WISE Ticket to Work Webinar
Ticket to Work, Self-Employment, and Working from Home
September 26, 2018

Speakers: Sarah Hyland (Moderator); Colleen Moynihan, Lisa Seeley & Ethel Lawrence (Presenters)

SARAH>> Good afternoon and welcome to today's Ticket to Work webinar, Ticket to Work, Self-Employment, and Working from Home. We apologize for the late start and we'll begin right away. My name is Sarah Hyland, and I am a member of the Ticket to Work team, and I will be your moderator for today's webinar. 

To get us started, I would like to review some items that will help you get the most out of today's webinar. First, to access the webinar, you can manage your audio using the audio option at the top of your screen. The audio option is an icon that looks like a microphone or telephone. Available in the web links pod is an accessibility user guide for Adobe Connect if you should need additional assistance. 
 
All attendees will be muted throughout today's webinar; thus, we encourage you to attend by choosing "Listen only," which appears at the bottom right in the audio menu. This will enable the sound to be broadcast through your computer. So, if you have not done so already, please take a moment to make sure your speakers are turned on and your headphones are plugged in. If you're unable to connect the audio with your computer or prefer listening by phone, please dial 800-832-0736 and enter access code 4189148#. 

The next item we would like to share with you deals with webinar accessibility. Real-time captioning is available and can be found in the captioning pod, which appears below the slide that is on your screen right now. You can also access captioning online by going to http://bit.ly/sept18wise. This link can be found in the web links pod that we were discussing in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. 

We look forward to and encourage your participation today. Questions you have during the webinar can be submitted by typing them into the Q&A pod, and we will direct the questions to the appropriate speaker during the Q&A portion of our webinar. We do have a large number of participants today and we'll do our best to answer as many questions as possible. If you are listening by phone and are not logged into the webinar, you may ask questions by sending an e-mail to webinars@choosework.ssa.gov. 

At the bottom right-hand side of your screen, you will find the web links pods, which lists all the links and resources presented during today's webinar. To access any of these resources, highlight the topic you would like to connect to and select "Browse to" button at the bottom of the pod and you will be taken to the website you requested. In the event you are listening by phone and not logged into webinar, you can e-mail webinars@choosework.ssa.gov for a list of available resources. 

And today's webinar is being recorded, and a copy of it will be available within two weeks on the Choose Work website, which can be accessed at http://bit.ly/WISEarchives. This link, as well as others mentioned, can be found in the web links pod that you can find in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. 

We hope you have a great experience on the webinar today; however, if you run into any technical difficulties, go ahead and send us, in the Q&A, your question, and if you are not able to do that, you can send us an e-mail at webinars@choosework.ssas.gov. This link can be found in the web links pod as well. And, as I mentioned earlier, my name is Sarah Hyland and I am a member of the Ticket to Work team. I'm excited to be here with you today and moderate this webinar. 

Okay, we are delighted to have with us today three individuals who will share information about Social Security's Ticket to Work program, Self-Employment, and Working from Home. 

Colleen Moynihan is the director of New Hampshire Business Association's NEBA's ticket to Work Program since 2008. Miss Moynihan assists individuals in implementing their business concepts and/or providing support employment. Twenty-five-plus years with two Fortune 100 companies as an executive in marketing and strategic planning, she served on national industry boards as an advisor on federal regulations and legislation. 

Most recently, Miss Moynihan was appointed Social Security's National Employment Network's Resource Initiative. She also participates on the National Employment Network Association's Marketing and Operations Committee. Miss Moynihan has operated her own business consulting firm since 1991. 

Another speaker, Lisa Seeley, is at Work at Home Employment counselor. She helps clients who receive SSDI or SSI find and promote employment. She attended Cayuga Community College and majored in Early Childhood Development. She is driven to help our clients find empowering and successful employment. Seeing clients working is a major reward for her. When she is not working, she is simply caring for her family. Lisa is also a Ticket to Work Program success story and has been with Employment Options eight years. 

Our final speaker, Ethel Lawrence, is a junior manager at My Employment Options, assisting clients in finding community employment and work-from-home positions. She has been at this current position for almost nine years, and she also 20 years HR experience at Wal-Mart. 
 
Today we'll discuss how Social Security's Ticket to Work Program can help you answer questions like what is the Ticket program; can I be self-employed with Ticket to Work; can I work from home with Ticket to Work; and where can I find help finding jobs or support as I pursue self-employment? 

Our goal for today is that, at the close of today's webinar, you will be able to understand how you may succeed working for yourself or working from home with Ticket to Work; understand who can help you on your path to financial independence and be able to access additional resources about self-employment working from home and Ticket to Work. 
 
Okay, do we have Colleen on the line? Okay. We will be skipping ahead to Lisa and Ethel's portion. Just give us one moment. Okay, it's my pleasure to introduce Lisa Seeley and Ethel Lawrence, who will be discussing, in detail, the Ticket to Work Program and working from home. Lisa, do we have you on the line? 

LISA>> Yes, I am here. I'm sorry. 

SARAH>> No, that's okay. We're going to have you go over SSDI and SSI. 

LISA>> Okay, perfect. Hi everybody. I'm Lisa Seeley. I am one of the presenters here at today's webinar, and I'm a work-from-home vocational counselor. So just wanted to touch base with you about Social Security Disability Benefits Program. So, beneficiaries either receive what's called SSDI or SSI. SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. So, there is a big difference between the two. You just definitely want to make sure which one you receive. Next slide. 
 
So, Social Security Ticket to Work Program, this is a program that, again, I personally took part in, and the Ticket to Work Program is a voluntary program that allows beneficiaries to try to return into the workforce again. You know, there are different ENs, which are employment networks that can help with employment services that assist beneficiaries with researching job goals and trying to find different employment that would benefit the beneficiary. Next slide, please. 

So, starting your journey. Only you can decide if work is the right choice for you. So, if you're wanting something more out of life, you know, if you feel that you have something to provide and want to go back to work, Ticket to Work is a great program to help you do that. So, next slide, please. 

So, why do you want to choose work? Well, I mean, the beauty of this program is you earn more income. So, there are different rules when it comes to SSI and SSDI, but for me, you know, you can earn more income and be able to keep your cash benefits, as well as your medical benefits. There are, based on an individual basis, but that is a good incentive for you to do that. You can also meet new people. 

You know, being on disability tends to be isolating. So, you know, going back to work, you're able to kind of expand your horizons a little bit and be able to meet new people, co-workers, friends. You're able to learn new skills, you know, if you're been in customer service in the past and say you want to get in customer service but have a focus on insurance, you can always do that. Advancement is always there, and you can also gain financial independence. So, you know, returning to work you do gain more money, which can help you with financial incentives for sure. Next slide. 

So, what is the Ticket to Work Program? Ticket to Work Program, it's Social Security's National Employment Program. Again, it is 100 percent voluntary. It is a program where, again, vocational rehabilitation agencies or employment networks can support career development with people who are receiving SSI or SSDI benefits. You do have to be between the ages of 18 to 64 to participate, and, again, this is a 100 percent free and voluntary program. Next slide, please. 
 
So, some services that are offered may include some job coaching as a vocational counselor; that's part of my job. I'm there to help with managing employment so that my clients can maintain their position; job counseling, so I'm also here to help provide advisement, which half my clients may want to take, you know, if they want customer service or if they want sales, so I'm able to help with that; training, we do help with training. We support our clients to get through training. We also offer benefits counseling, so, you know, when you do start working, while you are on benefits, you're going to get a lot of paperwork from social security, and, you know, we do have benefits' counselors that can help you with, basically, translating those forms and reports and everything, and help you understand what Social Security is wanting, needing, and they can help you fill out any paperwork too. 

We also help with job placement, so that is our main position as a vocational counselor, is to help you get interviews, help you with interview coaching. Once you get the position, we help you also maintain your position. It can be a challenge going back to work after many years of not working, and we're just here as support to help you feel more confident and comfortable in the Ticket to Work process. Next slide, please. 

SARAH>> Lisa, thank you so much. We're going to turn it over to Jayme to cover Working from Home with Ticket to Work. Thanks, Jayme.

JAYME>> Hi everybody. This is Jayme Pendergraft. Actually, we're going to skip ahead and let Lisa and Ethel cover that section as we try and get our other presenter on the phone. So, Lisa, I will hand it right back over to you. 

LISA>> Okay, very good. So, are we -- sorry. We're on Slide -- 

JAYME>> We are on Slide 39. 

LISA>> 39; okay. So, again, employment action, the Employment Network that Ethel and I are employed with, Employment Options is one of more than 500 authorized employment networks in Social Security's Ticket to Work Program, so, you know, when you do participate in Ticket to Work, you do have a choice. You actually will call an agency called MAXIMUS and request an EN listing, and there are a lot, over 500 ENs on this list, and you can go through the list and try to choose and select one that is you feel would best fit your needs, and they have names and numbers of everything. 

So, for more than 20 years, Employment Options has helped people with assessing skills and abilities. We choose suitable positions for each client. Every client has different goals and abilities, so we go through and make sure that we place them in a position that would best suit them. We also help with application completion. So, you know, working from home, applications are online. So, sometimes it can be tricky or have tech glitches, so we also here to support with that as well. 

We also will do resume writing. You know, writing a resume can be a little bit of a challenge, so vocational counselors are also here to help prepare a resume, and we can help you do that as well. We do interview coaching, so, you know, once you do get an interview, we'll be able to prep you for interviews, so, you know, the more prepared you are for the interview process the more comfortable and the more prepared you're going to feel the more successful the interview will be. 

And after you have your successful interview, then the final step is your job placement, so you would get an offer, either an offer e-mail or an offer call to attend a job meeting. So, those are kind of the steps of getting the position working from home. Next slide, please. 
 
So, why choose Work from Home. Working remotely may be a good fit if it helps achieve your personal work goals. It allows you to be in a more comfortable work environment. If you've had mobility issues you can avoid having to make special transportation arrangements, seek opportunities in different fields of work, and if you need to work as an accommodation, additional advantages to working from home are not having to travel inclement weather, not worrying at automobile issues, and no additional costs for transportation, meals and workflow. Next slide, please. 
 
So, what types of work from home jobs are available? So, Employment Options help place our clients in a variety of virtual categories, including customer service, such as order taking, retail positions. We also have various levels of tech support. We have positions in the healthcare industry, sales, and many more. With the work-from-home industry booming, we can continue to add more and more new categories to our virtual job opportunities, so work from home is growing like wild fire. There are job opening up in fields all over the place. So, next slide, please. 
 
What types of skills do you need to work from home? So, a qualified applicant would need to have basic computer skills. You've got to be able to turn on your computer and navigate through multiple windows and, you know, basic computer skills such as that; typing skills of 35 words per minute with 95 percent accuracy. Work-from-home are real sticklers on typing, just because you'll be typing quite a bit, you know. And then you will need high-speed internet in your home office. There's no Wi-Fi accepted whatsoever, so they're real sticklers on that too. You need a clear professional phone voice, and at least one year of customer service experience in areas such as retail, hospitality, or any call-center environment. Next slide, please.

So, some things to keep in mind when considering work from home is you want to be really cautious. Not all work-from-home opportunities are legitimate, so you want to look for red flags. Some work-from-home opportunities may be too good to be true. So, a couple of things to look for is, is the company wanting to charge you a fee? You know, you should never have to pay for employment. There may be a few small incidences where you may have to pay for a background check, so keep that in mind. But 99.9 percent of the time you never have to pay for employment. 

Something else to keep in mind is how long has the company been in business. You know, you want to research the company. One benefit of working with an employment network is they can help you do this. Employment Options, we have various partnerships with companies, so we're very familiar with what is legit and who is not, so definitely want to watch out for those scams. 

And then you also want to understand your taxes when we're working remotely. So, some jobs, they may be W-2, where taxes are withheld for you, and others could billion a 1099 position, which is considered independent contractors, and you would be responsible to take out your own taxes and pay at the end to have season, so you definitely want to keep an eye on that as well. Next slide, please. 

So, working from home, so now we're going to get ready to start our journey with working from home, so we're going to discuss helpful preparation tips to get yourself ready to work from home. Next slide, please. 
 
So, getting ready, you want to update your resume. The most important item to have when applying for a work-from-home position is your resume. In order to draw the recruiter's attention, it must be solid and well formatted. So, be sure your resume indicates dates of previous employment, education, training, and community service or volunteer work even. Keep in mind, you need to address gaps in employment history. You can use several different scenarios depending on your personal experiences. If references are needed, you want to make sure you contact each of them and give them a heads' up that you're going to be applying for some positions and you will be using them as a personal reference. Okay, next slide, please. 
 
So, getting ready, what's your experience? So, something else to consider when reviewing your resume is to make sure you have the right experience. Are you comfortable with dealing with questions, complaints, and other requests by phone or online? Also, compare the job listings to you resume and make sure your qualifications fit the requirements. Recruiters are always looking for specific key words within your qualification section, so be sure your resume reflects what the job requirements are indicating. Okay, next slide, please. 
 
So, getting ready, you know, working onsite. So, if you don't have the required amount of customer service experience necessary for these work-from-home positions, you will need to consider some onsite work to gain experience. Work from home, you know, the companies are really, really strict about having at least six months to a year of recent customer service experience. So, in order to establish the necessary qualifications, you may need to look in your local community, get that experience, and be able to add that on your resume, and then once you establish the necessary qualifications, then you would be able to transition to a work-from-home position. So, sometimes it does take baby steps in order to reach your ultimate goal of working from home. So, next slide, please. 
 
Okay, so here we are getting ready for the hiring process. So, work-at-home employers will conduct testing and assessments to see if you are a good fit for work from home. So, for example, they'll make you do some typing tests, some possible reading comprehension, basic computer skills. You know, each company has different assessment sets, but those are mainly most of the generalized ones. Employers will do background checks and sometimes credit checks. They may also require testing for illegal drugs. Be prepared to complete a lot of new-hire paperwork if you do get the job. Paperwork is a pretty good amount, just because identity. They want to make sure you are who you say you are, so, you will have to complete a lot of new-hire paperwork. Next slide, please. 

So, now let's go over working from home and being on the job. Next slide, please. Okay, so congratulations, you've got the job, so now set yourself up for success, including setting up a separate and quiet work space. Stick to a schedule, and you cannot take care of kids or pets during your scheduled work time. You want to make sure you have a very, very quiet work area, even doorbells, clocks ticking, anything like that at all, you want to make sure it's complete silence. Be sure to have appropriate child or pet care that allows you to have a quiet work environment. You know, some people think because they're able to work from home, they're able to watch their children as well at the same time, but definitely not so. They want to make sure that your kids, pets, anything that you would be responsible for has the proper care so that you can completely commit your attention to your work-from-home position. 

You also want to be sure to set aside time outside of working hours to get out of the house and socialize with others. You know, being that you're going to be in your work office, sometimes up to eight hours a day, isolation can become an issue, so you want to allow yourselves some time outside of your office. You know, try to get outside, go for a walk or go to the mall or have a lunch date with some friends or whatnot. But make sure you set yourself up with that as well. Next slide, please. 
 
So, you have the job, what next? Your work environment, remember to make sure your work environment is quiet, private, and you have a comfortable chair, good lighting, and eliminate as many outside noises as possible. Next slide, please. 
 
So, Lori Adler, she is one of our fellow coworkers here at Employment Options, and when anxiety stood in Lori's way of building a career, she turned to the Ticket to Work Program for help. Lori actually worked in our Marketing and Communications Department and has found so much more than a job, she found a career that she's passionate about. 

So, I myself am also a Ticket to Work success story. I used the Ticket to find employment options to help me achieve my career goals. So, for me, I'd kind of like to share a little bit about my experience so that people can kind of get an idea of what the process is with Ticket to Work. So, what I did was, you know, I decided that it was time for me to get back to work. I wanted to be more successful in life. I wanted to be more productive, and so what I did was, you know, I had checked with Social Security. They got me hooked up with MAXIMUS, and MAXIMUS is the agency that looks over the Ticket to Work Program. So, they basically manager the Ticket to Work. 

At MAXIMUS, I asked for an employment network list, and they mailed one out to me. I reviewed the list, which, you know, can be a little overwhelming, because there are so many ENs to choose from. But, you know, I just did the research and narrowed some down, made a few calls. I basically want to interview these ENs to make sure I select the one that would best represent me, help me achieve my goals, things like that. So, I came across Employment Options, and, actually, you know, wanted to become a client of theirs, and so I made the call. I got involved with the Ticket to Work, and here I am. 

I don't know how, but it was kind of a whirlwind. I actually got a job here at Employment Options just because of all my experience with Ticket to Work Program. And on my journey, I'm able to relate to my clients and understand exactly where they're coming from, and understand the anxieties about returning to work and maintaining your position and, you know, what's going to happen with my cash benefits and my Medicaid or my Medicare, you know. And so, you know, have a benefits counselor, or I did have a benefits counselor on staff, and I was able to reach out to Teresa. Teresa is our benefits counselor here at Employment Options, and she helped me with so much. She helped me with completing paperwork. 

You know, Social Security does send out paperwork, and you have to report earnings and all these different things. But it was very simple, you know, when I had the support and had the support of someone that knew exactly what they were doing, you know. It can be very intimidating doing all of this on your own, but it was very painless, to say the least, to have Teresa's support, have my employment counselors to help me navigate and figure out my career goals. And my big career goal was to help others that were in my shoes, so that's why I do what I do today. I like to give others, give out some hope, some encouragement. Ticket to Work Program definitely works. I am living proof. You know, if you want to work you can, and you will. But there are definite support systems out there, such as Ticket to Work, that can allow you to do that. So that's a little bit about me and my journey through Ticket to Work, so next slide, please. 
 
Okay, so My Employment Options, here is a little bit about us. If anyone is interested in applying for our free services and work-at-home opportunities, we also help with onsite jobs too. So, work for home is not for everybody, so if you want to work in your community, we can help you do that as well. So, you can just simply visit our website at www.myemploymentoptions.com, so that's myemploymentoptions.com and click "Apply" at the top. 

So, once you submit your application, our screener -- her name is [Sheeka] -- will call you within two business days, so you can go over your application together. Employment Options, also, throughout the year, we host free virtual events, including webinars, online job fairs. We're actually hosting our next free National Online Job Fair on Thursday, October 11th, so it runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. But you can attend anytime that day. You don't have to be there from 10:00 to 4:00. You know, there's different blocks of time that various employers will be there. 

So, there is a schedule that will be posted on our website, so, you know, if you see an employer that you really want to speak with or chat with, check the schedule out, and you can pop in many times that way. The fair is open to anyone to the public, as well as from any state. It does feature work from home and onsite employers, but it's a great way to interact with the different recruiters, so if you have any specific questions or you have any concerns or anything like that, that's what they're there for, you know, is to help provide you information, information about the position, equipment requirements, things like that. 

So, to register, you just simply visit our website and click "Job fairs" at the very top, and if you follow directions, it's pretty similar simple, and you will be all registered for our job fair. Next slide, please. 
 
So, here we are at questions, so, Jayme, not sure how you want to handle this, but I'll turn it over to you. 

SARAH>> Hi Lisa. This is Sarah. Thank you so much for that information on the Ticket to Work Program and working from home. We have many questions that have been coming in from our participants, so let's go ahead and take a look at some of those questions here on today's event. I do believe Ethel is on the line as well now. Ethel, do we have you on the line? Okay. So, we will keep the questions for you, Lisa, and we will get started with that now. 

LISA>> Great. 

SARAH>> Awesome. The first question I have for you is, how can I determine if self-employment is right for me? 

LISA>> Well, I'm not too familiar with self-employment, but my knowledge with self-employment is mainly taxes. Now, self-employment, also, when you are an independent contractor, usually -- usually, I should say, you do get to kind of make your own schedules, which, you know, can be very important to somebody, especially when you're on disability. You know, medications come into play. Sometimes people can't take meds before a specific time and things like that. So, I know scheduling would be something that to consider. 

Also, taxes, independent contractor positions, you would be responsible for taking out your own taxes and then paying them at the end of the season. Otherwise, I really, you know, don't have too much more information on self-employment. You know, sometimes self-employment, that's all people can do, because disabilities can be very unpredictable, so, depending on what you do have. 

I do have a couple of clients with fibromyalgia. You know, fibro, you know, you really don't know when it's going to flare up, so, being self-employed, that could be a benefit, because you could, depending on your employer again, possibly pick your own schedule, when you want to work and when you don't. 

SARAH>> Okay, thank you for that, Lisa. What I wanted to ask you was how can I determine if working from home is right for me, if you have an answer for that. 

LISA>> Sure. So, working from home, there are quite a few requirements that you need to meet in order to qualify. You have to have the necessary equipment. You do have to have a computer. You do have to have internet service, preferably high speed. Dial-up is not accepted. It has to be a hard-wired connection. There's no Wi-Fi allowed at all. It's not considered a secure connection, so definitely have to have a hard-wired connection. 

Different employers have different requirements, so, you know, when you do the job application, you'll have to look at the requirements section to make sure your computer and your equipment, your phone, you know, there's different phone requirements. You just have to make sure you have the proper equipment to qualify. 

Also, working from home, you have to be very independent. You're not going to have that one-on-one supervision that you may have out in the community. You know, you're going to be by yourself essentially. I mean, you will have managers to chat with if you do have an issue, but if you feel like you're able to problem solve on your own, you're going to have to do a lot of that working from home. But you have to be a fast learner as well. 

Training, you know, training can be very fast paced. They have so much information to give to you in a small amount of time, so depending on the position itself, you know, customer service training can run anywhere from two to four weeks long, and training is, I'm going to say, 90 percent full-time hours. There's no getting around that because, as I said before, there's so much information to give to you in such a small amount of time that you have to be there 100 of the time as well. There's no allowance for any absences. 

But, you know, you also have to have customer service experience, at least very minimum of six months. Usually you've got to have a year, and it could be anywhere from retail customer service experience, like if you worked at Wal-Mart or you worked at McDonalds or and fast-food restaurants or anything like that, that would be considered customer service experience. So, it doesn't necessarily have to be strict call center experience, so we do give you some flexibility with that. 

But, you know, some people, depending on your disability, it's really your only option to be able to return to work. So, you know, really, the only real way to know if work from home is for you is to try it out, and that's kind of what the beauty of the Ticket to Work Program is. It's kind of a trial-and-error-type situation, you know. So, if you feel work from home may be a good fit for you and you want to try it out, you know, get with an EN. Get with an EN that you feel would be a good fit for you, and they can help you get to that goal of working from home. 

SARAH>> Great. Thank you, Lisa. So, off of that, where is a good place to locate reputable and legitimate work-from-home jobs? Do you have any suggestions for that? 

LISA>> Well, employment networks. I mean, I can speak for Employment Options. You know, we specialize in work-from-home placement, so we have, actually, quite a few different work-from-home companies that we have partnerships with. So, you know, we have very, very good idea -- we have, actually, a list of companies that we would not recommend our clients to go to because they are either fraudulent or just we wouldn't recommend going there. But we also have quite a few companies that we would highly recommend referring to our clients. So, you definitely want to work with somebody who is familiar with the area. 

There are different websites out there, such as ratracerebellion.com that post different work-from-home positions. Again, I can't guarantee that they're all legit. I mean, you just really got to keep your eye out on those red flags that we kind of reviewed earlier in the webinar. But, you know, Rat Race Rebellion is one that you can go to. We have a site called Virtual Vocations. I mean, that has some work-from-home positions posted as well. But to really get the good positions, you have to have a membership, which a lot of people, you know, can't really do at this point. But, yeah, in my opinion, the best would be your job counselor, you know. Work with a counselor that you trust, and they can help you navigate best from all those work-from-home positions. 

SARAH>> Great. Thank you. And just a reminder to all our participants, that the links that are discussed in today's available on the web links pod to the bottom right of your screen. And, Lisa, to go off of the last question, what are some red flags that you have seen for work-from-home job advertisements that it might be clear that it's a scam? 

LISA>> Fees; that's probably the number one. You should not have to pay for employment. So, if, you know, you see some fee for anything, really, except there is an occasional background check fee that may -- you know, if you want to move forward with a position, it would be legitimate to do a background check fee. But otherwise, you shouldn't have to pay for training. You shouldn't have to pay for any payroll management. You shouldn't have to pay to do the application itself. Never, ever give out any credit card information or anything like that. That would be a huge red flag. I always say, if the job seems too good to be true it probably is. So, you know, if you see an ad that says, you know, earn $2,000 in one week, or anything like that, no, that is not a legitimate position. So, you know, those would be the number-one things. I mean, you've got to kind of go with your gut. If you feel like, oh, there is too good to be true, you know, it probably is. 

Again, you really want to work with somebody who is familiar with the work-from-home companies and job searches, things like that. But those would be the main things, you know, you shouldn't have to pay for employment, and don't give out any unnecessary information, like financial information or anything like that. Sometimes you might want to check the Better Business Bureau, you know. I mean, see what they have ranked for that specific company. 

There's also a website called Glassdoor.com, G-l-a-s-s-d-o-o-r.com, and they kind of give you ratings and what the company rate is. Some people actually add comments about the position. You know, some people say, "Oh, this is legit," or, "No, this is not legit." So, you can kind of read up and see what they have to say. But, yeah, for the most part, just don’t pay for employment and don't give out any information that's not necessary. 

SARAH>> Great. Great. Those are great tips. One last question for you before we move on. Is there funding available to assist individuals with disabilities looking to set up a home office for work-from-home jobs? 

LISA>> Home funding, so employment networks really aren't able to help you with any funding to set up a home office. Where you could possibly get that, and I'm not a hundred percent positive, I'll be honest, but I think your local rehabilitation agency. They can help you, I believe, you know, get some equipment necessary in order for you to be able to work from home. So, that would be my recommendation, and that MAXIMUS who, again, manages the Ticket to Work Program, if you're interested in working vocational rehab you can stay in your local area, they can help you find one of those as well. So those rehabs they help with more educational training. Sometimes they are able to help you with video equipment. But that's where you would find help with that. 

SARAH>> Okay, great. Thank you so much, Lisa. All those are great answers and helpful tips. Now we are going to transition. Do we have Colleen on the line? 

COLLEEN>> I think you do. Ready to go. 

SARAH>> Great. Okay. Well, it's my pleasure to introduce Colleen Moynihan to discuss social security disability benefits. We actually already went over that, working for yourself, and the New England Business Associates, NEBA. Thanks, Colleen. 
 
COLLEEN>> Thank you. And you can go to the next slide, please. So, how can the Ticket to Work Program and work incentives help you get started with self-employment? By the way, these very same things, Ticket to Work and Work Incentives, can also help you if who are looking for employment. So, the Ticket to Work program and Work Incentives may be able to help you with some self-employment goals, and these incentives make it easier for folks with disabilities to work. They'll receive their medical benefits, and there are some cases where you might be able to qualify for, say, cash benefits. Next slide, please. Next slide. 

So, we talked on a prior slide about some benefits that you can get in terms of starting your business, and one of them is being able to use an unincurred business expense to benefit your brand new business, or, actually, business at any point, as long as you're still in the Ticket to Work trial work period. And that unincurred expense is any non-monitory contribution that someone else makes to your self-employment efforts. 

For example, you have just opened up, let's say for the fun of it, an ice cream parlor, and you need during a certain time of the day every day an employee, and you don't really have the means to hire an employee, and the other things, it's only for a few hours, but you really do need someone. So, a family member can come in and work without getting paid, and that can be an example of an unincurred business expense, something that helps you move your business forward that normally would require you to pay someone to do it, and it doesn't interfere with your business operations. Next slide, please. 

The other tool that is not often discussed or used as much as it should be is a PASS plan. It means Plan to Achieve Self-Support. And by the way, I will stress, whether we were talking about working from home, whether we're talking about self-employment, whether we're talking about any of the other benefits through the Ticket to Work program, we're really, really trying to help you get to that place where you are pretty well self-sufficient and off of your benefits, and a PASS plan is an excellent way to transition off of your social security cash benefits and move in to be financially self-supporting. 

So, a PASS plan is a written plan. It's approved by Social Security, and it will be something that pertains to either a particular type of job, it could also be used for education, by the way, and you can also use it for something you need for employment. But it describes the steps you're going to take and the items or services you're going to need to reach your goal. Next slide, please. 

So, someone asked the question, is self-employment the right choice for you? And we give you all of the right answers. For example, you really need to take some time of think about this question. Do you need flexible hours due to your disability? Do you have problems or a challenge finding reliable or affording transportation to get in and out of work? Do you need the freedom to work at your very own pace, and are you comfortable working on your own? You know, we make a point of working from home, which, by the way, in many cases is a form of self-employment. So, do you like being on your own, by yourself? You know, people don't realize that owning your business is a lonely activity. Now that's sad to say that it's a problem. But when you stop and think about the friends you know, and even within your own family, not many people have someone they know that runs their own business, so that means you're really going to have to be aware of the fact that a lot of it's going to be on you. Do you have a passion? Is there a hobby or an interest that you can build a business around, and more than anything else, are you self-motivated? If you are at all a procrastinator, it will be very difficult for you to do all of the things all of the time to help your business grow. Next slide, please. 
 
So, why would you choose self-employment? We talked a little bit about that already. There may be some work goals that you may want to obtain that may not be possible if you are unemployed. You're also more comfortable creating your own work accommodation so that you know you're going to meet the standard that you want. You want to be able to transition from benefits to financial independence. You can do this in employment as well, but it's a little bit sometimes easier because it's more gradual with self-employment because you're not compelled to have a 9:00 to 5:00 role and you're not looking at a set income for a stated period of time. 

If you are self-employed, you control a lot about how much you can make. And it also allows you to seek opportunities in different fields of work. I want to talk about this a little later on, but it's always been interesting to me how many people have come to NEBA to start a business and discovered that, in the process of working through their business, they found new skills that allowed them to find employment in an area they never would have thought of before. Next slide. 

So, this is Colleen Moynihan. I am from New England Business Associates, and we usually refer to ourselves as NEBA, and we are, as you see in that little triangle, an employment network. Next slide. Please. Next slide, please. 

So, who are we? We are one of more than 500 authorized employment networks in Social Security's Ticket to Work program. Our mission is to enable individuals with disabilities to be fully included in community life, primarily through some form of employment, because there are two paths for employment. One is self-employment, and one is what we call employment as an employee. NEBA serves individuals with a wide range of skills, abilities, and interests from ages 18 through 64. Next slide, please. 
 
So, what is our approach when we're talking to individuals interested in starting their own business? We work with you on an individualized basis. Every business -- and people don't realize this -- from the biggest to the smallest, all the things, all should have a business plan. They all have to have a marketing plan. They all have to have a financial plan. But what makes each business different, and it is this thing you see, so you think businesses aren't different, is the service or product that they offer to you, the consumer. So, when you have to make certain that working with you, if you decide you want to look at self-employment, that you have a business concept that is going to have a chance at success, and based on that concept, we will write a business plan, what we call a bankable business plan. And then we look for live support to help you implement that business plan for up to three year. 

Your business plan is nothing more than a tool box. It has a lot of information and a lot of ways to get things done. It's just as when you got your first screwdriver and hammer when you were a little kid for Christmas, someone had to show you how to use it so you didn't lose a thumb or an eye, and this is the same idea. You need to have some direction to really, really make sure that that plan is going to be implemented in the smartest most effective way possible. Next slide, please.
 
Well, what is a bankable business plan? Well, first of all, it should have a statement of your business goals and what do you want to achieve in terms of revenue, in terms of the number of clients, in terms of where you run a business. Some folks are very happy to stay in their hometown, other folks want to have an international business. Okay, what's your plan for reaching those goals? Then you need to have a marketing strategy to promote the business. 

Included in all of that is a three-year look at what it's going to cost you to run this business, as well as a three-year look at what you think you're going to get for net income. Now, I know what you're all thinking right now, oh, my goodness, numbers, finances, oh, my goodness, I can't do that. Yes, you can. A few slides ago you were told, we work on an individualized basis and we will help people wherever they are at skill-wise and understanding financial development, financial reporting, any of those kinds of things, and we will work with you so you understand your business and your business's financials so that you always will know what is going on financially for your business. Next slide, please. 

So, I already talked about the fact that we will help you develop your business idea. Is it a viable idea? Is it a practical idea? Is it something that's feasible for you to do? Does the idea require that you have special equipment or special talents or special training? All of these things will be explored. We're then going to guide you in writing the business plan. We do not write it, you do, because that is the only way that you will really, really understand what your business is all about. 

As I said earlier, we will assist you with implementing that business plan, and we are also going to help navigate the transition off of the social security benefits. We talked a little bit earlier in Lisa's presentation about looking at benefits for you. We're a very, very, avid supporter and believer in taking all the BEQI, that means a benefits query, a look at your social security benefit in terms of the income and the health to see what will happen as you earn more income, what happens to those two benefits? And it's all individualized, and so we just spend a lot of time in that process to help you understand where you are, because more than anything else, we want you to become a full-fledged member of society in the sense of being able to support yourself if that's your goal, and we hope that it is. And that in addition to which, you know, there are no bumps along the road in terms of transitioning off of your benefits. Next slide, please.  
 
There are three parts to the business plan that, but, frankly, we've already talked about this. You have your ideas, your goals. You have your three-year projections of business costs and how much profit you will make. By the way, I think the last time we talked about this we said net income. Well, profits, net income, cash flow, they're all the same. One of things that you will also learn in the course of working on your business plan with NEBA is you will learn the lingo, because every field has its lingo, you will learn the lingo of owning a business as well, and, last but not least, you will have a marketing plan for your target market that you have identified. Next slide, please. 

So, what are the requirements of participating with NEBA, because we do have them? So, to work with NEBA, and to be able to get the self-employment support that you might need, you must be a participant in the Ticket to Work Program, which simply means you will have to complete an individual workplan, and we will do that with you. You will then get to work with a certified NEBA instructor who is qualified to help you were your business plan. We've already talked about this. You have a business idea that's been evaluated and likely to succeed. When I say "according to NEBA standards," I'm also saying according to the Small Business Administration standards, The Score standards, the standards of the business world. 

We also want you to have a commitment to our program requirements, and there aren't that many, but we do need to have a commitment to those requirements, and if they are not met, we may not be able to help you. And more importantly, you must have access to your own computer, and it should be Microsoft Office outfitted. You heard Lisa talking about the fact if you're working from home, she listed the requirements that are expected, requirements that are expected, and this is the same thing. The list isn't this long, but it does need mean a computer. It does mean having it loaded with the appropriate software. We're not talking about a tablet, and we're not talking about a Smartphone. You must have equipment that will allow you to be able to develop a bankable business plan, and then moving forward, have a computer that will help you track your business activity and identify your clients. Next slide, please. 
 
So, how many people have NEBA service? Well, I have been with NEBA. NEBA actually started this program in 2007. I joined NEBA in 2008, and we have only been keeping track of what's been going on since 2009. 492 beneficiaries or ticketholders have participated in the program since that time, and 144 plans have been completed. You're going to go, whoa, that's a big difference. Well, not so much. 492 beneficiaries signed up. Some of them did not meet the requirements of the program (inaudible). Some found that they were able to find employment, and they have been very successful in finding employment. I would say 125 of those 492 went off and found employment and are gainfully employed. 

Now we have the remainder who may have continued through the plan, but, for whatever reason, their health or whatever factors might have happened in their life, did now complete the plan. So, we have 144 folks who did complete the plan. We share ticketholders in 40 states and Puerto Rico. So, if you're in a state other than Massachusetts, which is where I am right now, we're here to help you, and we're glad to help you. Our proudest accomplishment -- and I said, "Our accomplishment," it's your accomplishment -- we have, at the moment, 28 former ticketholders who no longer receive social security benefits. That is so important, to think about the fact that you are able to be self-sustaining. You are a full participating member of your community. You are able to start accumulating assets, which is the first and most critical step in moving forward financially. So, if these are the things that you ponder on occasion then maybe being self-employed is the way for you to go. Next slide, please. 
 
For more information on how to get information on the Ticket to Work Program, and NEBA at the same time, you can go to our website, www.nebaworks.com. You can e-mail us any question you have about Ticket at our specialized Ticket e-mail address, ticket@nebaworks.com. You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nebaworks. The thing that I'm so excited about these days is our podcast. We have a podcast. It comes out the second Thursdays of every month. We call it "Why NEBA Works," and it's about things Ticket. I don't care what it is, it's about all things Ticket. When it's short and sweet, it's something that you can access and get information on, and the space is about anywhere from eight to ten minutes. So, I find that's something that you can do while you're in the car, while you're sitting waiting for something. You can find us on whynebaworks.podbean.com, and I would invite any of you to give us a listen, because we also try and get information for those of you who are the professional support groups, not just the ticketholders or the family member with a ticketholder. Next slide, please. 

So, a little word or two about self-employment resources. Remember, we're talking about the fledgling business here, the person who is just starting a business, wants to start a business, has a business that's still kind of young, and all the work we do is based on the criteria and professional standards that are expressed by the Small Business Administration, which is a federal program of our government, and Score, which is a wonderful organization that assists individuals in the community to help them with their business. And we encourage our folks to join Score in their community to have another mentor that's close at hand. Next slide, please. 
 
So, we also have, in addition to Score, we have small business development centers. Every state in the United States -- this is, again, another program of the Small Business Administration -- small business development centers exist in every state of the United States, like Score, these SBDCs, as they are called, are free. This is for what I call the teenage business. You've been doing it for three or four years. You're getting ready to expand your operation, to hire employees, it's really exciting stuff, and so you can go to an SBDC and really, really get a lot of assistance, including funding; all right? They're an original economic development resource in your area. I already talked about Score. It is non-profit association, again, a program of the Small Business Administration. And while there is only one SBDC in most states -- in all state, I shouldn't say most, all states -- Score is found in most communities, so check around. Google "Score" in your area and see where there is one, and go there. They have a challenge maybe working with folks that happen to have disabilities, you just call BEBA and they can work with you there. Next slide, please. 
 
So, any questions? 

SARAH>> Thank you, Colleen. That was great information about Ticket to Work Program's self-employment and all the resources available. We're going to go ahead and take some time to do some questions that have come in from the participants. The first question I have for you, Colleen is, what happens if you create a business plan and NEBA does not find it acceptable?

COLLEEN>> That will never happen. We would never let it get that far. Now you may come into us with a business plan, and I've seen that many, many times. I have a business plan. Great, send it to me. Let me see what it looks like. Well, somehow or other, they've worked with someone who helped them develop a business plan. There were no financials. If there were no finances you do not have a plan. It is merely a narrative of a dream. Your financials are the key to have a bankable business plan. So, to the questioner on that question, it would not happen. We would try to figure out how to make what you've already spent a lot of time working on be valuable. 

SARAH>> Great. Thank you so much. The next question we have is, can a provider help someone start a business who has a degree? 

COLLEEN>> Absolutely. Many times, absolutely. I find that's a very amusing question, only because many people who start a business, they do so in an area that they had no connection to their education, their formal education. You know, I always ask people who may come in, what is the purpose of the American education system, the public school system, and I'll always get this blank look, and they don't know what it is. Well, basically the purpose of the American public school system is to train individuals to be qualified employees. So, that means we all go through the public school process and we never encounter anything that has something to do with running a business. You may get an economics class. You may take an entrepreneurial class. It's all just theory. So, when you decide to take on a business, you need to seriously consider doing a business plan, because that's your roadmap to success, and that has nothing to do with any level of education or not. I hope that answers the question. 

SARAH>> It sure did. Thank you. Another question that came in, what types of work incentives are available for people seeking self-employment? 

COLLEEN>> Well, we talked about there are a number of the unincurred cash benefits that I gave you an example of, and I'm glad this question came up, because I was thinking earlier a way to promote the Red Book. The Red Book has three pages, actually, of types of supports that apply both to employment and self-employment. The unincurred cash benefit is one of those. The other one is [ERI]. Those are benefits that you can deduct against your wages or earnings so that you can lower your gross earnings and, therefore, change the way it's going to be measured against the potential gainful activity. 

If you haven't got a Red Book, if you've never seen a Red Book, get a Red Book. If you know how to Google anything, Google "Red Book" and you will be blown right there. It's free. It's a great thing. This year's version is the best I've ever seen. It's well written with lots of examples. I know you wanted a little bit more specifics, but I really would rather see you get a Red Book and see everything. 
 
SARAH>> Okay, excellent. Off of that, how is the best way to determine if self-employment is right for me? 

COLLEEN>> I'm laughing. Well, I think we talked a little bit about some of the markers that you look for. Are you able and comfortable working alone? Are you a self-motivator? To me, those are the two key motivators. I think the other thing that I often observe about the folks I work with, see we all find ourselves being a little different than everybody in the crowd, thinking a little different, whatever. That might be something. Do you have a hobby that you are passionate about? Are you a person that takes and are already participating in craft fairs, things like that? Maybe that's a business idea. I don't know. One of the ways that might be easy to find out is check out your local Score office and go have a conversation with them, or you could contact NEBA, and we will be happy to talk to you about it. 

Our contact information has already been posted, but I will give you the e-mail address because that is the fastest easiest way to get it; Ticket@nebaworks.com. 

SARAH>> Okay. Colleen, the next question is, can I get support to buy equipment like computers or a Smartphone in order to start a business? 

COLLEEN>> That's a big yes. There is a program called PASS, Plan to Achieve Self-Sufficiency. And the PASS is, I think, a much-underused device that is really wonderful. There are some criteria that need to be met. Remember early on you heard about the fact there's two points of income, SSDI and SSI. Well, those two different forms of income do have some impact on the PASS plan. I would, again, Google PASS, P-A-S-S, and you'll find all the information you need. But it's, as I said earlier, it's a plan that you can set out what you want to do if you're getting [inaudible] for employment, for business. 

One of my better success, big success stories, is a business that used the PASS plan to help her get started, and the PASS plan was used in a way, initially, to buy some equipment, the phone, the computer, things like that, and then it was amended so that she could use her money to pay rent on an office. And she is now reaping the end of the second 18-month period, and she's got a marvelous program as a service for individuals who have Lyme disease, and it has just been great, and the PASS plan made it possible. 

SARAH>> Okay. Thank you, Colleen. Unfortunately, we are out of time for questions for today's webinar, so thank you to Lisa, Ethel, and Colleen for answering all those questions. If we were not able to get to your question in time, you can reach out to the Ticket to Work Helpline at 866-968-7842, or for TTY 866-833-2967. Okay. And there are many ways to stay in touch with us. You can call the Ticket to Work helpline at 866-968-7842 or for TTY 866-833-2967 or you can visit the Ticket to Work website @chooseworks.ssa.gov. You can also connect with us by liking us on Facebook @choosework, following us on Twitter @chooseworkSSA, subscribing to our YouTube channel @choosework, and/or following us on LinkedIn @ticket-to-work. 

And please join us for our next WISE webinar, which will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, 2018, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Next month's webinar will cover the Ticket to Work Program, "Building Resumes and Preparing for Interviews." To register online go to choosework.ssa.gov/wise or you can call 866-968-7842, or for TTY 866-833-2967. 

Okay, and just to a reminder that all of the links that we went over today are in the weblinks pod for you to use. And we'd like to know what you're thinking. Your feedback is very important to us. Please provide your feedback and tell us what you think about today's webinar by taking our survey. To take the survey, you can follow the link after the webinar, or visit the Ticket to Work website to complete the survey at choosework.ssa.gov/surveys/wise. 

Thank you again for attending today, and please take the opportunity to reach out to any of the many resources we discussed during today, and take the next step in your career path. We have resources and support services to help you no matter what stage you are in your journey to financial independence. Thank you.