NENA has aggressively advocated for the Social Security Administration to market the Ticket to Work program more effectively, and will continue to do so.
The voluntary Ticket Program cannot succeed if Social Security disability beneficiaries don't know it exists and don't understand its advantages for them. Also, beneficiaries need assurance that an unsuccessful attempt to become employed will not have disastrous consequences. Only the Social Security Administration can provide those assurances, and it has a history of beneficiary fear and mistrust to overcome.
SSA's anemic marketing effort is one cause of the Ticket Program's poor performance thus far. Active ENs with successful programs have complained that their biggest challenge is lack of traffic from beneficiaries with employment potential.
SSA has announced plans for Work Incentive Seminars (WISE events) to be conducted through the Work Incentive Planning & Assistance contractors. Local SSA disability beneficiaries will receive a direct mail piece telling them about the WISE events. The events, at conveniently accessible places, will introduce beneficiaries to their local WIPA. Beneficiaries will hear about the Ticket Program, how the WIPA can help them explore their options, and may also meet a local EN at the meeting.
Unfortunately, inadequate funding has forced SSA to scale back from earlier proposals to blanket the nation with WISE events. Some areas will have a series of WISE events, while others go without, or have fewer.
NENA encourages SSA to increase funding for the WISE events, and also to promote them using other media: the Internet, community bulletin boards, and public service announcements on radio, TV and newspapers. Advertising support will be necessary to ensure that people are aware of the Ticket Program and their local WISE events. As the Ticket Program matures, advertising will maintain beneficiary awareness of the Program, and promote a beneficiary cultural shift from disability to empowerment.