Affiliations: Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Maryland Ave., Suite
550, Washington, DC 20024, USA. Tel.: +1 202 484 5277; E-mail:
[email protected] | Social Security Administration, Office of Disability
and Income Support Programs, Washington, DC, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author
Abstract: The Ticket to Work program, together with other initiatives created
by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, attempts to develop
a new employment services marketplace to increase the level and mix of
employment support services for SSA beneficiaries interested greater
self-sufficiency. Rather than setting up a single training program, TTW
establishes payment mechanisms designed to induce employment-service providers
to increase the supply of programs and the range of approaches. In this paper
we review early finding for the three essential ingredients necessary for TTW
success: the sufficiency of beneficiary demand for employment services with an
aim toward eventually leaving SSA benefits; the adequacy of the supply of new
employment service providers to meet beneficiary demand with efficient and
innovative approaches not already available through the previous state VR
system; and the sufficiency of SSA support to facilitate the new market,
providing information to beneficiaries and providers, and efficient management
of the ticket payment system. Supporting survey data indicate that there may be
substantial unmet demand for employment services that TTW could fill. The
supply of new and innovative employment service providers, however, has thus
far been anemic due to a perception by providers that the new program is too
risky and cumbersome relative to potential payments offered. SSA has made
strides in implementing the program and continues to offer program changes to
improve how TTW functions. We conclude that it is too early to tell whether the
changes implemented and proposed thus far will revive interest in the program
and energize the service delivery market.
Keywords: Ticket to work, Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act, disability and employment, Social Security disability benefits
