Recent payments policy change
In February, Social Security began making Phase 1 Milestone 4 payments (P1M4) available to Employment Networks (EN) via ePay. ENs are still required to submit requests for Phase 1 Milestones 1-3 via the Portal. To receive payment, ENs must provide Proof of Relationship (PoR) in the form of paystubs or by faxing a completed PoR form immediately after submitting Phase 1 Milestones 1-3 payment requests. ENs are eligible to receive P1M4 as an additional payment after requesting Phase 1 Milestone 3 if there are sufficient earnings and all payment criteria are met.
Send questions to the EN Payments Help Desk at ENPaymentsHelpdesk@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov.
|
New Ticket Portal features
A recent update to the Ticket Portal now allows both ENs and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to view comments for both EN and Cost Reimbursement (CR) payment denials. Portal users should now see a hyperlink on the word “Denied” under the Payment Decision column. Clicking the link will allow ENs and VRs to see the adjudicator’s comments for every denial, regardless of the decision date.
Updated payments tools
The 2021 Payments at a Glance and 18-Month Look Back Tool are available for download in the Resource Documents section on the Your Ticket to Work website.
|
Changes to the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)
Social Security received information that the release form used to request a BPQY can no longer be used to release IRS earnings. Therefore, yearly earnings based on IRS information will no longer be available on the BPQY. If Ticketholders or their counselors/advocates want to obtain yearly earnings data, the Ticketholder can make a request for their Social Security Statement through their mySSA account. Ticketholders without a mySSA account should be encouraged to create one at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ in order to view their Social Security Statements, obtain benefit verification letters, etc.
New online payment option for Social Security overpayments
Ticketholders who have an overpayment but are no longer receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits can go online to make payments. Options to repay their overpayment in full or make partial payments include using a credit card, debit card, or bank account transfer. Please inform your Ticketholders about the option to make online payments at pay.gov/public/form/start/834689469. They can also access the site by visiting Pay.gov and searching “SSA” or “Social Security.”
|
Verify employment to keep your Portal access
Portal users must verify their employment every 6 months to maintain Portal access. Users receive a notification approximately 2 weeks prior to their Portal account being locked. To verify employment, send an email to ENService@ssa.gov with the subject line “Employment Verification – Your DUNS Number.” Use one of the options below:
- Option 1: Single user can send an email from a company email address stating they are still employed.
- Option 2: EN can send one email listing all active employees with Portal access.
Contact ENService@ssa.gov for assistance.
|
Report new EN contact changes
If you have changes in key staff, services, or contact information, you must inform SSA within 24 hours. The TPA Change form is the KEY tool we use to update the Ticket to Work Find Help Tool and our contact lists for EN training and email communications. Complete and submit the form to ENService@ssa.gov.
|
Do not email Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Don’t forget that ENs must not send Ticketholder PII by email to Social Security and/or TPM, even if it is encrypted. This includes all reports downloaded from the Ticket Portal. ENs must reference Work Case (WC) numbers when communicating about Ticketholders or payments via email. If you are reporting an error with the Ticket Portal and are asked to provide a screenshot, you must ensure that your screenshot does not contain any PII.
Find more information about transmitting PII, including the consequences for violations, at https://yourtickettowork.ssa.gov/program-operations/transmitting-pii.html.
Read and share our latest fact sheets today!
During 2020, many of you changed how you engage with the public and your existing Ticketholders. We’re all learning how to work in a virtual environment and today we’re sharing our newest resource, Virtual Service Delivery, to help you better serve your clients using advice from your colleagues.
Other recent fact sheets include:
|
Join the crowd receiving Ticket Program text messaging
Our nationwide campaign is designed to inform the public about the Ticket to Work Program and certain features of the program, such as the availability of the Choose Work website, the Ticket to Work Help Line, monthly Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars and more.
Text TICKET to 474747 to join over 7,000 people receiving text messages from the Ticket Program. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.
|
Take a look at these numbers!
Are you interested in how the Ticket to Work Program performed throughout the pandemic? Though business has not been “as usual,” the numbers show that program performance has remained steady. While we have seen a decline in the number of Tickets in-use with state VR agencies, the number of Tickets assigned to ENs continues to grow.
Mark Your Calendars!
The 11th National Employment Network Association (NENA) Annual Training Conference will take place September 22-24, 2021. The NENA Board decided to have a virtual conference again this year to make it available to as many people as possible.
Please visit the 2021 NENA Conference webpage for more information and to access the online speaker proposal submission form. The proposal submission deadline is Friday, April 30, 2021.
|
Mark your calendar for the 2021 Work Incentive Seminar
Events (WISE)
Webinars are typically held on the 4th Wednesday each month from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. EST and are a great way to share information about the Ticket Program with groups. On Wednesday, April 28, the Ticket Program Manager (TPM) will host a WISE, “Healthcare and the Path to Employment.” The webinar will focus on the myths and facts about work and Medicare and Medicaid. Register at choosework.ssa.gov/wise.
Check the National All Call schedule
Be sure to put these events and dates on your calendar.
April
- April 27, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.: All Employment Network (EN) Payments Call
- April 28, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar
May
- May 18, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.: All Employment Network (EN) Call
- May 26, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar
- May 31: Office closed for Memorial Day
June
- June 23, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar
Social Security and the Ticket Program Manager would like to hear your questions and updates. Find contact information for the EN Service team, State VR Agency Help Desk and the Provider Support Help Line.
Get on our mailing list
If you do not receive messages about the Ticket Program from Social Security but should, please contact ENService@ssa.gov for EN updates and VR.Helpdesk@ssa.gov for State VR agency updates.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help
Follow Ticket to Work Social Media to keep up with all of the latest Ticket Program and disability employment news!
|
|
