Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation - Volume 27, issue 2

Article Type: Other

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 69-71, 2007

Authors: Thornton, Craig | O'Leary, Paul

Article Type: Research Article

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. Show more

Keywords: Ticket to work, Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act, disability and employment, Social Security disability benefits

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 73-83, 2007

Authors: Livermore, Gina A. | Goodman, Nanette | Wright, Debra

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We present findings from the 2004 National Beneficiary Survey (NBS), a nationally representative survey of Social Security disability beneficiaries conducted by Mathematica Policy Research for the Social Security Administration as part of the Ticket to Work program evaluation. The NBS data provide an overview of the health and sociodemographic characteristics of Social Security disability beneficiaries, and highlight their employment activity, work aspirations, and use of employment-related services. Although most beneficiaries have significant …health problems that limit their ability to work, the NBS data suggest that there is potential demand for employment and employment-related services among Social Security disability beneficiaries. While only a small share of beneficiaries are employed or actively seeking employment, a rather substantial number have goals that include work and see themselves working in the future, and many have used employment-related services during the previous year. The NBS data also suggest, however, that even if beneficiaries have employment aspirations and attempt to work, many potential challenges to successful employment may need to be addressed. In addition to the activity limitations and poor health associated with their disabling conditions, most beneficiaries: have low levels of education that might limit their employment opportunities; are living at or near poverty, suggesting that they and their families may rely on public programs for which eligibility could be jeopardized by earnings; and many have experienced work-related obstacles such as a lack of reliable transportation, inaccessible workplaces, and discouragement from work either by others or through their own experiences. Show more

Keywords: Ticket to Work, Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, Social Security disability benefits, National Beneficiary Survey, disability and employment

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 85-93, 2007

Authors: Stapleton, David | Livermore, Gina | Gregory, Jesse

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article examines the participation of Social Security disability beneficiaries in the Ticket to Work (TTW) program through December 2004. On an absolute scale, participation is very low, and perhaps much lower than many had hoped. Participation is not low relative to the historical rate for program exits due to work, however, and certain groups of beneficiaries participate at higher rates than others. A large majority of participants assign their Tickets to state vocational rehabilitation agencies …(SVRAs), predominantly under the traditional, cost reimbursement payment system. Most SVRA administrators indicate that they have not made major changes to the way they serve their beneficiary clients as a result of TTW. These findings suggest that, through December 2004, TTW does not represent a significant departure from the past. Participants with Tickets assigned to ENs are substantially more likely than those with Tickets assigned to SVRAs to earn at a level that will lead to program exit. This finding likely reflects the strong incentives that ENs have to serve only those with a high likelihood of exiting the rolls, but might also reflect greater EN focus on achievement of high earnings. Show more

Keywords: Disability, Ticket to Work, employment, vocational rehabilitation

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 95-106, 2007

Authors: O'Day, Bonnie | Revell, Grant

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article describes the experience of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) with the Ticket to Work (TTW) program. We examined administrative data from the Social Security Administration and the Rehabilitation Services Administration and conducted site visits and telephone interviews with SVRA officials in 25 states as part of a five-year evaluation of the TTW program. The recession of 2001–2002, along with recent financial constraints due to increased service demand and shrinking state budgets, has …negatively affected TTW implementation. SVRAs have spent significant time and energy implementing TTW, particularly assigning Tickets with little apparent benefit to its clients, according to SVRA officials. They also expressed concerns about conflicts between the necessity to obtain Ticket assignments from new and existing clients to receive SSA payments under the traditional cost reimbursement system and the requirements to provide maximum consumer choice under the Rehabilitation Act. New draft regulations rescind this requirement and it remains to be seen what the future role of SVRAs in the Ticket program will be. Show more

Keywords: Disability, employment, Ticket to Work, State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 107-116, 2007

Authors: Silva, Tim

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In creating the Ticket to Work (TTW) program to move more disability beneficiaries off the rolls and into self-supporting employment, Congress felt that a major key to success would be increasing consumer choice and establishing a competitive market for return-to-work services. State vocational rehabilitation agencies long had been the dominant players in this field, but under TTW, a wide variety of private and public entities can register as Employment Networks (ENs) to accept Tickets from, and …provide services to, disability beneficiaries who want to work at a level that will take them off cash benefits. Given the potential importance of ENs, the national evaluation of TTW has devoted considerable attention to understanding their involvement in the program. For three consecutive years, we analyzed administrative data on EN enrollment and on Ticket assignments and payments, and interviewed many EN representatives from around the country. This paper highlights the evaluation's findings concerning ENs' involvement in Ticket to Work. A variety of measures suggest that ENs' involvement has been limited. By June 2005, about 1,400 organizations were registered as ENs, but they were not necessarily readily available to many Ticket-eligible beneficiaries. A majority of ENs had not accepted a single Ticket, and ENs accounted for less than 10 percent of all Ticket assignments. ENs' involvement in TTW has been substantially influenced by three main factors: concerns about financial feasibility, low demand for EN services, and administrative challenges. These issues became apparent early in the program's rollout and continue to affect EN involvement today. In September 2005, SSA proposed new regulations intended to reduce the financial risk to ENs but, as of this writing (September 2007), the changes had not been implemented. It remains to be seen whether the proposed changes, if implemented, really will stimulate greater EN involvement. Show more

Keywords: Social Security Administration (SSA), Ticket to Work (TTW), Employment Networks (ENs), return-to-work services, community rehabilitation providers (CRPs)

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 117-127, 2007

Authors: Wittenburg, David | Fraker, Thomas | Stapleton, David | Thornton, Craig | Gregory, Jesse | Mamun, Arif

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents estimates of Ticket to Work's (TTW) impacts on service enrollment, earnings, and benefit amounts during the first two years of program implementation in Phases 1 and 2 states. We estimated impacts using a longitudinal fixed effects model that tracked changes in outcomes of 4.7 million beneficiaries with disabilities covering the period from the year before the Phase 1 Ticket mailing in 2001 and continuing through the end of 2003. Our impact estimates indicate …that TTW had a small impact on promoting service enrollment during the first year of TTW rollout. We find no compelling evidence that TTW affected beneficiary earnings and benefits during its first two years. Our impact findings for all outcomes are consistent with the expectation that changes in service enrollment would occur before changes in either earnings or benefit receipt. Additionally, the relatively small size of the service enrollment impacts is consistent with the low TTW participation rate, which was less than 1 percent during the first year of the rollout in Phase 1. Given the anticipated timing of impacts and the relatively small size of the service enrollment impacts, it is not surprising that we find no compelling evidence of subsequent impacts on earnings and benefit amounts at this early stage. Show more

Keywords: Ticket to Work, Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act, disability and employment, Social Security disability benefits, evaluation, administrative data

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 129-140, 2007