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Ticket to Work: Work Incentives Seminar Event Webinar
Ticket to Work: Choosing a Service Provider That’s Right for You
Date: Wednesday, April 27
Time: 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET

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Accessing Today’s Webinar
You can manage your audio using the audio option at the top of your screen (it will look like a microphone or telephone icon).
All attendees will be muted and we encourage you to attend by choosing “listen only” from the audio menu; this will enable the sound to be broadcast through your computer, so please make sure your speakers are turned on or your headphones are plugged in.

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Accessing Today’s Webinar, continued
If you do not have sound capabilities on your computer or prefer to listen by phone, dial: Toll-Free number: 1-800-832-0736 Access code: 8458462

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Webinar Accessibility

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Captioning
Real-time captioning is provided during this webinar.
The captions can be found in Captioning pod, which appears in the lower-right corner of the webinar platform. 
You can also access captioning online: http://www.captionedtext.com/client/event.aspx?CustomerID=846&EventID=2915912

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Questions and Answers (Q&A)
For Q&A: Please use the Q&A pod to submit any questions you have during the webinar and we will direct the questions accordingly during the Q&A portion.
If you are listening by phone and not logged in to the webinar, you may also ask questions by emailing questions to webinars@choosework.net. 

Please note: This webinar is being recorded and the archive will be available within two weeks on the Choose Work website at http://www.choosework.net. 

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Technical Assistance
If you experience any technical difficulties during the webinar, please use the chat box to send a message to the host Nakia Matthews, or you may also email nmatthews@ndi-inc.org.

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Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
Jayme Pendergraft, NDI Consulting
Exploring Your Work Goals
Kendra Berry, Indiana Works
Social Security Disability Benefits and the Ticket to Work Program
Kendra Berry
Meet Your Employment Team
Kendra Berry, Tina Skeel, Indiana Works, Sandy Widener, Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Tips for Choosing a Service Provider That’s Right for You
Kendra Berry, Tina Skeel, Sandy Widener
How Do You Find a Ticket to Work Service Provider?
Kendra Berry
Long-Term Employment Supports
Tina Skeel, Sandy Widener
Other Resources
Jayme Pendergraft
Questions and Answers
Presentation Team

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Exploring Your Work Goals

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What are Your Work Goals?

Take some time to think about these questions:
•	What type of work do I like to do?
•	What are my interests?
•	What kind of job do I want now?
•	What kind of job do I want five years from now?

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What are Work Your Goals? (con’t)

Take some time to think about these questions:
•	What are my long-term career goals?
•	Where do I want to work? At home? In an office? Outside? etc.
•	Do I want to be self-employed or work for someone else?

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What are Your Work Goals? (con’t)

After you get a sense of the kind of job you want, ask yourself these questions:
•	What type of training or education do I need to reach my goal?
•	Will I need assistance at my workplace? Special equipment, a job coach, or a special schedule?
•	Do I have a particular job in mind or do I need help finding a job?
•	Do I need help with my résumé or interview skills?
•	Do I need help to understand how working will affect my benefits?

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Social Security Disability Benefits and Work Incentives

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Social Security Disability Benefit Programs
Social Security Disability Insurance

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Social Security Disability Benefit Programs
Supplemental Security Income 

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The Ticket to Work Program

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Starting the Journey

Only you can decide if work is the right choice for you.

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Why Choose Work?

•	Earn more income
•	Gain independence
•	Meet new people
•	Learn new skills
 
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What is the Ticket to Work Program?

Ticket to Work
•	Is a free and voluntary Social Security program;
•	Offers career development for people age 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits.
 
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Taking the Next Step

Gathering information and resources is key to planning your journey toward employment.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives can help make your journey a smooth one.

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Taking the Next Step (con’t)

Call the Ticket to Work Help Line:
1-866-968-7842 (V)
1-866-833-2967 (TTY)

Visit:
www.choosework.net

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Meet Your Employment Team

Ticket to Work Service Providers

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Who Can Help You Achieve Your Work Goal?

The Ticket to Work program offers you a choice of service providers:
•	Employment Networks (ENs)
•	Workforce ENs
•	State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies
•	Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects
•	Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)

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What is an Employment Network (EN)?

An EN is a private or public organization that contracts with Social Security to provide free employment support services to people eligible for Ticket to Work. EN services may include:
•	Career planning;
•	Job leads and job placement;
•	On-going employment support; and
•	Benefits counseling.

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What is an Employment Network (EN)? (con’t)

Who do ENs serve?
•	Some ENs only provide services to their local community.
•	Others provide services across one or more states.
•	There are ENs that provide services nationwide.
•	You will work with some ENs in person, some over the phone, and other via email or a website.

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What is a Workforce EN?

Workforce ENs are ENs that are also part of the state public workforce system.
Provide access to an array of employment support services, including training programs and special programs for veterans and youth in transition.
A Ticket to Work participant who assigns their ticket to a Workforce EN will either work with a Workforce EN directly or via other providers in the workforce system, including American Job Centers.

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What are Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies?

You may choose to work with your local VR. 
State VR agencies furnish a wide variety of services to help people with disabilities return to work.
These services are designed to provide the client with the training and other services that are needed to return to work, to enter a new line of work, or to enter the workforce for the first time.

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What Services Do VR Agencies Offer?

VR services may include
•	Intensive training
•	Education
•	Rehabilitation
•	Career counseling
•	Job placement assistance
•	Benefits counseling

Some states also have separate VR agencies that serve individuals who are blind and visually impaired. 

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What are Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects?

WIPA projects
•	Are organizations within your community that provide free benefits counseling to Social Security disability beneficiaries to help them make informed choices about work.
•	Offer a range of services to help you understand your options if you choose to pursue work.
•	Are staffed by Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) who provide in-depth counseling about working, earning more money, and how working may affect your benefits.

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How Can Working with a WIPA Project Help You?

WIPA projects can help you
•	Understand the rules of specific Work Incentives and how they apply to you;
•	Decide whether the Ticket to Work program is right for you.

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How Can Working with a WIPA Project Help You? (con’t)

WIPA projects can help you
•	Understand the potential benefits of employment as a person who receives disability benefits from Social Security while dispelling the myths about working;
•	Analyze how work and earnings may affect your SSI, SSDI, and other public benefits; 
•	Understand the services provided by a State VR agency or an EN, and how they might fit best with your needs

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What is Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)?

The PABSS program
•	Helps people with disabilities who receive Social Security disability benefits and have a disability-related employment issue.
•	PABSS advocates provide 
•	Legal support, 
•	Advocacy, and
•	Information to assist beneficiaries to resolve employment-related concerns.

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What is Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)? (con’t)

PABSS services may include
•	Navigating organizations and services to support your efforts to work and protect your rights such as appealing decisions of a VR agency or EN;
•	Requesting reasonable accommodations in your workplace, college classes, training courses, and licensing programs;
•	Other disability-based legal issues that are barriers to employment, such as transportation.

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Tips for Choosing the Service Provider That’s Right for You

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Choosing a Service Provider That’s Right for You

When you choose a service provider:
•	Take the time you need to feel confident about the choice you are making.
•	Make sure you understand the affect that working will have on your benefits.
•	Talk to an EN or VR that offers benefits counseling or contact your local WIPA project.
•	It may be helpful to talk to several ENs and your VR agency about your work goals before you assign your Ticket.

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Questions to Ask Prospective Service Providers

As you talk to service providers, you may want to ask some of these questions:
•	Do you offer guidance for participating in the Ticket to Work Program?
•	Do you serve others who also have my disability?
•	What types of jobs has the service provider found for other people with similar experience/skill sets similar to yours?

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What Do You Need Help with to Achieve Your Goals?

As you meet with potential service providers, be sure to talk about
•	The services you need help with. Do you need help with résumé writing? Interview skills? Benefits counseling?
•	Why are you looking for help with these services? 
•	Can this service provider help you achieve your work goals?

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Keep These Questions in Mind

As you search for a service provider, ask yourself:
•	Do you want to assign your Ticket to this EN or VR agency?
•	Did the staff seem friendly and willing to work with you?
•	Does the EN or VR agency provide all the services you need?
•	How does the service provider compare to other providers you’re considering?
•	Do you know of anyone who has used this service provider?
•	What did he or she think?

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How Do You Find a Ticket to Work Service Provider?

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How Do You Find a Service Provider?

If you’re ready to find a service provider:
•	Use the Find Help Tool to find a service provider.
•	Visit the Find Help Tool online at www.choosework.net/findhelp. 

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Choosing a Service Provider Using the Find Help Tool

•	When you use the Find Help Tool:
•	Use the Advanced Search to create a customized list of service providers for you;
•	Know that the list generated from your search may not have a local office near you but they do serve your zip code or state.
⁃	You can still work with them over the phone or by email, and they may have a local office that isn’t listed in the directory. Give them a call to find out! 

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Long-Term Employment Supports

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Partnership Plus

If you found help with a VR, your case may be closed approximately 90 days after you start working.
You may find that you need continued support services to help you keep your job and increase your earnings over time.
VR agencies often partner with ENs that provide job retention services and other types of ongoing support.
This arrangement is called Partnership Plus. 

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Partnership Plus

After VR services have ended, you can assign your Ticket to an EN of your choice to receive these additional services. 

Partnership Plus sets you up for success by providing the support you need at each step to financial independence. 

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Partnership Plus Graphic depicts a step-by-step chart. Begins at VR. Explore your employment options, prepare for the workforce, and find a job with VR. VR may help you prepare for the workforce with benefits counseling, career counseling, education and training and job search support. An EN can help you stay employed as you gain experience and earn more money. An EN may help you with benefits counseling, job accommodations, job coaching, and job retention services. Working with VR and an EN should lead you to fulfillment of self-sufficiencey.

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How Can an EN Help You after You’ve Found Work?

Once you’ve found a job, an EN may help you
•	Get job accommodations;
•	Communicate with your employer;
•	Stay in touch with Social Security;
•	Stay organized;
•	Report earnings; and 
•	Find answers to your questions about how working can affect your benefits.

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Other Resources

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Ticket to Work Beneficiary Worksheet

Once you receive a list of service providers, this worksheet may help you call, email or visit an EN or VR to find one that is right for you. 
This worksheet gives you a list of questions to ask which may help you with your decision to assign your Ticket.

Download online at https://www.chooseworkttw.net/library/finding-EN-assigning-your-ticket-worksheet 

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Learn more about Partnership Plus online:
https://www.chooseworkttw.net/library/partnership-plus 

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For More Information

Call the Ticket to Work Help Line:
•	•	1-866-968-7842 (V)
•	•	1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
Visit:
www.socialsecurity.gov/work 
Connect:
•	•	Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/choosework  
•	•	Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chooseworkssa 
Watch Ticket to Work Videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/choosework
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ticket-to-work 

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Tell us what you think!

Please remember to take our webinar survey!

A link will pop up after the webinar, or you can visit www.choosework.net/surveys/wise