If you help Social Security disability beneficiaries become employed - or if you're exploring this field - the National Employment Network Association (NENA) is here to serve you.
Promising new Ticket to Work program rules are opening new opportunities for people with disabilities and increasing the earnings potential of employ-ment networks so they can serve more people. Visit us often for news, free resources and the complete support package available to NENA members.
SSA Proposes to Modify Ticket Rules, Potential for High Impact on ENs :
RESPOND BY FEB. 12
SSA is proposing to issue new rules that will affect ENs when they serve ticketholders before or after they are served by a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency.
SSA published an "Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" in the Federal Register on Dec. 14, 2009. The title is "Revised Procedures and Criteria for Payment of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Under the Cost Reimbursement Program." Click for Notice
Based on responses to the ANPRM, SSA will issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that contains the actual proposed rules. The ANPRM closes on Friday, Feb. 12. Click here to visit Regulations.gov website and view responses.
NENA has responded to the ANPRM, and we urge all ENs and state VR agencies to respond separately as well. Click here to view NENA's response.
The final rules could correct problems that exist now:
If VR provided prior services to a Ticket client, no matter how long ago, and closed the case successfully, but never received a single dime on cost reimbursement, the EN will not get the Phase 1 Milestones ($5,100) even if the ticketholder was not working at the time the EN signed them up, and perhaps hadn’t worked in years.
Even if the VR did get cost reimbursement for services, there is no limitation on how long ago that was, an EN still will not get Phase 1 Milestones ($5,100) even if the VR case was closed 20 years ago.
The final rules could correct those problems, if enough ENs respond.
The Ticket Program rules that took effect in July, 2008, guide the VR/EN transfer after the VR case closes. The new rule-making focuses on situations where an EN serves the consumer first and then refers to VR, or where VR serves a consumer and a lengthy delay occurs before the consumer assigns his/her ticket to an EN.
NENA believes that in these two scenarios, VR and ENs provide essentially different services. As a result there is no duplication of services, and no duplicate payments, and no need for SSA to reduce payments to VR or EN when both serve the same consumer. Any attempt to identify and collect "duplicate" payments in these scenarios would only hurt consumers, who would suffer reduced access to services.
Please respond by Friday, Feb. 12. NENA will post news updates on the rule-making process as they become available.
SSA Rolls Out Auto-Pay II Pilot
Recently SSA announced that ENs and VRs who were signed up for Auto-Pay at the end of 2009 can participate in the Auto-Pay II pilot.
The NENA Board discussed Auto-Pay II in depth, and found no substantial problems with payment protocols. However, Auto-Pay II adds a component for assessing ticketholder satisfaction with their EN. If SSA receives negative feedback, SSA may disqualify the provider from Auto-Pay. The NENA Board is examining problems with the feedback mechanism and its application.
If your organization qualifies for the Auto-Pay II pilot, you should have received an email invitation from enoperations@yourtickettowork.com. If you had email problems or think you were overlooked, contact your account rep at Maximus.
The email announcing Auto-Pay II stated, "Once the pilot program has been completed and the results evaluated, we hope to roll this option out for all ENs."
The NENA Board welcomes your comments or questions about Auto-Pay II, click here to email us.
NENA online membership directory
Professional associations like NENA frequently have online listings of their practicing members.
NENA wants to offer this service to you, and will survey all members soon to hear your preferences on what information to publish online.
Dues-paying NENA membeers, look for a Survey Monkey email from NENA and tell us what you'd like to see!
Each One Reach One Membership Drive
From Membership Chair Karen Davidson,
Our 2010 slogan is "Each One Reach One." We are asking each NENA member to reach out and recruit a new NENA member from one other EN that you know - or perhaps one you don't - operating in your town or service area. NENA has a very strong voice with SSA - they listen to us, ask us for advice and appreciate all that we do - but we need more voices! And, we want to help more ENs who may be new or struggling.
Click here to download talking points you can use in conversation with potential members. The easiest way to become a member is using this link to join online.
Not sure who is already a NENA member? Our membership directory will be posted online soon, but in the meantime, click here to email me, Karen Davidson, and I can tell you if an EN is a member. Thanks for all you do and your support of NENA!
NENA Annual Conference
Elects First Full Slate of Directors
NENA now has a 13-member Board of Directors, elected by the association membership at our Sept. 16 Annual Conference.
The Board brings great experience and diverse perspectives to work as the voice of employment network (EN) service providers in the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program.
This slate of Directors is an excellent step forward for creating a unified voice for all ENs. All incumbent Directors were elected to terms, and new Directors were also elected. To learn more about the new Directors and Officers, click here to visit the NENA Board page.
Click here to contact NENA if you’re interested in any of these topics.