1. What qualifications must an applicant have to become an Employment Network (EN)?

An EN may be any public or private entity or consortium of organizations that is deemed qualified to provide or coordinate the provision of employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services to assist Social Security disability beneficiaries to find and maintain employment that leads to financial independence. The Social Security Administration approves organizations as ENs. To be approved to function as an EN, an organization must meet both general and specific qualifications that are spelled out in the EN Request for Application (RFA). General qualifications include a minimum of two years of experience providing employment, vocational rehabilitation and/or other support services to individuals with disabilities. This experience must be immediately prior to the date the organization is applying to become an EN. An organization that has three years of experience in the five years prior to applying can also qualify. The specific qualifications related to such experience would be demonstrated by having an applicable license or certificate if required by state law or, in the absence of a state requirement, either certification or accreditation from a national rehabilitation and employment services accrediting body or documentation of a contract or agreement with a Federal or state government agency or a grant from a public or private agency to provide employment, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and other support services to individuals with disabilities.

2. How does an organization apply to become an EN?

Any organization considering applying to become an EN should read the EN Request for Application (RFA), which spells out all general and specific qualifications and how to apply. The RFA is available on Social Security's Work Site at https://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfa.html.

3. Can organizations that receive funding from other sources, like a Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver, be ENs? If so, are there any restrictions?

The Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program) is an outcome-based program. Social Security compensates ENs for milestones and outcomes that beneficiaries achieve after going to work and achieving designated levels of work and earnings. As a result, every EN must initially use funding from other sources to provide services to beneficiaries under the Ticket Program. The sources of the funding an EN uses to provide these services has no bearing on the EN's ability to qualify for Ticket payments on behalf of beneficiaries who have assigned their Tickets to the EN. Many ENs receive funding from State VR agencies, State Medicaid agencies, mental health agencies, etc. Social Security does not view paying for outcomes achieved using other funding sources as double dipping.

Regardless of what the original source of funds used to serve beneficiaries is, it is always advisable for an EN to check with its funding source(s) to determine whether EN payments might affect its existing funding or if there are any restrictions on how EN payments may be used. In addition, two Federal agencies have issued guidance addressing how Ticket funding is viewed.

1. Will a beneficiary whose Vocational Rehabilitation case was closed within the past year receive a new ticket and be able to assign it to my EN?

The fact that a beneficiary received services from a State VR agency and his/her VR case was closed within the last year does not negate the remaining value of a beneficiary's Ticket. If the beneficiary was still receiving a monthly disability benefit at the time of the VR case closure, he/she may choose to assign the Ticket to an EN other than the VR agency. Even if a beneficiary's disability benefits ceased prior to VR closing the case, the beneficiary has a 90-day grace period, starting with the date of the VR case closure, during which he/she can assign his/her Ticket to an EN. After this 90-day period, the beneficiary's Ticket will terminate.

However, the fact that a beneficiary was previously served by a State VR agency is likely to impact the remaining value of the beneficiary's Ticket as described in the prior question about Ticket payments being available to ENs that secure Ticket assignments from beneficiaries who previously worked with a State VR agency.

2. Can my EN refer a Ticketholder to a State VR agency for services (such as a vocational evaluation) without losing the Ticket assignment?

An EN that holds a beneficiary's Ticket assignment may refer that beneficiary to a State VR agency for services as determined necessary and appropriate. However, if the EN wishes to keep the Ticket assignment, the EN and the State VR agency must have a written agreement that specifies the conditions under which the State VR agency will provide services. In some cases, this includes how the EN will compensate the State VR agency for the services it provides to the beneficiary. Such agreements must be in writing and signed by both the EN and the State VR agency before the EN can refer a beneficiary and keep the Ticket assignment. These agreements are required because the State VR agency will not be able to seek cost reimbursement (CR) for serving the beneficiary because the EN kept the Ticket assignment. These agreements also allow beneficiaries to maintain their relationships with their ENs while the beneficiaries receive services from State VR agencies, and it allows the VR agencies to receive a measure of compensation from the EN.

An alternative in these situations is for the EN to release the Ticket assignment prior to making the referral to the State VR agency, allow the VR agency to provide services as it would normally, and seek to regain the Ticket assignment when the VR agency closes the beneficiary's case. In these cases, the VR can proceed as normal to seek compensation under the traditional CR program or, if operating as an EN, under the Ticket Program, until VR closes the case. If the beneficiary then chooses to reassign his/her Ticket to the EN, the EN could then seek payments under the Ticket Program based on the beneficiary's qualifying earnings, whether or not the beneficiary was working at the time of VR case closure (Phase 1 Milestone exclusion based on prior VR history), and whether a split payment decision would be necessary (i.e., if the VR agency was serving the beneficiary as an EN).

3. If my EN has a Ticket assignment and will be referring the Ticketholder to the State VR agency for vocational services after some initial EN services have been performed, does the Ticket need to be unassigned in order for the VR agency to receive Cost Reimbursement for the services it performs? If so, what is the intent of the referral agreement between my EN and the State VR agency as stated in Section 12.9? Wouldn't the referral agreement be a mechanism for documenting sequential services instead of un-assigning the Ticket before VR services and then reassigning the ticket to my EN after the VR case is closed?

An EN that holds a beneficiary's Ticket assignment may refer the beneficiary to a State VR agency for services without the Ticket being un-assigned. However, to do this, the EN and State VR agency must have an agreement that specifies the conditions under which the State VR agency will provide services. The agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties before the EN may refer a Ticketholder to the State VR agency. Ticket assignment will remain with the referring EN, who will compensate the State VR agency according to the terms of the agreement. Social Security will not pay Cost Reimbursement in this situation because the Ticket is assigned to an EN. The agreement allows the beneficiary and the EN to maintain their relationship while the beneficiary receives services from the State VR agency, and it allows the State VR agency to receive a measure of compensation from the EN.

As an alternative under the Partnership Plus option, provided that all steps are taken in consultation with the beneficiary, the current EN and the State VR agency, the beneficiary may un-assign the Ticket and place it in In-Use/SVR status for the period that the VR case is open, and re-assign it to the referring EN or a different EN after VR services are complete and the case is closed. Either option is allowable, provided that in the latter case, the beneficiary is consulted.

4. How would an employer of people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits serve as an EN and collect Milestone and Outcome payments for employees who are already working and are earning above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level?

An employer may collect Milestone and Outcome payments based on the same rules as a non-employer EN. If an employer that elected the Outcome/Milestone payment system accepts assignment of the Ticket of a beneficiary who is already an employee, Social Security will take into consideration work the beneficiary engaged in during the 18 months prior to Ticket assignment to determine which Phase 1 Milestone payments would be available to the employer (see FAQ regarding Recent Work Rule).

Only months when the beneficiary worked with earnings above the Trial Work Level are considered. In determining eligibility for Phase 1 Milestones, Social Security also considers whether a State VR agency served the beneficiary first. If a State VR agency served the beneficiary first and closed the case with the beneficiary in employment, the employer EN would not be eligible for any Phase 1 Milestones. Phase 2 Milestone payments and Outcome payments would be available to the employer EN as these beneficiary employees attained the designated levels of work and earnings to trigger these payments.

If the EN elects the Outcome payment system, there is no penalty for any work done during the 18 months prior to Ticket assignment or for the State VR agency serving the beneficiary first. Rather, the EN would be eligible to submit for Outcome payment beginning the first month after Ticket assignment that the beneficiary's net earnings exceed the SGA amount and that the beneficiary was placed in the zero cash benefit status.

1. If my EN pays Ticketholders for completing a job development or job search curriculum and the pay exceeds the minimum income requirement for Phase 1 Milestones, does that count as work and qualify my EN for Milestone payments?

Job development and job search training, paid or unpaid, does not meet the requirements for payment of Phase 1 milestones. Section 411.500 of the Ticket regulations states that "Phase 1 Milestones are based on the beneficiary achieving a level of earnings that reflects initial efforts at self-supporting employment." Updating job search skills does not constitute employment, as there is no employer-employee relationship wherein services of value are delivered in exchange for payment. The EN Request for Application (RFA) addresses the issue of paid vocational training when it is provided by an employer EN or an employer's agent. Part III, Section 1, B, 2 of the RFA states: "Paid vocational training with no record of continued self-supporting employment does not meet the definition of a job for the purposes of this RFA."

2. Do internships count as employment for the purposes of Milestone or Outcome payments?

If an internship is a "paid" position, the stipend or salary provided to the beneficiary would count towards the earnings requirement for payment of milestones and outcomes to an EN.

3. Why is the potential number of Milestone payments different in Phase 2 for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients (up to 18 payments) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries (up to 11 payments)? Why is the number of potential Outcome payments different for SSI recipients (up to 60 payments) and SSDI beneficiaries (up to 36 payments)?

The goal of the Ticket to Work Program is to assist Social Security beneficiaries to achieve economic independence. Payments to ENs and State VR agencies acting as ENs under the Ticket Program are based on a percentage of the average monthly savings to the Social Security Trust Fund (i.e., for Social Security Disability Insurance recipients) and to the General Revenue Fund (i.e., for Supplemental Security Income recipients) that is realized when a beneficiary has earnings that result in the reduction or elimination of cash benefits. Since the average monthly benefit for SSI recipients is significantly lower than the average monthly benefit for SSDI recipients, Social Security established a payment system that provided a larger number of Phase 1 Milestones and Outcome payments for SSI beneficiaries to minimize the difference in the total potential amount of Ticket payments for SSI versus SSDI recipients. The goal was to ensure that ENs would be willing to assist both SSI and SSDI beneficiaries to engage in employment. The overall effect was to reduce the difference in the total potential payments to less than $1,000.

4. How soon must the beneficiary reach the earnings level that triggers payments?

The ability to begin working and/or increasing one's earnings will vary from beneficiary to beneficiary. Under the Ticket to Work Program, there is no established timeframe in which a beneficiary must go to work and reach designated levels of earnings for the sake of participating in the program. However, after job placement there are established time frames for reaching the Trial Work Level earnings that will generate Phase 1 milestone payment to an EN. Beneficiaries are expected to meet required levels of work, earnings, education, and/or technical training each year to show they are making "timely progress" towards employment goals. Beneficiaries must meet timely progress guidelines in order to maintain protection from medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR). Although failing a Timely Progress Review (TPR) results in the removal of CDR protection, it does not impact a beneficiary's ability to participate in the Ticket Program or an EN's ability to receive payment on behalf of a beneficiary who has qualifying earnings. Ticket eligibility and the ability of the EN with the beneficiary's Ticket assignment to receive payments is only impacted if the beneficiary goes through his/her next regularly scheduled CDR and is determined no longer eligible for disability benefits based on medical improvement. (Visit "Timely Progress Reviews" on the website or read Section 411.180 (c) of the Ticket Program's regulations to learn more.)

5. When does Social Security count earnings to determine whether an EN is entitled to a payment under the Ticket Program? When they are earned or when they are actually paid?

Social Security uses earnings differently depending on whether the beneficiary is receiving SSDI, SSI, or both (i.e., a concurrent beneficiary). For SSDI or concurrent beneficiaries, Social Security uses earnings when they are earned, i.e., by the pay period, not the pay date. For SSI recipients, Social Security counts the earnings for the month in which the beneficiary was actually paid. For example, let's look at an employer that issues a paycheck on the 5^th of the month covering the pay period for the last two weeks of the previous month. If the employee is an SSDI recipient or a concurrent beneficiary, Social Security would count the earnings as income for the previous month. If the pay period overlapped from one month into the next, Social Security would prorate the earnings for each month based on the amount of overlap. If the employee is an SSI recipient, Social Security would count the earnings as income for the current month.

6. If an EN is tracking a beneficiary that the EN previously served and learns that the person eventually went to work and achieved the qualifying levels of work and earnings necessary to trigger Milestone and/or Outcome payments, can the EN collect payments even though it is no longer serving that beneficiary?

While an EN may unassign a Ticket at any time, doing so means that the EN is no longer providing services or ongoing employment support to the Ticketholder. Ongoing support (or the availability of ongoing support) is a requirement for continued payment. SSA will cease Ticket payments to the EN effective the month prior to the month of the unassignment.

A Ticketholder can also unassign a Ticket at any time. SSA may continue to pay the EN the full payment due for a limited number of claims months for which the Ticketholder's earnings qualify. Payments are subject to SSA's evaluation of the EN's service contribution.

7. Please explain the recent work rule and provide a scenario of someone who was working in the 18 months prior to the Ticket assignment. Please break down all situations and explain when each corresponding Phase 1 payment would not be available.

Phase 1 Milestones may not be available to an EN if, during the 18 months prior to the beneficiary first assigning his/her Ticket, the beneficiary worked and had earnings at a level equal to or above the amount designated as the Trial Work Level (TWL) earnings for that year. The Phase 1 Milestone payment would be unavailable to the EN because the EN did not incur the cost of helping the beneficiary achieve that particular level of earnings. The chart below shows the level of work as described in 411.535(a) that would prevent the payment of each of the four Phase 1 Milestones.

Although the criteria used to determine the availability of the Phase 1 Milestones based on a beneficiary's recent work history are patterned after the criteria used to determine the attainment of the four Phase 1 Milestones, the criteria used in the recent work rule are not cumulative. Rather, each criterion should be applied independently. As a result, if a beneficiary worked with TWL earnings during 3 of the 6 months just prior to Ticket assignment, but this work did not include the month just prior to Ticket assignment, the first Phase 1 Milestone would be available to the EN when the beneficiary attained the required levels of work and earnings; the second Phase 1 Milestone, however, would not be available. Similarly, a beneficiary who worked 9 of the last 18 months just prior to Ticket assignment with earnings at the TWL might be eligible for 3 of the Phase 1 Milestones or none, depending on where the 9 months fell within the 18-month period. The recent work rule does not apply to Tickets assigned prior to July 21, 2008.

The recent work rule applies only to the Phase 1 Milestones. Phase 2 Milestones are available to an EN when a beneficiary attains the necessary levels of work and earnings prior to commencement of the Outcome payment period, or if after that, as part of the reconciliation payment.

8. According to Section 411.175, a beneficiary whose Ticket was in use before Social Security determined that the beneficiary was no longer disabled may continue to receive benefit payments in certain circumstances. What are these circumstances?

In accordance with the other Social Security regulations referenced in 411.175, a Ticketholder who receives a decision that benefits will cease because his/her health has improved may apply for benefit continuation on the basis of being in a program of Vocational Rehabilitation with an EN or a State VR agency, or because the Ticketholder has a Plan to Achieve Self-Sufficiency (PASS), or for a few other reasons. If Social Security finds that the program increases the likelihood that the beneficiary will remain off the benefit rolls, the beneficiary may be awarded benefit continuation until the program of Vocational Rehabilitation is completed.

9. What payments are available to my EN after the beneficiary has worked with the State VR agency?

A beneficiary who works with a State VR agency under the Cost Reimbursement program would be able to use his/her Ticket with an EN once the State VR agency closes the beneficiary's case. If the beneficiary is working when the State VR Agency closes the case, the EN with the Ticket assignment can receive Phase 2 Milestone and Outcome payments as the beneficiary attains the required levels of work and earnings.

When a State VR agency serves a beneficiary as an EN, the beneficiary's Ticket is assigned to the VREN. If the beneficiary chooses to assign his/her Ticket to another EN when the VREN unassigns the Ticket, any available EN payments that have not been made could be made to the new EN once the beneficiary attains the required level of work. In addition, the VR acting as an EN and the EN may split the payments that are earned. When a VREN and an EN both request EN payments for the same payment period, the TPM will determine how to split those payments based on the services each entity provided and how those services contributed to the beneficiary's ability to attain the required levels of work and earnings to trigger payments.

11. Do "gross earnings" mean earnings before Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deductions? Or does it just refer to earnings before taxes?

References to gross earnings with regard to milestone payments under the Ticket Program mean earnings before taxes are taken out and before Social Security makes any deductions based on a person's participation in various work incentives such as deductions for IRWEs or Blind Work Expenses, participation in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support, accessing Student Earned Income Exclusions, etc. Beneficiaries who take advantage of Social Security work incentives can reduce their countable income, which is used to determine ongoing eligibility for disability benefits (SSDI and SSI) and, in the case of SSI recipients, to determine the monthly amount of their SSI benefits. Some work incentives are available only to SSI recipients, some are only available to SSDI recipients, and some are available to both. Learn more about Social Security work incentives in the Red Book at https://www.ssa.gov/redbook.

12. Does the Trial Work Level (TWL) that qualifies an EN for the Phase 1 Milestones apply to blind beneficiaries or those who are visually impaired?

TWL earnings apply to recipients of both SSDI and SSI. However, Social Security does use different annual earnings thresholds to determine what constitutes Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for beneficiaries who are blind and visually impaired versus those with other types of disabilities. Annual SGA and TWL thresholds are available at https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/sga.html.

1. Can Social Security perform a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) on a Ticket-eligible beneficiary receiving services from my State VR agency under the Cost Reimbursement payment method?

A beneficiary who is working with a State VR agency will not be subjected to a medical CDR as long as the VR agency has notified Social Security Administration (Social Security) that the beneficiary is in plan status and the beneficiary is making timely progress towards achieving his/her employment goals. When a VR agency accepts a beneficiary for services, it must notify SSA of whether that person will be served under the VR Cost Reimbursement program or the Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program). For cost reimbursement cases or beneficiaries served under the Ticket Program, the VR agency submits the beneficiary's Social Security Number (SSN) and the date the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) was signed, and the Ticket is placed "In-Use SVR" or "assigned." The applicable Ticket status ("In-Use SVR" or "assigned") triggers the protection from medical CDRs.

2. When must a State VR agency choose which payment method it intends to use for a particular Ticketholder? Can the payment method be changed later from being paid as an Employment Network (EN) to being paid under Cost Reimbursement or vice-versa, depending on the case?

For each beneficiary accepted for services, a State VR agency must choose between serving that beneficiary under the Cost Reimbursement (CR) program or under its elected EN payment system. This choice is made when the agency is reporting the signing of the beneficiary's Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to SSA. If the VR agency chooses the CR program, the agency has the option of changing its payment option during the 90-day period following the IPE signature date. This change is done in the Ticket Portal. The Social Security allows this change to be made to ensure that the medical CDR protection is in place as soon as possible. Once 90 days from the IPE signature date have elapsed, cases reported as CR cases must continue as CR cases throughout the time that the State VR agency case is open. At this time, State VR agencies are not permitted to change Social Security Numbers (SSNs) reported as Ticket assignments to the CR option.

3. How and when will a beneficiary be informed that he/she has an "In-Use SVR" Ticket status with my State VR agency?

Social Security sends a letter to each beneficiary after Ticket assignment. These letters go out once a month around the first day of the month.

4. Can a beneficiary reassign his/her Ticket to an EN while a State VR agency has an open case and the ticket status is "In-Use SVR"?

As a general rule, a beneficiary is not able to assign his/her Ticket to an EN while he/she has an open case with a State VR agency. If the VR agency has been timely in reporting the fact that the beneficiary has signed an IPE, the Ticket will be listed as "In-Use SVR" and will not be available for assignment to an EN until the VR agency reports the closing of that case. If such reporting is not timely, the Ticket will appear to be available for assignment and an EN may secure the Ticket assignment before the State VR agency reports its intent to serve that beneficiary. In rare instances, an informed beneficiary may seek to assign his/her Ticket to an EN even though he/she has an open case with a State VR agency by citing the choice principle of the Ticket Program. In these limited cases, the State VR agency should notify Social Security of the situation. Some State VR agencies may also choose to explore the "comparable benefits" rule that allows a VR agency to deny specific services for a VR consumer based on that service or those services being available through alternative funding sources (i.e., in this case, through an EN operating under the Ticket Program).

5. If an EN serves a beneficiary who does not attain all the payments available on the Ticket, and the beneficiary then decides to return to the State VR agency where the Ticket was previously assigned, can that agency accept the Ticket again and resume Ticket payments? Can this specific beneficiary be served under Cost Reimbursement?

A beneficiary may re-assign his/her Ticket to an EN, including a State VR agency acting as an EN, with which the beneficiary formerly assigned the Ticket. However, only those Milestone and Outcome payments initially available and not yet paid when the Ticket was re-assigned would be available for payment once the beneficiary attained qualifying levels of work and earnings. If the VR agency previously had a CR case but never submitted a CR claim on behalf of this beneficiary, the agency would have the option of functioning as an EN and serving the beneficiary under the Ticket Program or choosing to serve the beneficiary under the CR program. However, if the State VR agency received any reimbursement on behalf of this beneficiary since January 1, 2002, the only option would be to open a CR case.

6. If a beneficiary has his/her Ticket assigned to an EN and seeks assistance from a State VR agency, what does the VR agency need to do to get the Ticket "unassigned" from the EN and placed into the "In-Use SVR" status associated with the CR program?

Social Security cannot compensate an EN under the Ticket Program and a State VR agency under the CR program on behalf of the same beneficiary during the same period of time. At any given time, a Ticket can be either assigned to an EN or a State VR agency or it can be "In-Use SVR" under the CR program; it cannot be both. If a State VR agency checks and finds that the beneficiary's Ticket is assigned to an EN, it has several options:

1) The VR counselor may explain the situation to the beneficiary and see if he/she will notify the Ticket Program Manager (TPM) in writing to un-assign the Ticket.

2) The VR counselor or Ticket/CR Coordinator may contact the EN with the Ticket assignment, explain the situation, and ask the EN to unassign the Ticket via the Ticket Portal so the State VR agency can place the Ticket "In-Use SVR" while the VR case is open.

If the EN releases the Ticket while the State VR agency has an open case on the beneficiary, the agency could then refer the beneficiary back to the EN after case closure based on the beneficiary's consent.

Another alternative is for a referring EN to keep the Ticket assignment and have an agreement with the State VR agency which clearly states the types of services to be provided by each entity and how the State VR agency will be compensated for the services it provides, since the EN is precluding the agency from receiving cost reimbursement by keeping the Ticket assignment.

7. What documentation will my State VR agency need to submit to Social Security to place a beneficiary's Ticket "In-Use SVR or assigned" under the State VR agency Cost Reimbursement option?

Social Security has established an electronic data transfer process that State VR agencies must use to establish that they are serving a beneficiary and to release these Tickets after the beneficiary's VR case is closed. When Social Security receives notification that a State VR agency is serving a beneficiary under the CR or Ticket Program, the beneficiary's Ticket is placed "In-Use SVR or assigned" and is not available for assignment to an EN or another State VR agency until the original State VR agency closes the beneficiary's case and notifies Social Security of the case closure date.

At a minimum of once a month, a State VR agency is expected to submit an electronic file to Social Security identifying the beneficiaries who entered plan status during the prior month. Only two data elements need to be submitted: the beneficiary's SSN and the date that the beneficiary's IPE was signed. The SSN should not contain dashes (e.g., 223456789) and the dates (IPE signature date and case closure date) should be an 8 digit numeric field in MMDDYYYY format (e.g., 03222012). The timely submission of this information is important because it triggers the protection from medical CDRs that are associated with a beneficiary using his/her Ticket and payments.

State VR agencies use the same electronic data transfer to close CR cases. The State VR agency simply submits the beneficiary's SSN, the date the beneficiary's VR case was closed, and the status of the beneficiary's case at case closure, i.e., code 26 or 28, employed/not employed, and successful/unsuccessful. The status at case closure is used to determine whether an EN that subsequently gets that beneficiary's Ticket assignment will be eligible for Phase 1 Milestones. If the beneficiary was employed at the time of case closure, the Phase 1 Milestones would not be available; if the beneficiary was not working at time of closure, then all Ticket payments are available to the EN. The timely reporting of case closures is important for a number of reasons. First, taking the Ticket out of the "In-Use SVR" status releases it for another EN to secure the Ticket assignment and provide ongoing supports to assist the beneficiary to maintain and advance in employment. Second, a beneficiary is granted a 90-day grace period during which the protection from medical CDRs continues, allowing the beneficiary time to assign his/her Ticket to an EN. This 90-day grace period starts on the date of case closure and immediately follows VR case closure, during which time, a beneficiary may assign his/her Ticket to an EN even if his/her disability benefits have ceased due to work and earnings. If the Ticket is assigned within 90 days, it continues to be an active Ticket. If not assigned within 90 days, the beneficiary will no longer be eligible to participate in the Ticket Program.

The monthly "In-Use SVR" electronic files are submitted via the Ticket Portal where the VR agency is able to download analysis files.

A beneficiary being served under CR should be informed that his/her Ticket is not available for assignment to an EN while the State VR agency case is open; that the Ticket will still have value after a State VR agency closes the case; and that he/she will have the option of taking the Ticket to an EN after his/her VR case has been closed to secure ongoing employment supports.

8. How frequently must my State VR agency submit information about completed IPEs and case closures?

Information on the opening and closing of CR cases must be submitted monthly. The timely submission of this information is important for three reasons. First, when Social Security receives notice of an IPE being signed, it places that beneficiary's Ticket "In-Use SVR or assigned," which triggers that beneficiary's protection from a medical CDR. Second, Social Security also removes the name of that beneficiary from the list of Tickets available for assignment, thereby preventing another EN from securing that beneficiary's Ticket assignment. Third, if case closure information is not received promptly, the beneficiary may not benefit from the 90-day window to reassign his/her Ticket without having any lapse in his/her protection from a medical CDR.

9. Are there specific desired formats my State VR agency should use for SSNs and dates when submitting case data?

The SSN should not contain any dashes (e.g., 22345678) and the dates (IPE signature date and case closure date) should be an 8 digit numeric field in MMDDYYYY format (e.g., 03222012).

10. I am getting bombarded by calls from beneficiaries suddenly getting pulled for a medical review right after they failed a Timely Process Review (TPR). Why?

The normal TPR process includes beneficiary failures processed each night. This notification removes the CDR protection from the beneficiary. At that point, the beneficiary falls into the normal schedule of his/her medical review. Timing has nothing to do with failing the TPR. If the beneficiary immediately gets called for medical review, it is only because this happens to be the timing for a medical review based on the original schedule set up when the disability determination was made. Regardless of when the beneficiary fails a TPR, the medical review is due at a certain time (every 1, 3, 5 or 7 years). As soon as the CDR protection is removed, the beneficiary is eligible for, and will be called for, the next scheduled review.

1. How does the Partnership Plus option work?

The 2008 Ticket regulations included provisions for both a State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency and an Employment Network (EN) to receive compensation on behalf of the same beneficiary using the same Ticket. The VR agency serves the beneficiary under the Cost Reimbursement (CR) program and the EN secures the beneficiary's Ticket assignment after VR case closure and assists the beneficiary to achieve or maintain Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level earnings.

When the State VR agency chooses to serve a beneficiary under the CR program and sends data into the Ticket Portal, the beneficiary's Ticket is placed in a status called "In-Use SVR." This status triggers continuing protection against medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) as long as the Ticketholder meets all Timely Progress Review standards. During the time the beneficiary has an open State VR agency case, the Ticket is not available for assignment to an EN.

After the beneficiary's VR case is closed and the State VR agency notifies Social Security of the date of the case closure, the beneficiary has the option of assigning his/her Ticket to an EN. This must occur within 90 days from the closure date to continue protection from medical CDR. The remaining value of the Ticket and the types of services the beneficiary may be seeking will depend on whether or not the beneficiary was working at the time of case closure.

If the beneficiary was working at the time of case closure (referred to as a successful closure) they would most likely be seeking job retention services, ongoing support services, or other post-employment services to maintain or advance their employment. In this case Phase 1 Milestone payments are not available to the EN. The EN will be focused on assisting the beneficiary to achieve or maintain earnings at or above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. Once the beneficiary's earnings are at the SGA level, the EN can start billing for Phase 2 Milestones. Once the beneficiary has achieved 9 months of SGA level earnings within a 12-month period, the State VR agency can submit for Cost Reimbursement. When the beneficiary's earnings result in the cessation of monthly disability benefits, the EN can begin submitting for outcome payments.

If the beneficiary was not working at the time of case closure the Phase 1 Milestones may be available to the EN.

2. Is the Partnership Plus option only available when my State VR agency is serving a beneficiary under the traditional CR program?

Yes. Under the Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program) legislation, a State VR agency is given a choice on a case-by-case basis as to whether it will serve a particular beneficiary under the traditional CR program or as an EN under the Ticket Program. If a State VR agency chooses to serve a beneficiary under the CR program, the beneficiary has the option of assigning his/her Ticket to an EN to receive ongoing support services after VR closes his/her case. This option allows beneficiary to receive sequential services and smoothly transition from VR services to ongoing post-employment assistance provided by an EN.

1. What options exist for the Public Workforce Development System to participate in the Ticket to Work Program as Employment Networks (ENs)?

There are a variety of service model options available to public workforce system entities interested in providing services under the Ticket Program. For State Workforce Agencies (SWA), State Workforce Development Boards (SWDBs), Workforce Development Areas (WDAs), Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs), and American Job Centers (AJCs), the following are four ways to participate in the Ticket Program as an EN:

Option 1

A Workforce Development Board or AJC can apply to be a single stand-alone EN and be responsible for:

• Identifying and assigning Ticketholders
• Creating an Individual Employment Plan (IEP) or Individual Work Plan (IWP) for each assigned Ticketholder
• Requesting and receiving Ticket payments
• Complying with all Ticket Program administrative and reporting requirements

Option 2

A State Department of Labor Agency can apply to become an Administrative EN. The local area WDBs, AJCs and AJC partners would provide the EN services to Ticketholders. The State entity would manage all interaction and necessary administrative duties with Social Security and the Ticket Program Manager (TPM), including:

• Identifying and assigning Ticketholders
• Requesting and receiving Ticket payments
• Complying with all Ticket Program administrative and reporting requirements

Option 3

A State or Local Workforce Agency or AJC can contract with an existing Administrative EN to manage the administrative responsibilities of the Ticket Program, while the workforce entity focuses on service delivery.

Option 4

An EN can choose to focus their service provision primarily or exclusively on ongoing supports for beneficiaries exiting the public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system after being served under the VR Cost Reimbursement (CR) program under the Partnership Plus model. Ongoing support services include job stabilization, retention, and career advancement services.

2. How would Ticket payments be divided among entities participating in an Administrative EN model?

That would be up to the group to decide. Typically, the administrative entity keeps some percentage to cover operating costs and remits the remainder to the entity providing services to the Ticketholder. Signed agreements or memoranda of understanding are typically used by the entities to formalize the arrangement.

3. What are the advantages of forming a State or Regional Administrative EN?

First, there is a reduction of time involved with the EN application process. Only one application is required (by the administrative entity), saving the others participating in the collaboration from that workload. Second, there is a reduction in time involved with EN operational tasks. The day-to-day duties involved in operating an EN are conducted by the Administrative EN. This can be significant for smaller entities that may not have sufficient staff time to devote to administrative duties. By reducing this burden, partner entities can focus on providing services to workforce system customers who are Ticketholders.

1. What makes an Individual Work Plan (IWP) complete?

An IWP is complete when the document is in conformance with Ticket Program policy, as listed in Part III-Section 4.A of the Request for Application (RFA) and both the beneficiary and Employment Network (EN) representative acknowledge completing the plan with signatures.

2. How do I determine if a beneficiary is a good candidate for the Ticket to Work Program?

The Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program) is voluntary and may not be a good fit for every beneficiary. The EN should assess the beneficiary's needs and desire to become financially independent. If the beneficiary's goal is to become financially independent and the EN can provide services necessary to meet the goal, then the beneficiary and EN are a good match.

3. What constitutes an acceptable short-term and long-term goal for a beneficiary's IWP?

State what position or what career path the beneficiary is interested in attaining. The goal should be clear and measurable. The recommended method to ensure an acceptable short-term or long-term goal is the S.M.A.R.T method.

4. What would cause the signature date to be unacceptable on an IWP?

A future date would not be acceptable. A date in which the beneficiary was not eligible for the program would also not be acceptable.

5. What is the significance of documenting in the IWP that the counseling session occurred?

This ensures that the beneficiary and the EN engaged in a one-on-one individualized discussion involving career planning, developing employment goals, and EN supports and services.

6. How long does it take a Ticket assignment to show up in the Portal after it is processed?

The Ticket assignment should appear in the Portal immediately after assignment.

7. Who should I contact about questions pertaining to Ticket Assignments and IWPs?

Send all questions to ProgramIntegrity@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov.

1. How do beneficiaries get the Employer Identification Number (EIN) so they can set up MySSA.gov for reporting, if the employer does not provide it to them?

The EIN can be located on tax-related documents such as the W2 form. Often times, employers are reluctant to provide the EIN upon request. The Social Security Administration (Social Security) has resources available to locate the EIN when the individual submits their paystubs to the office.

2. Will ENs with Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC) or Community Partner Work Incentives Counselors (CPWIC) ever be able to report earnings on behalf of a beneficiary?

We know that some CWICs or CPWICs do submit wages via fax, mail or drop off to the local or servicing field office for processing. However, they cannot submit paystubs using any of the wage reporting applications. The beneficiary is still, ultimately, responsible for reporting wages to Social Security.

3. What does the message, "manual action by field office", mean when a beneficiary attempts to submit earnings via the mobile app?

This message indicates that the field office needs to post the paystubs to the record.

4. Why would wage reporting take more than 3 attempts?

This could be due to a number of reasons, including but not limited to: not entering the correct password; not entering temporary passcode within the 10-minute time limit; entering incorrect responses for identification questions or having a freeze on the account with a credit bureau. Social Security recently changed the requirements with mySSA accounts and the passwords no longer have an expiration date.

5. If a beneficiary has an organization rep payee, does that mean they cannot use the wage reporting applications?

The individual can submit their wages using the applications. However, the organization cannot submit the wages for the individual using the applications.

6. Are there any documents available to ENs that could help Ticketholders through the wage reporting process? For example, is it possible to share the beneficiary wage reporting instructions or informational packets with ENs so that we can support the beneficiaries and reinforce the information?

For SSI recipients, we prefer not to share the participant training packages with ENs because we do not post the toll-free number for the Telephone Wage Reporting system for the public. This number is published within the package. We also note that individuals who report wages with the Telephone Wage Reporting system and the Mobile Wage Reporting application have been prescreened by the field office staff and have received instructions from field office staff in addition to the training packages.

We recommend the following resources for ENs:

• Spotlight on Reporting your Earnings to Social Security
• Spotlight on SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System and SSI Mobile Wage Reporting
• SI 00820.143 Monthly Wage Reporting

7. Some beneficiaries and/or payees need assistance with setting up their mySSA account. Can the Ticket to Work Coordinator or benefits counselor help a beneficiary create an account?

The Ticket to Work Coordinator cannot create an account on behalf of an individual. The individual can call or visit the local office for assistance. Many offices have self-help computers where an individual can set up their mySSA account and receive assistance if needed.

8. Will the "messages/receipts" ever "expire" or be deleted without the beneficiary doing it manually?

The expectation is that the messages and receipts will be available for at least one year. In the event an individual is not able to retrieve a receipt or message, a replacement can be requested by contacting Social Security, either the local office or the national 800 number.

9. The presentation states that Institutional and Organization Representatives payees cannot report wages. Does this mean EN providers cannot assist with wage reporting?

EN providers cannot use any of the wage reporting applications to submit paystubs. Ultimately, it is the beneficiary's responsibility to report wages. However, if the EN provider chooses to assist the beneficiary, they can submit paystubs via fax, mail or drop-off to the local SSA office for processing.

10. If an Individual who wants to set up My Wage Report provides an EIN, will SSA contact that employer?

We have several options within our own systems to verify an EIN provided by an individual and would not routinely contact employers upon receiving a report of an EIN or new employment.

11. I was told in 2018 that beneficiaries receiving SSDI could only report electronically through myssa.gov. When did Social Security add the option to allow wage reporting for beneficiaries receiving SSDI?

Effective September 2017, SSDI began submitting wages via myWageReport.