WISE Ticket to Work Webinar
Debunking the Three Biggest Myths About Disability Benefits and Work 
January 22, 2020

Speakers: Sarah Hyland (Moderator), Ray Cebula (Presenter)

SARAH>> Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s Ticket to Work Webinar: Debunking the Three Biggest Myths About Disability Benefits and Work. My name is Sarah Hyland. I am a member of the Ticket to Work team. And I will be your moderator for today’s webinar.

We’re so glad you were able to take time to spend with us today to learn about Social Security’s Ticket to Work program and how it can help you as you start your path to financial independence through work. Each of us has our own path to follow, and we hope you find some information today that will assist you in moving forward on your path to employment and financial independence.

Let’s get started by going over some functions of the webinar platform so that you can interact and get the most out of the information presented today.

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On the Adobe Connect platform, you will notice that on your screen there are four different boxes. These boxes are called pods. We have the presentation pod, where the slides appear. Below that is the Closed Caption pod. In this top right-hand corner you will see the Q&A pod. And below the Q&A pod is the web links pod. And we will talk about these pods in a bit more detail a little later.

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Another resource available that we think you will find extremely helpful in connecting to the different resources that are going to be mentioned today is the web links pod, which you will find at the bottom right-hand side of your screen. This pod lists all the links to the resources presented during today’s webinar. To access any of these resources, simply highlight the topic you are interested in and would like to connect to, and then select Browse To button at the bottom of the pod and you will be taken to the website requested. 

Excuse me.

If you are listening by phone and not logged into the webinar or don’t have access to the web links pod, you can always email Ticket to Work. The email address is webinars@choosework.ssa.gov. Or reference the confirmation email that you received for today’s webinar for a list of available resources.

I’ll quickly note that SSA cannot guaranty and is not responsible for the accessibility of external websites.

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/WISE_OnDemand. This link, as well as others, can be found in that web links pod which, as we have just talked about, is in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen and it is titled WISE Webinar Archives.

We hope everyone has a great experience on the webinar today. However, if you run into any technical difficulties, please use the Q&A pod to send us a message. Or you can send us an email at the Ticket to Work email address, being webinars@choosework.ssa.gov. 

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 as your moderator. And, we are delighted to have Ray Cebula with us today. Ray received his law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center. He spent 23 years working with legal services providing direct representation to individuals with disabilities having legal issues with the SSA. He became part of Cornell University’s Work Incentive Support Center in 2000, and, in 2005, was brought on staff at ILR’s Yang Tan Institute on Employment and Disability where he now serves as the - excuse me – Program Director on YTIOnline, which is Cornell’s work incentive practitioner credentialing program.

Thank you all so much for joining us today. We have a very informative session planned for you with our guest presenter, who will discuss Social Security Disability benefits, Social Security’s Ticket to Work program and other work incentives, debunking the three biggest myths about disability benefits and work, tying it all together: That’s the Ticket, and some additional resources for you.

And with that, it is my pleasure to introduce Ray – Ray Cebula to start us off with the Ticket to Work program and support on your journey to work and plenty of other helpful information as well as the first myth.

Thanks, Ray.

RAY>> Thank you, Sarah. 

We’re going to start today just by saying that this – the support that Social Security brings to people with disabilities who want to return to work is really pretty phenomenal. And when we talk about debunking some of the myths, I think you’ll understand what types of protections are out there. And these myths have been around for a very, very, very long time. And I’m hoping that very soon people will believe that work is possible and that work is good.

Before we get started, let’s do a quick review of the Social Security Disability Benefits programs. There are two that we’re going to talk about today: Social Security Disability Insurance, and notice it says insurance. It is something that you are buying while you are working and having FICA taxes removed from your salary.

The other program is SSI, Supplemental Security Income, and that’s a needs-based program, kind of a federal welfare program that provides people with no work history or not enough work history to be ensured with benefits. The two programs are very, very different. And the work incentives are very, very different.

So the first thing you need to know is what type of benefits you received.

Starting your journey to work. You’ve been on benefits for a while, and maybe somebody you know has tried to return to work. And you’re wondering, should I do this? Can I do this? Well, unfortunately, that decision is yours. That’s both unfortunate, but it’s also very fortunate, because everything we’re going to talk about is voluntary. No one is going to make you return to work. You have to make that decision. And truly, make a list of pros and cons. What’s good about work? You know, you’ll have more money. You’ll meet some new friends. What’s bad about work? You have to get out of bed when the alarm clock goes off, and you have to work until it’s time to go home. You know. I think you’ll find the pros are much better and clearly outweigh the cons of choosing to work. But, again, that’s you making a decision for yourself.

Why the Ticket to Work? The Ticket to Work, you know, started a long time ago. President Clinton signed this one, you know, in Dec – on December 17, 1999. And I still believe the Ticket to Work is a wonderful thing.

And why should you use it? It’s a safe way to get yourself to work. It really is. Earning a living through employment is not something that everybody can do, but it might be right for you. You know, once people understand what kinds of free services you can get, and what types of support, not only to get back to work, but can remain while you are working and getting yourself settled in that job, are available to you, they often find that this outweighs the risks of work.

And a lot of the risks that people believe are out there are the myths that we’re going to debunk.

So what I think you have to do when you start this journey is take a look, take some time, and look at the supports and the services that are available through the Ticket to Work program. And this says you might be surprised. I can guaranty you you’re going to be surprised at what types of services and what types of things you can get from the Ticket to Work. At no cost to you whatsoever. 

And we’re all here to help. You know, the Ticket to Work, that Choose Work website that Sarah told you about, is going to give you a ton of wonderful information. And it’s all true. It’s all true. 

So what is the Ticket to Work program? It is pretty much what it says. It’s a ticket that will get you free services and supports during your journey and even when you begin work for a certain period of time. 

Notice, it’s free. It’s voluntary. No one is making you make a decision. That’s not our job. You need to make the decision that you want to take a chance and go to work.

Career development. For people aged 18 through 64 who receive Social Security based on disability and want to work, are going to get a Ticket to Work. It’s going to be sent to you in the mail. And, again, it’s voluntary. But I want you all to at least explore the possibilities before you make up your mind.

Career development, you know, of course, if you’re 18 years old, you’re going to need some career development. But what about older people? What if you’re 40? What if you’re 50? Well, you have now or in the past become disabled. And you may need some help. Career development might be helping you do the job that you used to do differently because of your disability. Or being retrained to do a different job. That’s all available under the Ticket to Work program.

The Ticket connects you with free employment services. What if you haven’t worked? What if you’re on SSI and you’ve only dabbled a little bit here and there? Deciding if work is right for you. And we can help you do that. We can show you what the difference is between remaining on benefits and working. And with proper planning, we can make sure that you’re going to be ahead.

Preparing for work. Do you need to finish your education? Do you need to get a GED? Do you need to get a résumé? How do you explain that gap during your disability? Well, there are people out there that can help you explain that gap. Because it wasn’t a blank space. You did do things that may be worthy of a résumé.

Helping you find a job. We’ll talk about employment networks who are – who know the neighborhoods they work in and know where the jobs are. And then can provide you with on-the-job support while you are working to make sure you succeed.

Now it sounds like that’s a pretty easy road. And I’m not going to tell you that it’s not hard, because it is. You know, it’s going to be hard, but we are trying to make this as safe and as easy as possible for you.

How does the Ticket program work? If you decide to participate, you get to choose from all kinds of service providers. It’s like giving you a gift certificate for a shopping mall. And we have state vocational rehabilitation agencies. You know, there may be one for the blind in your state. There may be one for disabled people in your state. Or it may just be one agency. That’s the big store at the end of the mall. That’s Macy’s. 

But then we have employment networks, and we’re going to talk about them in more detail. But they’re smaller places. They’re smaller shops. You know, the little Spencer Gifts on the side. The Body Shop, the Bodyworks, whatever you call those shops. They’re more specialized. And you might want to walk around the mall and interview everybody in there. Talk to VR. Talk to somebody at Macy’s. See what they can do for you. Go to one of the smaller ENs. Talk to them. See what they can do for you. See who you’re going to get along with. See who you feel more comfortable with. And then you can make a choice.

Employment work – networks are fairly new. In the world of Social Security they’re very new, but I’ll call them fairly new because they’ve been around for a while. They’re private or public organizations that have a contract with Social Security to support employment efforts. Now, it could be one person or it could be an agency. And you need to seek them out. Many of them may be specialized. Some of them may specialize in people with blindness. Some of them may specialize in people with mental illnesses. Others might just do physical illnesses. So you need to find out in your area, by using that Choose Work website, what these agencies can provide to you. 

Many state public workforce systems such as the Job Corps centers and workforce ENs are – they are workforce ENs. They are there as well. So if you’ve been to a one stop, as they used to be called, they are ENs, too. And you might be comfortable working there. It’s up to you to choose an EN. And to choose an EN that you feel comfortable working with. Because you’re going to spend a lot of time together making plans.

Now, the ENs, as I said, are all different. They may cover just your local community. They could cover just your zip code. They could cover your entire state. Some of them cover multiple states. And some of them cover the whole country.

Now how would you do that? You do it because the services can be in person. You know, if I were to use a Ticket to Work, I would want to pick somebody that I could sit down and meet with. So I’d be looking for someone closer to me.

If there is no one close to me, I’d have the option of communicating virtually by telephone, or email, or potentially Zoom and Skype. ENs can do that. The people that do – the ENs that do this nationally are doing this virtually. I mean, you may send in a résumé, and somebody will give you some tips on how that résumé can be improved and send it back to you. That is valuable help, and you’re going to get that help free of charge because you have a Ticket to Work.

How does the EN provide you with support? They’re going to help you make a plan. That plan will get you from benefits receipt to financial independence. And the goal is not just to get you off of the benefits. The goal is to make sure that when you leave the benefits role, you are better off than you were on benefits.

The EN can help you identify your work goals. Write and review your résumé. Prepare you for interviews. And right now, I can’t tell you the last time I had to interview for a job. If I were looking for a job and needed some skills in that area, I’d have to pay somebody to do that. Writing a résumé? I don’t know what a résumé looks like. Most times nowadays when you’re applying for jobs, you’re doing it on the computer. I’d have to start from scratch and pay for these services, where if you’re receiving benefits based on disability, they’re all services that you will get free. 

What if you need to request an accommodation? That’s a long discussion to have. Are you ready to tell your employer that you have a disability? How do you have that conversation? The ENs can help you plan that conversation and maybe have a practice run so that you’ll know what you’re asking for and how to approach that subject.

And benefits counseling. That’s the process that’s going to make sure that you are better off when you leave the benefits rolls. It’s going to show you what will happen to your benefits when you reach a certain level of income. And then when you reach another level of income, the rules change a little bit. But there will be somebody to guide you through that process. Might be in-house at the EN. It might be a benefits planner that the EN works with. But people will be there to monitor your progress and let you know when the rules change so that you’re going to know what is going to happen to your benefits. And that’s a very powerful position to be in. Because you know what’s going to happen, and when it’s supposed to happen. You can be ready for it and prepare for it.

The state VR agencies are big players here. Because the state VR agencies can take your Ticket. They can certainly provide you with services. And they provide a – a wide variety of services. Everybody who’s on benefits because of disability is a priority. Now, I know some states are in order of selection, and you might have to wait a little but, but they can provide you with help. And they can spend an awful lot of money on you that some of the smaller ENs may not be able to.

And, again, remember, as I mentioned earlier, some states have separate VR agencies for blind and visually-impaired people. There are about 87 VR agencies in the country, so not all of the states have separate agencies. If you do have a separate agency for the blind and visually-impaired in your state, go – go to that agency if you need those. I’m from Massachusetts, and we have a separate division for deaf and hard of hearing as well. So you’ve got to watch out and make sure you’re going to the right place.

Now, how can a VR agency help you? I talked a little about that. But vocational rehabilitation can be a fairly long and very expensive process. If you have to learn a prosthetic to do your old job, the state VR agency will not only likely provide you with that prosthetic, but could also be the place where you’re learning how to use it so that you can keep up with other non-disabled partners.

Training and education, that’s the bastion of state VR. Because we all know that training and education are expensive. And the VR agencies have much more money available to them than do the ENs.

State VR agencies are also participating in benefits counseling. Many have built cadres in-house. Many have agreements with other agencies in the area, or in that state, that can provide you with that. So, notice that that’s an important part of all of this. And the earlier you get in with a benefits planner, the better off.

Work incentives. There are so many of them. Yes, it’s confusing. You have to pay attention to what benefit you’re receiving and apply those particular rules to your benefit. But there are people out there, again, the benefits planners, that can help you do that.

You’ll have so much more information than if you just walked in and said, Okay, Mr. Walmart, I want a job. You’re going to find out many things, many ways that you can receive training for new skills, improve the skills that you already have, pursue an education. What about trying different jobs? If you’re pursuing an education, there are lots of internships available. You can try lots of things, you know, as part of that training or education.

Start a career. What if you want to start your own business and be self-employed? You can do that as well. 

And gaining confidence. Why is that important? Because you can’t really start working without a dose of confidence. You know, that first day walking in on a new job is scary. But if you have prior experience, and you know you’ve got education and training behind you, you can walk in there with your head held high and know that you’re going to be able to do that job.

So, all of that is coming to you through the work incentives, through the ENs, through the vocational rehab, and all of the services that are available.

When you’re finished with those folks and you’re ready to knock on somebody’s door for an interview, you should be all set and ready to go. And feel pretty good about what you’ve accomplished.

Now, the three myths about work and disability benefits, you know, are out there. They’ve been out there for my entire career, and unfortunately if I were to walk out on the street and find somebody who’s on benefits and ask them what would happen if you go to work, they would tell me, I’ll lose everything. I gotta tell you, that’s just wrong. That is just wrong. We’re going to take the three big myths. If I go to work, I’ll lose my Medicare or Medicaid. That is so far from the truth. It’s just false. I mean, and in capital letters. It’s appropriately in capital letters. Because in most states you have to work really, really hard, for a very long time, before you lose your healthcare. 

You know, the Ticket to Work, when this Act was passed was the first time Congress recognized that people need healthcare to work. And they made it happen. People get healthcare to work. As long as you’re receiving any amount of benefits payment, you are in, both Medicare or Medicaid, depending on which benefit you get. But if you’re getting money, you’re getting healthcare.

If your benefits payments stop, which means you’re successful, you are being successful at work, there are still work incentives that can help you keep both Medicare and Medicaid. Indefinitely. 

Now one thing I want to point out here is that when you’re on SSDI, Medicare is not free. You are already paying for it. That’s the deduction, the $145.00 – $44.00. Last year it was $135.00. That comes out of your benefit. What may be required when you get well into your work is that you may have to pay that money to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services. But it’s important to understand that it’s no different than when they were just taking it out of your check. With the exception that you are now in a position of power because you’re writing a check rather than having money taken from you. That is a good thing.

Buy-in programs, we’re going to talk about that, too. You can buy into these programs, both Medicare and Medicaid, and we’re talking many years down the line, at very, very reasonable rates. They may sound expensive to you if we talk with you about those details today, but you have to understand that you’ve been working for a long time, you know, getting raises, when this stuff happens and you need to buy in.

Now here is a quick, quick shot of what these benefits – work incentives I should say – are. If we look at Medicaid, while you’re working, you know, you’re on SSI, if you’re getting Medicaid. You know, you could be getting a little bit on DI, but we’re going to talk about SSI recipients now. If you are working, your benefits are dropping. Not one-for one. Less than two-for-one, and with many people even less than that. But they’re slowly dropping. As your wages go up, your SSI goes down.

Now, when you work to the point that you are eligible for zero dollars in SSI, you’re not terminated. You remain an SSI recipient. Receiving no money, but getting Medicaid. And I’m going to tell you, quick shorthand, you’ve got at least twice as much money as you had on SSI. That’s a good thing.

The Medicaid buy-in programs, 45 states have them. Wonderful programs where you can actually purchase Medicaid. Very reasonably.

Medicare. SSDI folks have Medicare. The extended period of Medicare coverage? It’ll last years. Seven-and-a-half years, at least. At least. And then there are still things that you can do because there’s a program for people with – who remain disabled and are working to buy into the program. There’s really little fear about losing benefits.

So 1619(b). You had to have been eligible for SSI in at least one month before you become eligible for 1619(b). Continue to be disabled according to Social Security. Meet the SSI other requirements. Those resource requirements. Two thousand dollars for an individual. Three thousand dollars for a married couple. And you have to need Medicaid benefits in order to work. 

Now, that’s not much of a test because everybody needs benefits. But if your employer does provide you with a healthcare program that does meet all of your medical needs, there’s a question that has to be asked. And you have to have gross earnings that are below your state’s threshold. And notice this web link, it’s going to be in your web link pod, that’s going to give you your state’s numbers, it will give you all 50 states’ numbers. They’re still 2019 numbers. We’re expecting them maybe as early as next month for 2020. But there are states – the state of Connecticut, you can make $63,000.00 a year and still have Medicaid. Not a bad deal.

The Medicaid buy-in program, 45 states have these. You don’t have to have Social Security benefits, but you have to meet the definition. So if you’re not on benefits, you apply at your Medicaid Administrative office, and they make the medical decision.

All of these programs are different. They differ in the amount of work that you need to do. New York requires one hour a month, at minimum wage, with taxes being paid. Massachusetts requires 40 hours a month. So every state is going to be different. And the price that you’re going to pay is going to be different. Sliding fee scales, most of them are. And they’re very, very reasonable. Very reasonable.

That extended period of Medicare coverage, we’re talking about a situation where you are eligible, after your trial work period, which is something we’ll talk about at another webinar, after your trial work period is over, at least 93 months of eligibility. The question is, again, who’s paying for it? You are paying for it. You’ve always been paying for it. You’ ae either having money reduced from your – from your Social Security Disability Insurance check, or you are writing a check, depending on how much money you’ve made. It’s still a wonderful program that is reasonably inexpensive. You know, when I think of how much I have to pay for my health plan, this is a better deal. This is a much better deal.

To qualify for the extended period of Medicare coverage, you have to have already received Medicare. And be working above the Substantial Gainful Activity level. So you have to be doing everything that you’re not supposed to be doing. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? You have to have been on Medicare and you have to be working at Substantial Gainful levels. And you cannot have medically improved. That means you still are disabled according to Social Security. You know, that – these are truly wonderful programs. After premium-free Medicare ends, you know, after that 93 months – remember we said at least – so, after the 93 months you have to determine whether or not you’re still going to get it all or you’re going to have to pay for it. Now, if you have not reached age 65 and you continue to have your disability, and you’re Medicare free, A, your Part A at least is free, and because of your work activity, you can buy into the system. And it is very reasonable to do that. That’s part of what you’ll learn when you’re doing benefits planning. What this will eventually cost at the end of the seven-and-a-half-year period. It’s a long way away, so I think you should all just take a deep breath, let it out, and not worry about healthcare for a good long time.

For more information on enrollment periods or to make an appointment to enroll, you should call the Social Security office. The number is 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 if you use a TTY, to find your local office.

And if you need help paying those premiums, call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare. That’s – or 1-877-486-2048 for TTY. You’ll need to have your Medicare Plan Number, which is right on your card, and be prepared to tell the representative which state you live in so that we can figure out how you can do this. 

And I believe that should get us to questions.

SARAH>> You are right, Ray. Thank you so much. Thanks for kicking us off. 

We are going to pause now and take a few of the audience questions. The first question I have for you, Ray, is you mentioned that I’ll get a paper ticket in the mail. Do I have to have a copy of my paper ticket? 

RAY>> Absolutely not. You know, people lose things all the time. But there is most certainly a way that the state VR agency or private EN can find out if there is a ticket available to you. The paper ticket is a piece of paper than can be thrown away, can be kept, but you do not need the paper itself to participate.

SARAH>> Okay. Thank you, Ray. The next question I have is, are there work incentives for people starting their own business?

RAY>> Yes, there are. There are special work incentives for people who are self-employed or want to be self-employed. They’re a little bit too much to talk about at the moment, but, you know, income is determined differently. You have time to get that business started before the income actually begins to count. You know, you could be working with a VR agency that could provide you with equipment, and some of those un-incurred business expenses because VR gave it to you can serve as deductions. So there are lots of special work incentives for people who want to get involved in self-employment.

SARAH>> Excellent. And, of course, for more information on that you can always call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or, for TTY, 1-866-833-2967, and that’s Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The next question I have for you, Ray, can the Ticket to Work Help Line help me find a benefits counselor?

RAY>> Did you say a benefit planner? Or benefit – I didn’t hear the last phrase.

SARAH>> A benefits counselor.

RAY>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. You know, if you go onto that Choose Work website, you can find everybody you need there. You know, you just have to click the right box before you do your search. And there is a directed search that will take you through several steps, or you can simply put in your zip code to find the benefits planners that can help you in your area.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. The next question I have is, if I receive health insurance from my spouse’s employer, do I still need to purchase Medicare-Medicaid to participate in the Ticket to Work program?

RAY>> That’s a very, very good question. It depends upon the private plan. You need to contact that insurance company that’s providing your spouse with benefits and find out if the plan is creditable for Social Security purposes. Now, right now they can tell you almost immediately and send you a letter that says yes or no. In fact, some insurance companies do it every year anyway. If you do have creditable coverage, you do not need to participate in Medicare. Now Medicare is the one that has premiums involved with it. You can still participate in Medicaid, because that’s free. You know, the only question is that with the Ticket to Work, you need, when you get to that 1619(b) part, you need to show that you need Medicaid to work. 

And insurance is hard, you know, because the question is does that private insurance meet all of your needs that are associated with your disability. And if it doesn’t, Medicaid might be a great place to get those services.

But call the insurance company. Find out if the insurance is creditable for SSA purposes. And make sure you get a letter that says it is, and then you do not have to participate.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. So next question is, can the Ticket to Work program help me with obtaining certifications required for the job I want?

RAY>> Absolutely. Absolutely. That’s, you know, I mean, one of those things that state VR agencies most certainly can get you into a training program or get you the education you would need to do the job that you wish. The employment networks might, if you choose a really big one, be able to do that as well. You know, they could certainly help you with scholarship applications and that kind of thing. But, yes, those training programs and educational necessities so that you qualify for the job that you can be provided.

SARAH>> I recently started working. Can a Ticket provider – excuse me, Ticket program service provider still help me as I get used to my workplace?

RAY>> You know, I think that’s a really good questions, too, and the answer is yes, you know, because your Ticket to Work has value. Even if you lose it, if you don’t have it, it still has value. And employment networks, if you’re already working, could accept your Ticket and receive money from Social Security as you get used to that job, as you continue to make progress toward leaving the benefits rolls. You know, they could arrange for job coaching. They could arrange – I mean, they could just be a sounding board for you if you’re having trouble.

What about that question, you know, do I tell them that I need a – an accommodation, because if I do, I’m telling them that I’m disabled, you know. And if I tell them I have an employment network, I might be telling them I’m still receiving benefits. That’s your decision to make, and an E – and an employment network can help you make important decisions like that. And let you know the ramifications of a yes or a no. So I think yes, you could still get on-the-job supports, which is a wonderful, wonderful thing about the Ticket. Because not only are we rehabbing you and getting you a job, we are providing you support until you are ready to fly solo.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. The next question I have for you is how do you is how do you report your earnings if you are self-employed?

RAY>> Oh, ha, ha, thank you, Sarah. Another very important, very difficult question. It’s different because you know, if you start a business, you might bring in $2,000.00 in a month. But that’s not your income. That is gross receipts. You have to subtract from that $2,000.00 all of your expenses. To the rent on your shop. The equipment that you had to buy. The office supplies. The telephone, the electricity, the heat. The travel expenses if you are traveling. So all of that has to be deducted from the $2,000.00. And then what’s left is your income. It’s called net earnings from self-employment. And that’s the important number. And the Social Security website has all kinds of forms that you can use to do that. And most importantly, a benefits planner and/or an employment network is going to be able to help you figure out what can be deducted, and how much should be deducted, and what your countable income – what is that net earning from self-employment for Social Security is.

SARAH>> Thank you for taking that tough question, Ray.

RAY>> Yeah.

SARAH>> To following up with that, I have the wage reporting link to share. It is https://choosework.ssa.gov/about/wage-reporting/index.html. 

And we have one more question for you in this session, but we will have more time later, of course. I only receive SSDI and not SSI. Does this change anything as far as my eligibility for EN versus VR?

RAY>> No, not at all. It doesn’t change anything. You have a Ticket. It has value. And you can use it wherever you want. That state VR agency or an EN, or a combination of both. You know, we never talked about Partnership Plus which is a – probably another webinar’s worth, but you can actually go to state VR and then take your Ticket and assign it to an EN once you get a job for on-the-job supports. But you do have a Ticket.

SARAH>> Thank you so much, Ray. 

And the wage reporting link that I read will be in the web links column under Ticket to Work Wage Reporting.

We are going to continue with Ray’s information, and we’ll stop again for questions. So, Ray, if you want to go ahead.

RAY>> All right.

Thank you.

So myth two. If I use my Ticket to go to work, Social Security will conduct a medical review of my case and I’ll lose my benefits. So returning to work is going to cause all kinds of (inaudible). False again. As a matter of fact, if you use your Ticket to Work, Social Security will not do a continuing medical review. You’re going to develop a plan with either state VR or your Employment Network. And as long as you are making what’s called timely progress, following your plan, you will not have a medical CVR.

You know, Social Security is investing in you, and that’s what’s going on here. They’re investing in you. They want you to succeed. They’re not going to pull the rug out from under you because you’re trying. They’re going to let you continue, but you need to participate. So you need to do your part, and Social Security will leave you alone. But you will not be reviewed for medical reasons if you are using the Ticket.

Now, those timely progress reviews, when you do start using your Ticket, you and your employment team – now we have teams because we’ve got VR, ENs, and potentially a benefits plan. You know, it really takes a village to make a worker, so we’ve got people everywhere to help. You’re going to create a plan – notice it says Individual Work Plan. This plan will not be created for you. It’s intended to be created with you so that you can participate, you should participate. You know, you should talk with these people as much as possible so that you can get the services that you need. Your work goals are going to be in that plan, including the amount of money that you anticipate making when you’re finished. You know, that’s a very important factor. Because if you’re going to be making – you need to be making enough money to be able to lose those benefits, you know. And not just Social Security, but everything else that you might have. And that’s what the goal of this is.

What kind of supports and services are you going to need to reach your goals? Is it education? Is it equipment? Could it be some start-up money to start your own business? There’s a facts sheet in your web link pod, and I want you to take a look at that. Because these plans are pretty detailed, and you need – they will be reviewed every 12 months, you know, to make sure that you’re making timely progress.

And what happens if you make timely progress? You don’t have the medical reviews. If you stop making timely progress, you have a medical review. So all you have to do is participate.

An example here of these timely progress requirements. You’re making timely progress if at the first 12-month review you’ve worked three out of 12 months earning $910.00 a month. Now that is the trial work period amount for 2020. And, you may be thinking, well, if I’m in school, how can I work enough to earn $910.00 a month? Well, you’re not in school in June, July, and August. So those are the three months you go for it and you earn that money.

You have to complete 60% of a full-time course load for a year if you’re getting a degree or a certification towards a technical trade or vocational program. So we’re recognizing that because of the disability, you may not be able to take a full course load. Sixty percent is what you need to finish. 

And each 12-month period increases the work requirement and the education requirements. Not by much, but a little. Because what are we doing? We’re making progress during the life of this plan so that you are able to complete the plan and become a worker.

What happens if you don’t meet the timely progress? You can continue participating in the Ticket to Work. No one’s going to take your Ticket away. Maybe you’re taking a break because of an exacerbation. Your benefits payments and health benefits, both Medicare and Medicaid, will not be affected. But, you’ll no longer be excused from that continuing disability review. That is the problem.

Now, if you just decide I don’t want to do this, you’re at bigger risk to have that medical review and maybe have it go bad. If you’re having an exacerbation of your medical condition, and you can’t participate for a while, you’re probably not going to be affected at all. But I want you to learn more about the timely progress because it’s very important, and that’s going to be in the Timely Progress Review in that web link log.

Now, myth three. If my Social Security payments stop because I go to work, and then I have to stop working because of my disability, I have to reapply for benefits all over again. Very happy to tell you that this is false. Very happy. Because of you waited a long time and fought really hard to get these benefits. And if you do everything right, and you participate in the work, and that disability or something very similarly-related to it, significantly related to that disability, stops you from working, for five years after you have been terminated because of work, Social Security will be able to use expedited reinstatement to get you back onto benefits quickly.

Now, it does happen fairly quickly. We are – what’s today? Today is the 22nd of January. So if you were to apply for EXR today, there’s a potential that you could have benefits effective March 1. The benefits are paid provisionally. And you’ll get those benefits for a six-month period of time while Social Security is determining whether you can be reinstated. 

Here is the six months. Here is the – here is the detail. I should have clicked before talking.

This is – this is so unusual, this work incentive. Because, remember, you’ve been terminated because you went to work. Most agencies just shut the door on you when you’re terminated. But Social Security is going to watch you for another five years and have a safety net there. If you cannot continue to work because of your disability or something significantly related to it, you can get back on benefits without filing a new application. As I said, fairly quickly, depending on the time of the month it is. You’ll get up to six months temporary cash benefits. If you only get four months of temporary cash benefits, it means that you’ve been reinstated and you’re back in payment.

You’re also eligible for Medicare and Medicaid during this period.

Not a lot of risk. Not a lot of risk. This is a very important, and very unique, safety net.

The other thing about those six-months’ worth of benefits is that they will never be considered an overpayment unless there is fraud involved. So, you can safely accept those benefits.

Now let’s put it together. That’s the Ticket. That is the ticket. 

Starting again, we’re back to the beginning. You have to make the choice that’s right for you.

Are you ready to go to work? We have to understand a lot of things. Again, the pros and cons lists I think are very helpful. Going to work is much more than a paycheck. It brings a lot of good things along with it. And that’s a pro.

Understand those work incentives. Understand how the benefits that you receive are impacted by work. And know that there’s support out there to help you find a job and to keep that job. At no cost to you. So there’s very little risk in giving this a shot.

The work incentives. There are more than 20 that are designed to help you as you transition from benefits dependence to the workplace, and eventually to financial independence. Now, again, the type of work incentives a person is eligible for depends on the type of benefits. If you have SSI, you use SSI work incentives. If you have SSDI, you use SSDI work incentives. If you receive both benefits, you use both sets of rules at the same time. That’s why it’s important to have a benefits planner attached to you, attached to your employment team. 

And you can learn more at choosework.ssa.gov and the SSA Red Book, which is available at www.ssa.gov/redbook. Great reading materials if you’re considering doing work, you’ve got to look at them.

Now, Chris is allowing us to share his story with you. He began receiving SSDI after experiencing a spinal cord injury as a result of a car accident. With the help from his Ticket program service provider, he received benefits counseling and career counseling. He learned about the work incentives that could help him transition. And found part-time work training customer service representatives. He was successfully transitioned from benefits to financial independence using the Ticket to Work program. And I want you to really look at that web link blog and find Chris’s success stories. Success stories are great things. You know, for people like me who help, and we get a little depressed, we go in there to listen to those success stories, to know that this can work. For those of you who are receiving benefits, you need to hear that other people have used this program and used it successfully.

Now the Find Help tool that we’ve talked about is at choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp. It’s in your blog as the Choose Work.

You’ve got to find the right types of service providers and the right – the correctly-located service provider. You can search by zip code. You can search by the services that you need. The disability type. Some of these people provide services to people with specific disabilities, and if I have a mental health issue, I don’t want to go to somebody that deals only with physical disabilities. Because I’m not going to get the right help. 

What about language abilities? You can find an EN benefits planner, VR services, workforce person, or a PABSS, which we will talk about some other time, who can provide you services in the language you speak.

And what type of provider are they? Do you want to work with a private EN? Do you want to work with VR? Do you need benefits planning? So you’re going to use the WIPA. But, it’s a very easy tool, and I use it all the time. When people call me and they’re looking for a benefits planner, or they’re looking for an EN, all I need is a zip code and I can get them started. All I need is that zip code. And you can get on there yourself and do a search. Without any obligation. Nobody is watching you and waiting to catch you and say, you call. That’s not going to happen. You went on that help site, we’re calling to follow up with you. That’s not going to happen. You can see what’s available without any obligation while you’re making that decision. What’s the right decision for you?

So, Sarah, we’ve got more questions.

SARAH>> We sure do, Ray. Thank you for debunking those last two myths. 

The first question that I have for you is, if I had a Ticket to Work years ago, will I need to get another one? Do Tickets expire?

RAY>> Tickets do expire. There is one Ticket allowed per period of disability. Which means you haven’t been terminated. You know, that – when we talked about that termination because of work and getting expedited reinstatement, that starts a new period of disability. And you would get a new Ticket to Work. But if you started using one years ago, you know, the question is does it still have value. And you can make contact with an Employment Network or the state VR agency and they can find that out for you. If you – as I said, you’ve used it, so you’ve used some of the value. But you have one per period of disability.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. You mentioned this earlier, but what does it mean that the benefits are paid provisionally?

RAY>> You know, provisional benefits are paid provisionally because you were terminated. Social Security said because you were successful and went back to work, you are no longer entitled to benefits. So they’re paid provisionally because you’re not disabled. And they’re paid provisionally while Social Security is making this – the decision. If you meet the disability standard and can be reinstated. So that’s – that’s – their just called provisional because legally speaking there’s no evidence that you’re disabled at that point and meet Social Security standards. But the vast majority of the people that apply for expedited reinstatement do get reinstated.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. The next question I have for you is, does the Ticket to Work program provide assistance with finding a job working from home?

RAY>> It could. It very well could. I mean, there are many people – well, I’m working at home right now. You know, working at home is a big thing now. And there are some people who are going to have a lot of problems traveling. You know, and having an office set up at home and – that meets your needs and has all of the necessary accommodations might be just the ticket. But you need to get to work, and it certainly can do that. I would – I would venture to say there was a good number of people – there are a good number of people using their Ticket in hopes of getting home employment.

SARAH>> All right. Next question. If I am able to find a job on my own, would participating in the Ticket program still benefit me?

RAY>> I think that depends upon what types of supports you might need as you begin that job. It – it could be anything. It could be benefits planning. Counseling at that point. It could be an EN who will help you get a job coach to work with you or to work after hours with you. It could be that you might want to talk to somebody about a reasonable accommodation. So even if you do find a job on your own, it may be worth getting those extra supports to keep you on that job if that’s what you feel you need.

SARAH>> All right. Ray, could you tell us a little bit about WIPA projects?

RAY>> I can tell you too much about WIPA projects.

SARAH>> Please do.

RAY>> The WIPA project, the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance agencies are funded by Social Security, and these are fully-trained and certified benefits planners who can sit down with anybody who want to go to work. The priorities right now are for people who are working, about to go to work, so that you’re beginning to interview, that kind of thing. Transition-age youth, and veterans. So those are the priorities right now. 

But they’ll sit down with you and look at your entire benefits portfolio, not just Social Security Disability Insurance and that sort of thing. But TANF. You know, SNAP benefits. You know, Veterans benefits. And will discuss and put together a plan, you know, what happens to all these benefits? Some of them might go away real quick. Some of them might not be affected at all if you start earning income. But you need to know what’s going to happen to all of that to make sure that you’re able to work to the extent to replace those benefits. 

And they will put together a – an analysis for you. They will put together a plan for you which will give you steps, you know, you need to find an Employment Network. You know, that’s your responsibility, when should you find that Employment Network. If we want to move fast, find it within a month. And you’re going to work with that Employment Network to get the training that you need so that you can be a customer service representative. 

They’re going to give you some interview skills. You’re going to work with a state VR agency or a job placement person or your EN to determine where the jobs are. And you’re going to apply for them, you know, and have that discussion about reasonable accommodations. 

And it’s not necessarily a one-stop deal because, you know, I like to tell people that here’s your plan, but I don’t like to tell people that when you’ve finished that first plan, I’ll probably give you another one. And they’re there to help you determine what is the likelihood of what your salary is going to be. If you’re going to be a customer service representative, and you’re living in Philadelphia, we can go on the computer, figure out what that person makes per hour, and determine how many hours a week you can work, and what will be the impact of those earnings on your entire benefits package. And it really places you in a position of power. Because you know what’s going to happen when you receive that paycheck.

And according to the Social Security rules, if you’re on SSDI, you know when your trial work period is going to begin. And if you continue to work and life doesn’t get in the way, we know when that’s going to end. So you are – you have full knowledge of what’s going on. And if something happens, if life gets in the way, you’re not out in the woods, you still have a benefits planner to go to who can tune up that plan and adjust it according to your circumstances.

So, I don’t think anybody should begin a journey to work without getting some benefits planning. Again, VR agencies have people in house, a lot of them, or can certainly get you connected to the area with the programs. And ENs, also, a lot of them have people in-house who can do this. Very, very important to know what’s going to happen. You know, and to know when that happens you’re going to be okay because there’s enough salary there to replace anything that you’ve lost.

SARAH>> Ray, that was a very thorough and helpful answer. We appreciate that. 

The next question I have for you is, does timely progress mean that I have a specific amount of time to find a job and start working? What happens if I can’t get hired?

RAY>> Well, you know, it kinda, sorta means that. You know, these plans that are put together, you know, are going to be what’s basically looked at when you’re doing that. If you have to get an Associate’s degree, clearly you’re not going to be expected to find a job for a couple of years. If it comes to the point where it’s time to look for a job, you have to actively be looking. So you’re sending out résumés, you are going on interviews. You know, if you don’t find a job, then you could potentially be out of compliance with timely progress.

You know, if you’re working with an Employment Network, the chances of not getting a job aren’t that great. You know, the Employment Networks that are out there now are really good. They know the job market. They know where, based on your abilities, you can likely be hired. And they’re not sending you on a goose chase. They’re doing very directed referrals for interviews and job placement.

But, yes, I have to say you could be out of compliance. And the question is, what’s the risk? You know, you lose that continuing disability review for medical purposes protection, but it may be that you don’t have one coming up for a couple of years and you could continue to work with that EN until you do get a job. So the world’s not over if that happens.

SARAH>> Okay, Ray. Thank you. The next question I have for you is, when does the clock start ticking on your Ticket to Work for the timely progress review? When I assign my Ticket or when I contact my EN or VR?

RAY>> When you get – when you contact your EN or VR and put a plan together, and both you and the EN or VR sign it, and it is approved, then the clock starts ticking. So you may be working with the agency for a couple of months or so. And the clock will start ticket on your Ticket as soon as that plan is put in place. And that’s when the TPR protection also takes place, you know, when that plan is approved.

SARAH>> Excellent. Thank you so much, Ray. And, for more information about the Timely Progress Review facts sheet, you can go ahead to the weblinks pod under Timely Progress Review TPR.

The next question I have for you, Ray, is, how do I find out if I have a Ticket?

RAY>> You know, you contact an EN and tell them that you’re interested in going to work. All they’re going to do is make a phone call. And they are going to know right away whether you have a Ticket or not. If you are on Disability Insurance benefits or SSI and are aged 18 through 64, the potential of you having a Ticket is very significant. For the 18-year-olds, they have to have gone through their age 18 review to be determined to be a disabled adult rather than a disabled child. But VR can do the same thing. ENs and VRs can find out in a matter of minutes by making a simple phone call as to whether or not you have a Ticket, you know, and if you’ve used it earlier, for that person who used it years ago, what’s left on the value of that Ticket.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. And, of course, another quick phone call that you can make is to the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842, or for TTY, 1-866-833-2967, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., to find that out as well.

The next question I have for you, Ray, is, will an EN work with placing me in a part-time job that will allow me to continue to receiving benefits or are – is their main focus finding full-time employment?

RAY>> Their main focus is finding employment sufficient for you to lose your benefits. The way the system is working, it requires you to gradually increase your income until your benefits are no longer available to you, or the EN is not paid. And they, you know, they are providing you with free services, and your part of the deal is to work enough so that Social Security will begin to pay them. And so the goal is not really a part-time job to save your benefits.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. Next question is, what is PABSS?

RAY>> PABSS! I was one of those. When Cornell found me, I was a PABSS. It’s the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security benefits. Every state as a Protection and Advocacy agency that is funded by the federal government and the state government to provide advocacy to people with disabilities. And it could be lots of things. You know, we had somebody who did special education. We had somebody who did housing discrimination and job discrimination. And they had me that did Social Security work. And, you know, if somebody runs into an issue or a barrier to employment during this journey, you can get free legal services. 

Just as an example, the last case I worked on involved a gentleman who used a wheelchair and was working at Home Depot. And every week his supervisor came in and posted his weekly schedule – or the weekly schedule. At the very top of the bulletin board in the break room. And my client couldn’t see it. And he said, could you please lower that a little so I can see when my shifts are. And he insisted on putting it at the very top of that board. And when he came in to see me, was that a barrier to employment? Absolutely. Because the first shift he missed, he was fired. Now, what was he entitled to? He was entitled to a reasonable accommodation. What was that reasonable accommodation? Move the paper lower. You know, but this gentleman, this worker, had to have legal assistance to deal with Home Depot to get that paper moved. So that’s a simple case. It’s a case that never should have happened. But that’s the type of thing. You know, there are certain questions you can be asked during an interview and certain questions that are totally inappropriate, you know. And you can’t be asked, do you need a reasonable accommodation because of your disability? You can’t be asked that until after they have offered you a job. If it’s during the interview, and you don’t get the job, you know, you’ve got an issue with that employer. So people can go to PABSS, they are very small programs, but they are there, and be assisted with any legal impediments that result in barriers to work. Again at no cost.

SARAH>> Thank you, Ray. The next question I have for you is, my community has limited resources, and the nearest VR has a long waiting list. What would you recommend as the next step?

RAY>> You know, unfortunately lots of states are in order of selection, which means there are very long waits from VR. And, yeah, but you – I guess it depends very much on your individual situation. If you’re looking for retraining, if you’re looking for – for education, the likelihood that there is an EN out there that can completely provide you with that isn’t that great. But you could try. You know, whereas the – you know, whereas VR can just say, okay, we’ll pay your tuition to a state college. The Employment Network might say, I can help you apply for scholarships, I can help you apply for grants, you know, to help you with tuition and expenses so that you don’t have to wait until VR helps you or says it’s your turn, you know, to get some rehabilitation (inaudible). If your rehabilitation is not seriously medically related, or not very expensive, you know, durable medical equipment can be very, very expensive, I would also check with an EN. You know, check with one of the bigger ones, and they may be able to help you out with some of that stuff. You know, they are there to provide an alternative to state VR because you may choose not to go there let alone have to wait for their order of selection.

So there’s always a way to start with an Employment Network. You know, the good thing about the Ticket to Work is that if you call VR and they say, well, it may be a while before we can help you, you can call an Employment Network and say, when can you help me? Or you could call a benefits planner and, you know, talk about benefits and then get referred to an EN. You can call anybody on that list of squares and triangles and shapes. And there’s no wrong door to start and you could eventually get the services that you need.

SARAH>> Ray, thank you so much. It was a pleasure, as always. And we are unfortunately out of time for questions today, so thanks again.

All right. 

If you would like to know more about our monthly WISE webinars, we encourage you subscribe in order to find out our – excuse me – upcoming topics and be amongst the first to register. To learn so much more about the Ticket program, employment service providers, and other topics, please subscribe to the Choose Work blog. You will get weekly updates sent directly to your inbox. Both of these links can be found in the weblinks pod under WISE Webinar Subscriptions and Choose Work Blog Subscription.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program has a number of service providers and other resources ready to help you get started. To get a list of providers in your area, or to get answers to questions about the program that you may have and other work incentives, you can contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842, or for TTY, 1-866-833-2967. And that’s Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Or you can visit the Ticket to Work website at choosework.ssa.gov any time. You can also find us on social media or subscribe to the blog and email updates by visiting choosework.ssa.gov/contact. And this appears – excuse me – in the Weblinks pod under Ticket to Work Contact Information.

And we would love for you to join us for the next WISE webinar, Ticket to Work, Choosing a Service Provider That’s Right for You. This will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration is open, and we’re looking forward to having you attend. To register online, go to choosework.ssa.gov/WISE, or you can call 1-866-968-7842, or for TTY, 1-866-833-2967.

Your feedback is very important to us. It helps us plan future webinars. 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 links that will pop up after the webinar or visit the Ticket to Work website to complete the survey.

Thank you again for attending today to learn about the Ticket program. Please take the opportunity to reach out to any of the resources we discussed today and take the next step in your career path. 

This concludes today’s webinar. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you.