SOCIAL SECURITY
News Release
Social Security Administration Launches New Program
to Help People with Disabilities Go to Work
Ticket to Work Program Provides More Choices, Expanded
Opportunities
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched a new program
designed to help people with disabilities go to work.
"Today, only about one percent of the people who get Social Security
and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits leave
the rolls each year to go to work. We can do better, and we must
do better," said Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security.
"President Bush said, ‘My Administration is committed to tearing
down any barriers that unreasonably prevent the full participation
of Americans with disabilities.’ And he said that he will work ‘to
help disabled Americans realize their dreams through meaningful
and successful careers.’ And the Ticket to Work gets us there."
Social Security disability and SSI disability beneficiaries will
receive a Ticket that may be used to obtain vocational rehabilitation,
job training, and other support services. Initially, 13 states will
participate in the Ticket Program, which will be in operation nationwide
by January of 2004.
Tickets will begin arriving in mailboxes this week. Over the next
five months, about 2.4 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries
with disabilities will receive a Ticket to Work. The mailings will
be staggered, based on the last digit of a beneficiary’s Social
Security number. Anyone who wants a Ticket immediately can call
1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967
(1-866- TDD2WORK).
Individuals may take their Ticket to any of the employment service
providers who offer services in their communities. These providers
are called Employment Networks. A list of participating networks
can be found at www.ssa.gov/work, by clicking
on service providers.
Here’s how the program works: a Ticket holder gives the Ticket
to an Employment Network. The network and the Ticket holder together
design an individual employment plan outlining the services to be
provided to assist the beneficiary in reaching his or her employment
goal.
The Ticket Program is voluntary. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries
who receive a Ticket are not required to work, but may choose to
use their Ticket to attempt to go to work. Likewise, Employment
Networks are not required to accept Tickets.
The Ticket Program is designed to provide people with disabilities
with more choices and expanded opportunities to help them go to
work. Individuals will receive services from an Employment Network
for free. SSA will pay the Employment Networks for successfully
helping a beneficiary go to work. Employment Networks may choose
to be paid based solely on helping an individual achieve self-sufficiency,
or they may choose to receive payments when beneficiaries achieve
different milestones during their attempt to go to work.
The Ticket Program is the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and
Work Incentives Improvement Act, which was passed by Congress and
signed into law in December 1999. Other provisions of the law are
already in place to help support people with disabilities as they
go to work. These provisions include expanded health care coverage.
Many of the barriers that would force people to choose between
health care coverage and work have been removed by the legislation.
Social Security disability beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare,
the Federal health insurance plan. Effective in October 2000, most
Social Security disability beneficiaries are protected by Medicare
for up to eight years and six months after they go to work. Medicare
coverage continues even if an individual no longer receives a monetary
benefit from Social Security. Most SSI beneficiaries are eligible
for Medicaid, which is a state health benefit. These individuals
should contact the state Medicaid office in their area for more
information. For more on the difference between Social Security
disability and SSI disability, click on the fact sheet at the end
of this press release.
Between February and June, approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries
will receive tickets in the following states: Arizona, Colorado,
Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.
The second phase of the Ticket Program is scheduled for late 2002
in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia, and in the District of Columbia.
The final phase of the Ticket Program is scheduled for 2003 in
Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota,
Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,
Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, as well as in American
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands.
Those who have questions about the Ticket Program should call Maximus,
Inc. Maximus, the organization selected by SSA to administer the
Ticket Program, may be contacted toll-free at
1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967
(1-866- TDD2WORK). Internet users can visit www.yourtickettowork.com
--Maximus’ website.
For general information about the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act, please go to SSA’s Internet website-- www.ssa.gov/work
--The Work Site.
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NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS:
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Note:
Copies of most SSA press releases, as well as other Social Security
information and statistics,
are available at SSA’s Internet site, Social Security
Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.
Also look there for information on subscribing to SSA’s
free electronic newsletter, Social Security eNews.
SSA Press Office 449
Altmeyer Bldg. 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235
410-965-8904 FAX 410-966-9973
|
www.socialsecurity.gov
