Ticket to Work

• What is the IPE?
• What are the services I might need?
• Where else can I obtain services and do I have to pay for these services?
• Will I need to apply for other financial benefits?
• Where do I get the services I need?

What is the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)?

• Your work goal;
• The steps you will need to take to reach your goal;
• Services you will need to reach the goal;
• Who will provide you with the services;
• The cost of those services and who will pay the costs; and
• Your responsibilities in carrying out the plan.

The following sources can help you write all or part of your IPE:

• Your Counselor at the State VR Agency;
• Ccommunity programs (VR Agencies should be able to provide a list of programs);
• Family members and/or friends; and/or
• You can write it by yourself.

After you have completed your IPE, it must be reviewed and approved by your VR Agency counselor. Both you and your VR Agency counselor must sign the IPE before services begin.

What are some of the services I might need?

• Assessment evaluations that help you determine your work skills and your need for services, such as training, assistive devices, and other things;
• Counseling and guidance to provide you with information about jobs and other services that will help you go to work;
• Referrals for other services to help you succeed in getting a job;
• Job placement to help you look for a job, find a job, and stay on a job; and
• Transition planning to assist you in completing school (if you are still in school) and preparing for entering employment.

You should ask your counselor or other VR staff if you have any questions about any of these services.

These services may also need to be written into your IPE:

• Educational and vocational training that will help you learn the skills to do a job, such as college, trade school, or Nurses Aide Certification Program;
• Support services while you are training for your job including:
• Transportation to and from training;
• Textbooks, tools and equipment;
• Sign language interpreters and reader services;
• Home, vehicle and work site modifications; and
• Attendant services.
• Physical and mental restoration medical services not covered by other insurance that you may need before you work, such as hearing aids, scooter;
• Assistance in starting a business, such as writing a business plan, buying equipment, stock and supplies;
• Rehabilitation technology aids and devices, such as a transfer board, hand controls, and a remote control door opener;
• Job Coach who will help you learn a job after you begin to work; and
• Post employment assistance to help you keep your job, get a new job, or advance in your job.

Where else can I obtain services and do I have to pay for these services?

The following services you need may involve some costs for you. The VR Agency will need information about your finances to see if you will be able to pay for some or all of these services. You may have to provide information concerning your own finances, your spouse's or your parents' financial resources such as:

• Tax returns;
• Check stubs;
• Verification of Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) benefits;
• Other resources, such as savings accounts.

For a full list refer to VR Checklist

If you are receiving SSI benefits or public assistance, you will not be expected to pay for any approved services. In some cases, this is also true for people who receive SSDI benefits. Please provide a copy of any letter you may have or a copy of your public assistance check to your VR Agency counselor to show that you receive these benefits.

Will I need to apply for other financial benefits?

You may need to apply for other benefits before the VR Agency can pay for services. These include any benefits provided or paid for, in whole or in part, by other Federal, State, or local public agencies, by health insurance, or by employee benefits. They include such things as college financial aid and medical insurance benefits, including Medicaid. You do not have to apply for other benefits if the delay would cause you extreme medical risk or you would lose a job opportunity because of the delay.

VR Agency staff can work with you to help you decide what other benefits must be used before VR can pay for services.

Where do I get the services I need?

You can decide where you want to go for services you need to reach your work goal. The VR Agency can provide you with information about service providers.
 
When choosing your service provider, it is important that you compare the possible providers using the following criteria:

• Does the service provider have all the required licenses and approvals?
• Does the service provider have a good reputation in the community?
• Is the staff qualified to provide the training you need?
• Is the program/service accessible, considering your disability-related needs?
• Do you have transportation to reach the service provider or program?
• If the provider is a school, do most of the students graduate or complete the training?
• Is the program successful in getting people jobs?
• Does the cost of the program seem reasonable when compared with the costs of similar programs?