Payment process changes
On March 25, Social Security made changes to the EN Payments process to: (1) align EN payments earnings verification with Agency standards; (2) simplify case processing to first in first out (FIFO); (3) replace the Certification of Services (COS) form with the Proof of Relationship (PoR) form for Phase 1 Milestone 1-3 payment requests; (4) omit Phase 1 Milestone 4 from the PoR review; and (5) eliminate outreach from the PoR process. See the March 25 message that details these changes. Contact the Provider Support Help Line at 1-866-949-3687 or email ENPaymentshelpdesk@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov with questions.
Ready? Get set for a possible site visit
Social Security and TPM staff are conducting site visits across the country through the spring and summer. ENs selected for a visit will be contacted within a month of a planned visit to coordinate details. ENs will receive a list of documents to provide during the visit. Please prepare to discuss your Ticket program documentation, business operations, and processes. If you have questions, contact ENService@ssa.gov.
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Has your EN changed address or staff?
Use the TPA Change form to let us know if your EN has moved, changed any services, has new key points of contact, etc. Submit the form directly to ENService@ssa.gov or by fax at 410-597-0429. It is important to use the form (not email messages) for getting your updates processed efficiently.
Did you miss the latest All EN, VR or Payments Call?
If so, you missed a lot of important information and updates for operating your Ticket program business! Find all related recaps and materials here.
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Welcome Washington to Partnership Plus
Washington is the latest State VR agency to create a Partnership Plus agreement that was developed in coordination with EN partners. Washington joins 27 other states with collaborations in place with ENs who are working toward the provision of long-term, seamless services for Ticketholders.
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Welcome New ENs
The following ENs were recently activated to serve Ticketholders
New on YouTube: How to Report Wages
This new video from Social Security explains how beneficiaries can report earnings online. Be sure to share this information with your Ticketholders!
Stay informed! New service provider announcements
The Ticket to Work service provider home page has been redesigned to prominently feature important announcements at the top of the page. It’s now easier than ever to stay informed on the latest service provider news and website updates.
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New success story! Meet Angel
After 2 tours of duty with the U.S. Air Force, Angel felt the effects of neck and back injuries sustained during his military service. After the Air Force issued a medical retirement, Angel focused on his health and received disability benefits from the Veterans Administration and Social Security.
When he learned about Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and was offered a job with a federal contractor, Angel had questions about what returning to work would mean for his disability benefits. Learn about his path back to employment and how his EN helped him build the confidence to choose work, request needed accommodations, and find success working for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Share the stories!
Ticket to Work success stories are a great way to introduce potential clients to the program because they provide the details about how real people found the supports and services they needed to succeed on the path to work.
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Outreach Toolkit Revamped
See the recent enhancements to the Service Provider Outreach Toolkit, including the many fact sheets posted there to assist your Ticketholders. Since May is Military Appreciation Month, be sure to check out the facts about “Ticket to Work for America’s Veterans”.
National Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) Webinars
Be sure to tap into WISE webinars as a way to learn more about Work Incentives AND introduce Ticketholders to the Ticket program. We answer lots of questions during the webinars to ease fears, bust myths, and prepare Ticketholders for the many opportunities that working provides. Encourage your clients and potential clients to join our next WISE webinar!
WISE webinars are typically held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3-4:30 p.m. ET. Register today!
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Follow Choose Work on social media!
In the coming weeks, we’ll be saying “good-bye” to our service provider social media profiles. But you can still find plenty of important information and resources for Ticketholders on Facebook and Twitter! Follow Choose Work on Facebook and Twitter to find and share updates, the latest blog posts and information about our upcoming WISE webinars. You can also make sure that you receive important information by regularly checking the Your Ticket to Work website and subscribing to the Choose Work! Blog and the WISE webinars!
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Partnership Plus: Let’s Make It Happen
On Monday, April 8 TPM staff hosted a discussion around Partnership Plus implementation at the TPM headquarters in McLean, VA. State VR agency staff from around the country including the states of Kentucky, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Georgia, California and Mississippi shared ideas, challenges, and successes in facilitating service provider partnerships.
 Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
The annual CSAVR Spring Conference was held April 6-10 in Bethesda, MD. The Social Security and Ticket Program Manager crew were very pleased to participate in the CSAVR Social Security Relationships Committee meeting on April 8 and the Cost Reimbursement and Partnership Plus training sessions on April 9 -10.
Become certified to provide Work Incentives planning services
Benefits Counseling significantly contributes to successful employment outcomes for Ticketholders. We encourage you to register for Social Security’s Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training and certification process, offered by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) National Training and Data Center (NTDC). Find the complete calendar on the VCU NTDC website and consider signing up for the next session which will take place on June 17-21, 2019, in Baltimore, MD. Hurry, registration closes on May 1, 2019.
For a basic understanding of Work Incentives and benefits
The NTDC also offers a web course that provides the basics about Social Security disability benefit programs and associated Work Incentives. The “Introduction to Social Security Disability Benefits, Work Incentives, and Employment Support Programs” web course is an excellent way to get an overview of Work Incentives planning. Check the calendar and reserve your spot.
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Contact Julie Schall at jaschall@vcu.edu or 804-827-0741 to receive NTDC announcements, ask questions about what level of training is best for you, and find out how to register.
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Get your Ticket training here
The Service Provider Foundations training course offers essential information that ENs need to know to perform under the Ticket program. Certain topics are mandatory for Ticket Portal users and EN contact(s) responsible on the TPA for Ticketholders, payments, TPA inquiries, and Suitability. See the monthly training calendar and contact ENOperations@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov to sign up for a single topic or the full course, offered by webinar.
Find Ticket program events!
Be sure to put these events and dates on your calendar to stay up to date. This includes the All EN Calls, All Payments Calls, All VR Calls, and other national calls.
Coming soon:
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April
- Apr 30, 1 - 2 p.m.: All EN Payments Call
May
- May 16, 3 - 4:30 p.m.: All Employment Network (EN) Call
- May 22, 3 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar “Ticket to Work: Working with a Mental Illness”
June
- June 26, 3 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar “Putting it Together: Resume and
Interview Tips”
July
- July 9, 3 - 4 p.m.: All State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agency Call
- July 24, 3 - 4:30 p.m.: WISE Webinar “Reasonable Accommodations”
- July 30, 1-2 p.m.: All EN Payments Call
Help Line Fun Facts
There is only one central contact center providing Ticket program information. The Ticket to Work Help Line is located in South Texas and considered to be fully staffed at 35 Beneficiary Support Specialists who handle nationwide callers and emails. The Help Line handled an average of 16,000 calls per month during January, February and March of 2019. The top 3 resources where callers are referred are WIPA projects, Social Security and EN lists.
- Help Line: 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD)
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET
- Email: support@choosework.ssa.gov
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Contact us – 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.
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