you to get resources that you may or may not be aware of, helps you to develop your work plan that is very individualized to you. That can help you also to have a successful outcome goal. And the next slide is David's, I believe.

>> Okay. David, we need you to unmute your phone.

>> Okay. Is that better?

>> That's much better. Thank you.

>> Now we're going to talk about a real Ticket to Work success story, and we're going to meet Larry. Larry, who has autism, worked with his local VR agency to find fulltime employment. Larry's process began while he was still in high school through his high school transition counselor. The transition counselor collaborated with the Virginia State Vocational Rehab Agency and they began to educate his family about Social Security's Ticket Toward Program and VR Services. Some of the services that Larry received included career counseling, job training, assistance with navigating the job search, job searching. And to answer a question that I believe James asked, he also received some vocational evaluations that allowed the people from the VR agency helping and his job coach identify a skillset where he would be successful with a job. They were critically important to his choosing a work goal. One of the great things about his team was that it was a transition process from high school through graduating, working with the VR agency, and then into his job. Larry participated in VR through Partnership Plus. What that meant is that once the VR agency had helped him get a job, he worked for three months, and then his VR was able to close the case. At that point Larry chose to hand his ticket to an Employment Network who was able to continue to work with him for the next three to five years. One of the reasons this was critical in Larry's case, and I would argue is critical for anybody who is considering going back to work and currently has benefits, Larry and his family were very worried about him losing his Medicaid. One of the first things our agency did to help Larry was connect him with a representative that had work incentive services. What that meant is the group he worked with through VR understood how his earnings would impact his benefits situation. And that allowed for Larry to tap into something called 1619V which in Virginia allows him to earn over $34,000 a year and keep his Medicaid. Once his case was closed with VR he assigned his Ticket to Work to an EN for continued services. Larry has said, "I'm learning to more independent. I take public transportation and plan my own meals. I have my own credit card and stick to a budget." He has been hugely successful at growing in his independence and we hope he continues to grow in terms of how much he earns per month and future opportunities. Next slide, please. Now we're going to talk about Finding the Job that's Right for You: Building your Employment Team. Next slide. When you're ready to work, building your employment team is the best way to begin. You have options to help you get started. I've seen lots of questions around, will VR pay for this? And now I want to do this, and how do I know who to choose? The biggest thing I can say is, you have to be your own advocate. If you make appointments with the people you select as your team, make sure you keep them. If you have to cancel, try to do so in advance. Treat working with your employment teams the way you would treat going to an interview. Speak with an expert at our Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-968-7842 or at 1-866-833-2967. You can learn more about the Ticket to Work. Read our blog and be a listener or read real success stories at www.socialsecurity.gov/work. Building your employment team is the best way to begin. You have options to help you get started. You can find an employment network that meets your needs or work with your state vocational rehab agency. And here is another place to really think about how you'll enjoy working and what kind of style you want. There are employment networks that are local to your area which means they're brick and mortar buildings where maybe you can meet with a person in their office or a public location. There are national employment networks that can provide great services that are going to do so remotely, using things like Skype and webcams. You've got to decide what kind of help you really need and what's going to help keep you motivated and working towards this goal. Another part of building your employment team is staying connected to that team. And that includes the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance -- that is free -- Benefits counseling services to help you when you're looking at work and what may happen, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security, Employment Networks, or Vocational Rehab. As you explore your work options you may also include teachers, family members, friends. If you've maybe done some work, and not in a while, you might have an old employer or reference that's going to help you, any of those folks. If you keep the people you're working with engaged in your process, you're going to have better results. And more importantly, you'll be able to get answers more quickly as things come up as you're working through the process. Next slide, please.

>> All right. Let me stop there, David. And I ask, as a few questions. Going back to Linda. Linda, somebody in the audience said, "I never got a ticket." What can you help them with? How can you help them with that?

>> There actually is no ticket anymore. They used to send out paper tickets. Now we have the ability to go onto the Ticket to Work portal as an EN and find out if your ticket is available. It's that easy.

>> Oh.

>> Ticket. Social Security number. Plug in the information and we can tell instantly if you have a ticket or not.

>> Okay. And they'll save the next one for your next session. But, David, I have a question for you, too. Can you elaborate on that tool that VR uses to find out what type of jobs somebody might be good at?

>> Vocational Evaluations?

>> Yes. There are a variety of different tools that comprise vocational evaluations. We can use things like situational assessments where a counselor or somebody we are paying to assist an individual will take a beneficiary to try a job for three or four hours in that job setting so they get used to is this the kind of setting I want? Is this something I'm interested in? There are also what are called unpaid work experiences we may help with. There are a lot of short-term processes and, again, it's very tailored to each individual's needs. Sometimes it can be as simple as various functional tests where, if somebody -- we had a case recently where an individual was an auto mechanic and because of an injury they could no longer work on cars. Well, we realized that with some adaptive equipment, they could do small engine repair. And that all came about from a half a day of evaluation around all the different parts of the old job. How long can you sit? How long can you stand? How can you bend? So there's not just one vocational evaluation tool. There's a slew of them.

>> Okay. Thank you. All right. And I think that's about it right now. Let's get on to David and Sherman's presentation.

>> Okay. And I'm going to start this one. And we're starting with Finding and Keeping the Job That's Right for You: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Networks. Next slide, please. Who can help you? Now that you've thought more about your work goals and building your employment team, it's time to select a service provider. And this goes back to whether or not you want to work with your state vocational rehabilitation provider or an Employment Network. The Ticket Program offers you a choice of providers: Employment Networks and state vocational rehab agencies. Some of the differences really have to do with how ready you are today and the timeframe you have and what you need. If you're looking at education, or if you're going to need services that cost a lot of money, your best bet is generally your state vocational rehab agency. If you're ready to go to work today, it's probably going to be an Employment Network because, unfortunately, with a state vocational rehab agency, we're a bureaucracy and you can't just walk in the door and get services today. There's a bunch of paperwork and it usually takes between 30 and 60 days to begin receiving services. Next slide, please. What services do VR Agencies and Employment Networks offer? Those offer specialized services such as career counseling and job placement, and much more. One of the places you can look to see what specific services an Employment Network offers is the cheerswork website. It's a great resource. And you can look up Employment Networks and see the different skills and things they offer. There are some Employment Networks that offer nothing but work-at-home jobs. There are some Employment Networks that are employers and they're only going to help folks that they can hire in their business. And then there are Vocational Rehab agencies and organizations that are called Centers for Independent Living. There are a wide variety of agencies. And just as it's important to build that employment resource team, it's important to do your homework and pick the agency that's right for you. You have the option of assigning your Ticket to Work to any Employment Network you choose. However, an Employment Network can say yes or no. They don't have to say they will work with you. So you want to do some homework and make sure you fit the group that's going to help you meet your goals. Next slide, please. So, what are Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies? Usually we work with individuals who need more significant services. In some states this includes intensive training, education, and rehabilitation. It may also include funding for more specialized services such as a van modification, assistive technology aids, transportation. One of the misconceptions about a VR Agency and funding is that we have to be accountable to taxpayers and therefore there are times where we will help fund things, but some of that funding also falls on the clients. For instance, there are cases where we will help cover someone's tuition. However, we're going to expect that client to also apply for financial aid. So, you know, I get calls from people who think well, I'm just going to go right to VR because they're going to pay for everything. And it doesn't quite work like that. The other thing that's really important to know about working with a voc rehab agency -- again, if you're treating this whole process like you're on a job interview, you want to do everything you can when working with the voc rehab counselor to show them that you are serious about this process. So, the person who makes 10 appointments and cancels eight is probably not going to have a counselor go to bat for the same level of services as the client who makes their appointments and is ready to go to the next step of their employment plan. Usually it's a collaborative process and it involves give and take on both the vocational rehab counselor and the client working and getting services. Next slide, please. When you use your Ticket for VR services: If you receive Society Security benefits because of your disability, you are categorically eligible for VR services. You and your VR counselor develop an employment plan. Your Ticket is assigned to your VR when you and your counselor sign your employment plan. Social Security will postpone your Continuing Disability Reviews as long as you are making timely progress towards employment and are working with either an Employment Network or VR agency. So, again, the process and your employment plan is a very critical step. If, when you get to the place where you are signing that employment plan, and it doesn't have the things you believe you need to move forward, you can continue to negotiate that plan and what it is you want and what it is the counselor and that VR agency will provide. In our state, when you sign that plan, your Ticket is automatically placed in use with our agency. The other thing to think about is, the way the rules are, you can have services prior to VR through a Partnership Plus with an Employment Network. You can then unassign your Ticket from that group to come get VR services. And when you're ready to close your case with our agency, you can go back to that Employment Network for that follow along for the next three to five years. Protection from Continuing Disability Reviews is a great bonus of this program. What that means is, as you are working towards self-sufficiency, you're not going to have a medical review and lose your benefits. Next slide, please.

>> Okay. David, I think this is where I jump in?

>> Yes, it is.

>> Can you hear me now?

>> Yes we can.

>> Good, good. Thank you. So, what is an Employment Network? A public or a private organization. David touched on this earlier. It can be large or small. It can be nonprofit or for profit. It can be local, statewide, regional, or national. And the services they can provide could be face-to-face or virtual. An EN helps with career counseling and provides assistance with job placement. So we talked a little bit earlier about career counseling. It includes a discussion of your interests and goals including labor market information about the availability of relevant jobs in your area. This information includes whether jobs in each occupation are increasing or decreasing, which is really important to know as you get into an occupation. It also can provide typical salaries for entry level or average or experienced so you know what type of growth you might have in that occupation. EN staff will talk with you and determine any needs you will have as you pursue your vocational goal. Then they'll strategize with you about how to meet those needs. And, finally, they'll help you find these jobs and get job offers. And that's really where it all comes together. So Employment Networks can help point you towards open jobs. They can introduce you to employers they have working relationships with. They can advocate for you. They can work as a team with you while you apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. An EN may have offices in your community or in your state. We talked about that. And some ENs serve people wherever they live by offering virtual services. You can access a list of ENs that serve your location and we mentioned earlier about where to find that on the Ticket to Work site. And you can then call them and talk with them and see which ones are -- best suit your needs for helping you reach your goal and supporting you. The next slide, please. You also have the option of receiving services from your state VR agency and then, when your services have ended, you can work with an EN to receive other services that will help you find a job or keep the one you already have. David touched on this. And, typically, VR services are time-limited. So an EN may be able to continue to provide support for you after you finish working with VR. And that's a good working relationship to do it that way. That's specifically called the Partnership Plus Program. Partnership Plus makes your transition from VR services to EN services as seamless as possible. And you even have an option of starting with an EN. And say you're on a wait list with VR. You could start with an EN and then, when the VR is able to work with you, you could go back to VR and then, once you're through working with VR, you have your choice of going back to the EN again. So, it's a continuum of services. And I really encourage you to ask questions and learn about your options and how all this works. And I'd just like to say the Choice Group and other ENs in Virginia welcome the opportunity to collaborate with VR to offer beneficiaries an array of choices for services, so. And now I'd like to turn it back over to Linda to talk about work incentives.

>> Not so fast, Sherwin, I've got another question for you.

>> Oh, okay.

>> In a minute. And I'm going to ask this of both you and David because I think it's interesting from the EN's perspective and VR's perspective. Is part time work an option under this program?

>> I would say part time work is -- it -- it's not so much whether it's part time or full time as whether your goal is to work enough to work your way off of cash benefits because that's really the -- the -- the mission of the ticket to work program is to help you work your way off cash benefits and there is a -- a period of time, about a year in the beginning that you can ramp up to that. So, maybe a part time job would be a place to get started. But then in year two or three and ongoing, there -- there is an expectation that -- that your goal would be to work your way off cash benefits with the support you need from the EN's and the VR. All right? I hope that answers the question.

>> I think it does. Okay, David, we have a specific question from somebody who wants to link up with the VR agency. She's going to a school now that she likes and she wants to know if she's already in school -- can she get assistance in terms of creating an employment plan?

>> [Inaudible], the answer to that is yes -- what I will also say if part of what she wants is that VR agency to pay for school, I always recommend that beneficiaries call and create a plan ahead of time because every [inaudible] VR has different rules around funding schools and one of the issues I know we've had here is if there is a local school that has the same surfaces as the school maybe in another locality or state, we would help with the one that is the least expensive unless there was -- unless there was nothing -- there was some specific reason why that school didn't meet the needs of the individual. But if they want to create an employment plan that had nothing to do with their -- what their -- with their classes, absolutely they could.

>> Okay, so it sounds like it's worth a call anyway.

>> Absolutely.

>> All right, great. Okay and once again, I think I'm going to just turn it over to Linda now, but Linda, I want you to specifically address where folks can find local services in the -- in your presentation. We've got to move along. So thanks David and Sherman. And I'm going to turn this over to Linda.

>> Okay, well where can you find local services in your area? You can all the ticket to work helpline and again, they will refer you to an EN or to a WIPA project in your area. And I believe there is information later in the slides that gives you how to contact them, but that is the easiest way to find services in your area. Here where I am in Norfolk, Virginia, we cover all of the south side Hampton roads, so we get referrals in from VR, from the ticket to work helpline, different agencies. So it, you know, there's lots of places that you can get information, but the best and easiest way is to go to the, either choose work or to the ticket to work helpline to get your information. So -- and I love talking about work incentives, so how to keep your job and keep more money in your pocket, which is what I love talking about. So, what incentives make it possible for you to explore work while still receiving healthcare and cash benefits that are designed to help you succeed in your employment goal? It helps you to keep Medicaid and Medicare while you're working. You can have access to individual support services and you can try to work with confidence knowing that your benefits continue during your transition period. Next slide please. When you go to work, there's several work incentives that you may qualify for depending on your benefits. And there always when you're working. You don't qualify before; people ask us that all the time. Well, can I get it now? No, you have to work first. So, the very first one for Social Security disability insurance, SSDI is the TWP -- the trial work period. This is a nine month trial work period that allows you to work, earn as much money as you like and still keep your benefits. There's no limit to the amount of money you can earn during this period of time, but it just allows you to, you know, try to go back to work, feel things out, how things are going for you and you know, it gives you the opportunity to [inaudible] of working, getting your income and getting your SSDI benefit at the same time. So this is not a concurrent, it does not have to be straight nine months, it's nine months in a 60 month period. So you can be in and out of your trial work period if that's kind of what happens to you. Another benefit is the expedite reinstatement of benefits. If your benefits have stopped because of your earning level, you can request to have your benefits reinstated without having to complete a new application. Now this is if you're on SSDI and you've worked off of benefits, you can request the expedite reinstatement of benefits where you can get back onto your SSDI without having to apply and you get benefits for six months, and that do not have to be repaid. And this is an SSDI and an SSI working [inaudible]. Next slide please. The extended period of eligibility or EPE, as we call it is immediately after your trial work ends, you move into the extended period of eligibility. This is a 36 month period in which you can be in and out of benefits, depending on your level of earnings. A lot of people may hear SGA, Substantial Gainful Activity -- in 2014, that level is $1070 or it's $1800 if you have a disability due to blindness. What this means is if you earned less than $1070, after your trial work ends you would be eligible for the check that month. If you earn more, you would not be. And this is where it's really important to talk to your benefits planner to find out, you know, where you are and keep in contact with them because we are the folks who can help you track all of this information. We have the ability to be an employment network, which is great. We also do the WIPA project as well, in [inaudible]. And my favorite work incentive is the [inaudible] work expense. This is a Social Security deduction that can be used for, you know, paratransit, [inaudible] for doctors, medications, different things -- there's a whole list of deductions for certain impairment [inaudible] expenses, services that can reduce your accountable income to below the SGA or for SSI, it reduces your accountable income so that you keep more money in your SSI check. Again, you need to know, kind of work with your benefits planner. They can help you to fill out the paperwork, complete the information and submit to Social Security. So this is another really good way to keep more money in your check and keep more money, you know, in your pocket. So, next slide please. Where can you get more information on work incentives? You can view the March 2014 webinar archive, You asked, We Answer at www.edi.cornell. edu/m-wise /webinar.cfm#20 -- 2014-03-264. You can go to the socialsecurity.gov/work website and you can get information there. And again, you can go to the helpdesk if you want to connect with your local WIPA.

>> Okay. Thank you. Let's see what I have for you now. [Laughter] These questions are coming in very, very fast. Okay, I think I have a question that I'm going to ask of all of you and so you can all chime in. If I use a ticket and go to work and then have to stop working, can I pick up that ticket and use it again to go back to work?

>> You can if you -- you can keep your [inaudible] assigned to the VR or to the EN and continue to work with them to find another job or if you choose to unassign your ticket, you can certainly do that as well. It -- there's nothing saying that you have to stay with the one EN if you're not going to be working for an extended period of time.

>> Yeah. Okay. All right, thank you. All right, let's move on then and we'll take some questions from the rest of -- from the panel as they're coming in. They're still coming in [inaudible], we're going to be here for a while. But I want to give you some other resources. And the first one that I want to talk about that isn't listed here, although -- wait a second, I'm seeing that it is. So I'm just going to go through and elaborate a little bit. David already talked about building that employment team. Now the trick about building a team is that you need to build it. The other trick is that you are the coach of this team. We are working for you. We're not telling you what job you have to get. We're not telling you where you have to work. We are helping you reach your own goal. We might give you some suggestions and some planning tools. But if you want to start building a team so you don't have to take this journey alone, talk with an expert. And you can talk with somebody to find out, as Linda said, where local service providers are, both EN's, state VR agency and benefits planners at the ticket to work helpline at 1-866-968-7842 or for TPY users, 866-833-2967. You can learn more about the ticket to work. There are some exceptional stories on the blog and you can listen and view real success stories. You know, there are a few of them that I really, really like and, you know, one young woman who we actually had to opportunity to work with during one of these webinars. And she is a true delight. And those stories can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/work. Now just about everything you're going to need, you can find at that website -- www.socialsecurity.gov/work. That's going to lead you into all of these other websites that people have talked about. You can find an employment network. Now remember, when we started talking, you know, Sherman and David and even Ben's video said, that choice is yours. Who you want to work with and how you want to work with them is perfectly up to you. Nobody is telling you what you need to do. You can work with an employment network that happens to be around the corner from your home. You can work with one that's based in California if you're comfortable doing that or you can go to the state agency. It's basically shopping. What sweater is going to be the perfect fit for you. That's what employment network you want. Who's going to help? Who is -- who do you enjoy working with and feel comfortable with? So find that employment network and don't be afraid to talk to several of them. And then most importantly, stay connected to this employment team that you build. Remember, we're helping you reach your goal. So, you pretty much need to tell us when you need something. There are a couple of other programs. We've talked about EN's, we've talked about VR. The WIPA program that Linda mentioned -- Work Incentive Planning and Assistance -- have trained benefits planners that can provide free services to anybody receiving benefits and talk to you about how earnings are going to impact your benefit. Sherman said, these [inaudible] provide a plan and a timeline so that you will know when something is going to happen to a benefit and you can plan for it. And most certainly, as Linda said, we're looking to put more money in your pocket. So a good benefits planner is not going to let you go to work and end up with less money. The PABSS program is the protection and advocacy program for social -- for beneficiaries of Social Security. This is the legal arm of the tick to work program. So there are also -- it's a small program, but there are also free legal services that can help you through this process. What if you disclose your disability to an employer and they say, "We don't want you working here." That's illegal, you know, the American's With Disability Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and employment situation. So you may very well have a means of remedying that with a PABBS attorney or a PABBS advocate. They can also help with some Social Security issues. They can also, you know, help with that decision about whether or when to disclose your disability. There's also another agency that's not listed here called CAP. And it's the Client Assistance Program. And what that is, is kind of the advocacy wing of state vocational rehabilitation. If you do have a problem with a counselor, if you have a problem putting a plan together, you can go to the CAP Agency and seek free assistance from them to help negotiate a plan. They may be able to do that with you if you're uncomfortable, you know, depending on how busy they happen to be. But there are lots of people here who can not only help plan your -- your return to work, but help you get on the right tracks, stay there and when something goes awry, can help you fix those problems. So we're all here waiting to help. Now, check out a career fair. Career fairs are great things. You can look -- here are several of them that we have listed for you. The Annual Diversity Employment Career Fair -- that's an in-person event and you can look at www.citycareerfair.com /diversity. Hiring our heroes, it's an in-person career fair for veterans -- www.uschamberfoundation.org /hiring-our-heroes. Of veterans recruiting online for veterans -- www.veteranrecruiting.com. And Think Beyond the Label, it's an online career fair at www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com /start/hiring /careerfair.aspx. Now if you want more up to date information, you can subscribe to the choose work blog at www -- www.choosework.net/blog. And that will send information directly to your email address. There is Twitter, there are Facebook accounts and you can stay on top of all of these things. Local career fairs that may turn up in your area are great, great ways to get out there and spread some resumes and get some informal practice meeting with potential employers in a very comfortable manner. Now, we're still going to take some questions. We have approximately 10 minutes left, once I'm finished here. But you can get information -- if you notice, we've answered some very general questions. We're trying to stay away from your specific issue because this isn't the right place to discuss a very personal issue. But you can visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work to find those employment networks, find the state VR agencies and find the WIPA projects and the PABBS projects. All of it's there and you can ask questions of any of those people at no cost or obligation to yourself. And you can always call the ticket to work helpline. And there are experts there waiting to take your calls and answer your specific questions. And that is 1-866-968-7842 and for TTY users, 866-833-2967. Now, during today's webinar, we've asked you to submit some questions. You can use the chat box right now. You can use the question and answer box and you can also send them via email to webinarsatchoosework.net. But remember, if you happen to think of a question after we shut down today or wake up in the middle of the night with a question -- you can always send it to support at chooseworkttw.net. That's going to bring us to today's question and answer session. I do want to let you know that as soon as we shut down, in about two seconds, there's going to be a survey that will pop up on your screen. And I just want you to take 30 seconds and fill that out and let us know how we did. Let us know what you want to hear about in the future. As I said, we've taken topics that people have mentioned in that survey and we have built entire webinars around those. Here are some other sources of information -- Facebook, http://www.facebook.com /choosework. That's a great way to see what everybody else is asking about because if somebody else asks a question, you might be thinking it too and you can get information without having to ask a question, if you're uncomfortable at this point. And it might actually be a great way for you to put your questions out there. Or you can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/chooseworkssa. And lots of us are using those Twitter accounts to send around short blasts to notify people of webinars and all sorts of things like that. Also, use that ticket to work helpline -- 1-866-968-7842 or for TPY users -- 866-833-2967. And let's see what Jamie has in the question box. This is where we have a little bit of difficulty because I'm trying to find the questions -- now here we are. Okay. Here's a question for the panel. "I'm trying to find a work from home job, but am unable to find a position because I don't have any customer service experience. What would you suggest I do?" I think Sherman and David ought to take a stab at that one.

>> I would be happy to follow up with an email of -- contact an EN who specializes in that, unless David, you know that right off. And I'm not sure that customer service is -- is required for everybody.

>> Yeah, I'm -- Sherman, I'll just piggyback on what you said. Several of the work at home employment networks have a skills analysis that is part of the application process and again, because you direct your own services, there is nothing that would preclude you from going to each of the groups that does that. I think there were three or four EN's that specialize in working from home opportunities. I also want to say having worked with a few of them, these are -- a lot of these jobs are full time employment and, you know, they're not the kind of jobs where you can be running around doing other things. There are many jobs for companies like Delta and various companies where calls are coming into [inaudible] system and routed to your home. So it's a -- it's -- there can be high stress jobs, but they're fantastic opportunities for people who have trouble with mobility or transportation.

>> Okay, Jamie, so I'm going to ask you if you can get back to the person that asked that particular question and find their email so we can get it out to Sherman and he can provide some direction to that person to [inaudible]. And I got -- I have one for Linda. Linda, somebody wants to know some examples of impairment related work expenses. Just for the record, they're one of my favorite things too.

>> Well, if someone is using paratransit in their area, down here in Hampton Roads it's [inaudible] where they have to pay for transportation to get back and forward to work. That would be an impairment related work expense. Or if they're paying out of pocket for doctors, therapy, medications -- that could be considered to be also impairment related work expenses. But sometimes you have to think outside the box. Sometimes it's very specific to the disability. We had one guy who was an amputee who got a job in a -- an attorney's office and he had to wear, you know, the suit, the tie, the black socks. And we were able to show because he had to wear the black socks and he would rub them because of his prosthesis that he was -- I mean, it was an impairment related work expense and Social Security accepted that. So, you know, sometimes you just have to think about what's relating to your disability that you are paying out of pocket for, that's not reimbursed that you may be able to use as an impairment related work expense. Could be a ramp to get out of your home if you are a wheelchair user -- that could be considered. So there's lots of different work incentives. So you really need to work with your -- your benefits planners locally so that they can talk to you about your specific situation and help you to figure out, you know, any work incentives for -- for you.

>> Absolutely Linda, I agree with that. It's time to be creative when we talk about impairment related work expenses. And if you ask yourself these three questions, do I need this item or service because of my disability? Do I need it to work and do I pay for it out of pocket? If you say yes to those three questions, you probably have an [inaudible] and we would just run that up the flagpole in Social Security and see if they'll approve it. And that could be a companion animal for somebody with an anxiety disorder and if somebody had a companion animal, I would want to know how much the puppy food costs, how much the vet costs, how much the shots and the license and the training and the grooming and all of that could potentially be an impairment related work expense. As Linda said, think outside the box, think about what you do on a daily basis and what items or services you use to get through a day. Because if you need something to get through a day, you most certainly will need it to get through a job. And that -- yes, David?

>> No, this is Sherman. I [inaudible] --

>> Oh, Sherman, I'm sorry.

>> -- interesting one recently where a client who was deaf or hard of hearing had his cell phone expenses approved for an [inaudible] because that's how his employer was able to communicate with him by texting. And it was an expense that was related to his disability and that he could not do without as far as work. So, the cell phone and the monthly cost were all considered for the [inaudible].

>> That's actually very creative. I may use that in training. I like that. And it's actually probably less expensive than some alternatives too. That -- that's a great idea. All right, so that's going to bring us to the end of today's session. Again, if we were not able to answer your question, I apologize. We have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people all asking questions. And we took those that we thought would be of most interest to the largest group. I want to thank Linda and Sherman and David for great presentations. Thank Jamie for monitoring that question box and thank Mike in the background who makes all things webinar work. Once again, we will have this webinar archived so you can listen to it in a couple of weeks. You can also listen to other webinars if you decide a topic we've discussed in the past is of interest to you. And again, if we have not answered your specific question, give a call at 866-968-7842 or for TTY users -- 866-833-2967. Everybody have a great afternoon and thanks to all of our speakers today. Take care.