Welcome to NENA

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.

This field is open to new service providers through the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, in the Social Security Administration. The Ticket Program pays "employment networks" to provide employment support services to SSA disability beneficiaries. It's easy to become an employment network, and on July 21, 2008, promising new Ticket Program rules will open new opportunities for people with disabilities and increase the earnings potential of employment networks. Visit this website often for news, free resources and the complete support package available to NENA members.

Latest News

New Ticket Program Rules Implement July 21!

More Teleconferences On the Way
SSA plans another useful teleconference to explain how the EN payment process will work under the new Ticket Program rules.  The NENA Board will attend and ask questions, and we encourage all ENs to attend.  Watch your email inbox for announcements by SSA.  Also, NENA is working toward a teleconference to describe models for the new partnership between VRs and ENs.  Watch your email inbox for more information about that from NENA.

Advice to ENs
Based on our recent conversations with experienced employment networks (ENs) and SSA staff, NENA offers advice in this bulletin.

New Requirements
SSA has included new requirements aimed at ensuring quality of services. 

1.  To earn timely payment of the 4th Phase 1 Milestone, ENs must document that they have “substantially” met the terms of their Individual Work Plan (IWP).  This will be interpreted as providing at least half of the services and supports listed to be provided in the first 9 months, according to Dan O’Brien, the Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner of OESP at SSA.

2)  SSA added a “significant recent work activity” provision to avoid a scenario where providers earn large sums without providing any new services for consumers already working before assigning their ticket.  If a consumer has not yet assigned their ticket, yet had earnings that would have qualified for any of the Phase 1 Milestones, then the EN may not qualify for those Milestones after the person assigns their ticket.

To hear NENA's advice on how to work with these new requirements, click here to visit our "Latest News" page.