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Transcript of EMPLOYMENT REFRESHER March 4, 2011 East Hartford Cultural Center.
EMPLOYMENT REFRESHER
March 4, 2011
East Hartford Cultural Center
AGENDA
Department of Labor Refresher – Maggie MacDonald
DDS Employment Initiatives – Robin Wood
Ticket to Work – Nora Bishop SEI Rate Study Update – Joseph Drexler Questions
THE PAYMENT OF SPECIAL MINIMUM WAGES TO WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES UNDER SECTION 14(C) OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACTWage and Hour DivisionEmployment Standards AdministrationU.S. Department of Labor DDS Refresher Training
FLSA Major Provisions
Coverage Minimum Wage Overtime Pay Child Labor Recordkeeping
FLSA Coverage
Individual
Enterprise
FLSA Coverage
Two types of coverage Enterprise coverage: if an
enterprise is covered, all employees of the enterprise are entitled to FLSA protections
Individual coverage: Even if the enterprise is not covered, individual employees may be covered and entitled to FLSA protections
FLSA Enterprise Coverage
Enterprises with: At least two (2) employees At least $500,000 a year in
business• Named enterprises with at least
two (2) employees such as hospitals, businesses providing medical or nursing care for residents, schools, preschools and government agencies
FLSA Individual Coverage Workers who are engaged in:
Interstate commerce; Production of goods for interstate
commerce; Closely related process or
occupation directly essential (CRADE) to such production
The FLSA Does Not Require
Vacation, holiday, severance or sick pay Meal or rest periods, holidays off, or
vacations Premium pay for weekend or holiday work A discharge notice, reason for discharge, or
immediate payment of final wages to terminated employees
Any limit on the number of hours in a day or days in a week an employee at least 16 years old may be required or scheduled to work
Pay raises or fringe benefits
Minimum Wage: Basics
Covered, non-exempt employees must be paid not less than the minimum wage for all hours worked.
Currently $7.25* per hour Cash or equivalent – free and clear*$7.25 was effective on July 24, 2009
Overtime Pay
Covered, non-exempt employees must receive one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over forty in a workweek.
Each workweek stands alone Workweek is 7 consecutive 24 hour
periods (168 hours)
Section 14(c) of FLSA
Authorizes the employment of workers with disabilities at special minimum wages when the disabilities impair their productivity for the work performed
A special minimum wage is a wage below the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25). For SCA contracts with a wage determination (WD), it is a wage below the WD rate applicable to the job, as listed on the WD.
Section 14(c) of FLSA
Is one more option available to help individuals with disabilities realize their full potentials.
Allows Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) and State Agencies to use “real work” as a tool in the vocational training of individuals with disabilities.
Regulations 29 CFR Part 525
Set forth the conditions and terms governing the employment of workers with disabilities at special minimum wage(s).
SPECIAL MINIMUM WAGE
SPECIAL MINIMUM WAGE : wage paid a worker with a disability commensurate with the worker’s
productivity as compared to the wage and productivity of experienced workers who do not have disabilities for the work
performing essentially the same type, quality, and quantity of work
in the vicinity where the worker with a disability is employed.
Worker with a disability
Worker whose earning or productive capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental disability, or injury for the work to be performed.
The Section 14(c) definition of a worker with a disability differs from that of JWOD and ADA
Records to support disability
Medical, psychiatric, and/or psychological tests (Master’s level or above) that support the nature of disability(ies)
AND staff notes on how disability affects productivity
Employment Relationship
Volunteers
Trainee
VolunteersWorkers with disabilities
A worker with disabilities must be legally competent to freely volunteer.
If over 18 years of age and is not own guardian, parent or guardian, as appropriate, must approve volunteer work.
Work must be substantially different from the work performed during duty hours.
VolunteersWorkers with disabilities
Work must be of the type that would be normally classified as “volunteer”.
Work must be performed outside normal duty hours.
Vocational Rehabilitation ProgramWage and Hour will not assert an employmentrelationship for certain vocational rehabilitationprograms if seven criteria are met. All seven of the criteria must be met. Participants in the program are individuals
with disabilities for whom competitive employment at or above the minimum wage is not immediately obtainable and who, because of their disability, will need intensive ongoing support to perform in a work setting.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Participation is for vocational exploration, assessment, or training in community-based worksite under the general supervision of rehabilitation organization personnel, or in the case of a student, public school personnel.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Community-based placements must be
clearly defined components of individual rehabilitation programs developed and designed for the benefit of each individual.
Each student must have Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Each community-based rehabilitation organization participant must have an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE)
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Documentation will be provided to Wage
& Hour upon request that the individual is enrolled in the community-based placement program, that this enrollment is voluntary and that there is no expectation of remuneration.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program While the existence of an employment
relationship will not be determined exclusively on the basis of the number of hours spent in each activity, as a general rule, an employment relationship is presumed not to exist when each of the three components does not exceed the following limitations:
Vocational explorations: 5 hours* Vocational assessment: 90 hours*Vocational training: 120 hours** per job experienced
Vocational Rehabilitation Program• Individuals are not entitled to
employment at the conclusion of the program.
If an individual becomes an employee, he or she cannot be considered a trainee at that particular community-based placement unless in a different, clearly distinguishable occupation.
Prevailing Wage
Prevailing wage rate is wage paid to an experienced worker who does not have a disability that impairs his/her ability to do the work, performing essentially the same type of work in the vicinity.
Prevailing Wage
Experienced worker is a worker who has learned the basic elements or requirements of the work to be performed
ordinarily by completion of a probationary or training period
and
typically will have received at least one pay raise after successful completion of the probationary or training period.
Prevailing Wage
Vicinity – the geographic area from which the labor force of the community is drawn.
Employer will normally be required to survey a representative number of comparable firms in the vicinity that primarily employ workers who do not have disabilities for the work being performed.
Prevailing Wage
A comparable firm is one that is similar in size in terms of employees or competes for or bids on contracts of a similar size or nature.
Prevailing Wage
If comparable work cannot be found in the vicinity, the closest comparable community may be used.
If data for the specific job to be performed cannot be found, it is acceptable to use the wage paid to experienced workers employed in similar jobs that require the same general skill levels.
Prevailing Wage Employer may contact other sources such
as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private or State employment services where surveys are not practical.
Foreign Labor Certification Data Center: flcdatacenter.com
The prevailing wage rate may never be LESS the applicable State or Federal Minimum Wage and will usually be higher.
An increase in the federal and/or state minimum wage does have an immediate impact on the prevailing wages paid in the vicinity.
Prevailing Wage Special situations
When the employer’s workforce consists primarily of workers who do not have disabilities:
The employer may use as the prevailing wage rate the rate paid to his or her experienced workers who do not have disabilities who perform similar work
Prevailing Wage Special Situations
When the Section 14(c) employer has a subcontract to perform a job in essentially the same way and with the same type of equipment as the prime contractor:
the Section 14(c) employer may use the wage rate the prime contractor pays to his or her experienced workers.
Prevailing Wage
“De-skilling” of prevailing wage rates (arbitrary downward adjustments made in prevailing wage rates to account for differences in duties, methods, equipment and responsibilities between the work of the worker with disabilities and the work done by employees who do not have disabilities in competitive industry) is not permitted by the Wage & Hour Division.
Prevailing Wage
Although work center certificates and patient worker certificates are now normally issued for a 2-year period, the employer is still required to do an annual review of prevailing wage rate(s) and make any necessary adjustments of commensurate wages.
Prevailing Wage
Worker’s wages should be adjusted no later than the first complete pay period following each prevailing wage review.
Prevailing Wage
Don’t forget to document in your records that the prevailing survey was
completed.
29 CFR Part 525.10(g) requires that you record:
The name, address and phone number of the firm and the date the contact was made.
Individual contacted and his/her title. Brief description of work involved. Wage rate provided. Basis for concluding that wage data provided
was not for an entry level position.
Prevailing Wage
When computing prevailing wage, the employer may use either a simple average or weighted average method, provided a consistent methodology is used.
Special Rounding Go out to the 5th decimal round up
to 4th
Prevailing Wage
Weighted Average Company # of Employees Wage Rate Gross
WagesABC, Inc. 40 $8.00
$320.00KLM Co. 17 $8.15 $138.55XYZ Inc. 25 $8.20 $205.00
82 $663.55
Weighted Average: $663.55 ÷ 82 = $8.09207 $8.0921*
* Special Rounding
Prevailing Wage
Simple (straight) Average
Company Wage RateABC, Inc. $8.00 KLM Co. $8.15 XYZ Inc. $8.20 $24.35 Simple average: $24.35 ÷ 3 =$8.11666
8.11667**Special rounding
Prevailing Wage
An increase in the federal and/or state minimum wage does have an immediate impact on the prevailing wages paid in the vicinity.
Wage and Hour will mail out written guidance concerning the adjustment of prevailing wages when the federal minimum wage increases
Prevailing Wage
The Fair minimum Wage Act of 2007 increases the minimum wage from $6.55 per hour to:
$7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009
What happens When the Federal Minimum wage is Increased? Employers will have to review all
prevailing wage rates. Employers will have to determine if any
of their current prevailing wage rates were established when the applicable state wage exceeded $7.25 per hour.
What happens When the Federal Minimum wage is Increased? Employers will have to adjust certain
prevailing wage rates using one of two methods Percentage Increase (10.69%), or Conduct New Survey
What happens When the Federal Minimum wage is Increased? Employers will have to review all
prevailing wage rates. Are any below $7.25 per hour?
If Yes, they must be raised to at least $7.25 and a new survey will have to be conducted.
What happens When the Federal Minimum wage is Increased? Employers will have to review all prevailing
wage rates. Were any current surveys conducted
when the applicable State minimum wage was at least $7.25?
If Yes, and the resulting prevailing wage exceeds $7.25, no new survey need be done until the next anniversary date of that survey or until the state minimum wage increases, whichever comes first.
What happens When the Federal Minimum wage is Increased? If prevailing wage rates needs to be
adjusted, the employer may: Apply a percentage increase, or Conduct new prevailing wage
surveys.
Setting Production Standards
Write job description Write task analysis Set the standard Work measurement must be verifiable
Hourly production standards
Develop job description and task analysis Define quality Set standard using workers without
disability for the work 3 time measurements recommended Length of time study should be one that
results in rate of production the worker can maintain over the course of a full work day
Hourly Evaluations
Must be based on the worker’s productivity as it compares to the standard of a worker without a disability for the quantity and quality of work performed.
An initial evaluation of a worker’s productivity must be made within 1 month after employment begins.
Hourly Evaluations
Retroactive pay increase for the initial period is required if the commensurate wage exceeds the wage paid during that period.
Review no less than every 6 months thereafter and after a worker changes jobs.
Worker’s wages should be adjusted no later than first complete pay period following the review.
Hourly Evaluations
Behavioral factors or general work habits cannot be considered when setting hourly commensurate wages.
Personal time, fatigue, and unavoidable delay (PFD) allowance is not required in setting hourly standard.
Hourly Evaluations
Re-work method
90/10 evaluation form
Rounding
Name of Worker
Job
Period of Rating From Through
Date of Employment
Name of Rater
HOW TO DETERMINE RATING
Enter for each factor below the numerical rating which reflects the handicapped worker’s performance as compared with the performance that would be expected of an average non-handicapped worker. The level for non-handicapped workers should be considered as 100 percent. Rating Groups 0-20% 21-40% 41-60% 61-80% 81-99% 100% Factors Rated
Weight of Factor
Generally Unacceptable
Far Below Average Standards for Industry
Well Below Average Standards for Industry
Significantly Below Average Standards for Industry
Approaches Average Standards for Industry
Meets Average Standards for Industry
Quantity of Work
90%
Quality of Work
10%
COMPUTATION OF RATED WAGE
(A) .90* x Rating for Quantity of Work = ________ (B) .10* x Rating for Quality of Work = __________ (C) Total of (A) and (B) above = _____________ (D) Prevailing Institution or Industry Wage** for Job Rated
(E) Product of (C) x (D) Above = __________ (Rated Wage)
* These figures are decimalized expressions of the weights 90% and 10 % respectively. ** Prevailing Industry Wage is the hourly wage paid average non-handicapped workers in the institution or in industry in the vicinity for essentially the same type of work.
RATING FORM FOR ESTABLISHING WAGE RATES
(Worker is to be rated at least once every six months)
9/20/109/20/10 Vacuum hallVacuum hall 10 min10 min 10 min10 min 20 min20 min 10 min10 min 5050
50%50%
$$88..0000
$13..00$13..00
$7.50$7.50
Calculating the Hourly Wage using Rework
Filling out the Rework Hourly Wage Determination Form
1. Employee: name of the employee being evaluated.
2. Date/Time:
3. Name and Title of Evaluator: person who did the actual timing and recording.
4. Location: where the time study took place.
5. Date: date that the tasks were performed and timed. Can record up to five different tasks or five different timings of the same tasks or a combination of both.
6. Tasks Performed: brief description of the work being timed.
7. Elapsed Time (A): total time taken by the employee to complete the entire task.
8. Rework Time (B): should include time needed to finish the task so that it is 100% complete (I.e. quality is 100%.)
Rework continued
9. Total Time (C): add the elapsed time and the rework time to get the total time.
10. Standard Time (D): time that has been established as the production standard to complete the task as described.
11. Productivity (D/C): divide the standard time by the elapsed time to get the productivity rating for task being performed. Shown as a percent.
12. (a): divide the total of the standard times by the total of the elapsed times to get the total productivity rating for quantity.
13. (b): record the current, ,prevailing industry hourly wage or the current SCA Wage Determination Rate (for Federal Service Contracts)
14. Hourly Wage Rate: multiply the final productivity rating (a) by the prevailing industry or SCA wage (b). Always round up on this number.
Hourly Evaluations
Factoring-An employer may rate a worker only on the job components actually performed by the worker.-An employer may not penalize a worker because he/she fails to perform, or is incapable of performing, certain component(s) of the job.
Piece Rates
When properly computed, piece rates accurately reflect the quality and quantity of the productivity of the individual worker.
Employers must perform some type of work measurement to establish standard production rates of workers without disabilities.
Piece Rates
Detailed job description and task analysis should be developed for the job, including set-up activities, packaging, counting, boxing, clean-up activities, and other irregular operations.
The time studies should utilize the same work methods, equipment, and materials used by the majority of the workers.
Piece Rates
Additional time study required when entirely different methods of production are used, or when a worker does not have access to certain equipment.
Piece Rates
Jigs: modifications made and used to accommodate the special needs of individual workers with disabilities or to help them be more productive
-A separate time study does not have to be made utilizing these special modifications.
Piece Rates
Wage & Hour encourages the use of three testing periods.
The length of time study should be one that results in rate of production the worker can maintain over the course of a full work day.
Piece Rates
The results of any work measurement must be verifiable.
Determine average hourly production, allowing for personal time, fatigue, and unavoidable delays (9-10 minutes per hour).
Piece Rates
PFD allowance factor-If using 9 minutes per hour, the PFD allowance factor should be 1.1765 (60 minutes divided by 51 minutes equals 1.1765).
-If using 10 minutes per hour, the PFD allowance factor should be 1.20 (60 minutes divided by 50 minutes equals 1.20).
Piece Rates
Prevailing wage rate divided by standard of worker without disability= Piece rate
Rounding
Piece rate x Units Produced= Commensurate Wage
Piece Rates
THE GOLDEN RULE:
Standard multiplied by piece rate must equal or exceed the prevailing wage rate
Hours Worked: Issues
Rehabilitation Services Downtime Work samples/simulations Travel time
Rehabilitative services
Not hours worked provided the services are not primarily for the purpose of increasing job productivity
Examples: counseling, psychological testing, mobility training, medical treatments, personal care, physical or occupational therapy, recreation
DowntimeWorkers with disabilities
Refers to compensable time when worker is on the job but not producing because of factors not within his/her control.
Downtime should be paid at the rate equal to the worker’s average hourly earnings during the most recently completed period, not to exceed a quarter.
EXTENDED PERIOD(S)OF DOWN TIME
The Wage & Hour Division has adopted an enforcement position which allows community rehabilitation programs to remove workers with disabilities who are paid special minimum wages under Section 14(c) from the production area during periods of extended down time and provide them with activities that are not compensable.
EXTENDED PERIOD(S)OF DOWN TIME
Worker(s) must be removed from production area so as not to interfere with others who are still involved in production.
Employer must maintain a record of the time employees spend in non-compensableactivities
Work sample/simulations
• Not hours worked if: Performed in area away from work area
Do not yield a product used to fulfill any of the facility’s contracts
No economic benefit is derived from the product
Work sample/simulations
-Supervised by non-production personnel
-Are a specific part of well-defined program of rehabilitation
-Typically materials or products are discarded or recycled for future use in work simulation
Travel TimeWorkers with Disabilities
Transportation provided to and from worksite and worker’s home by employer at beginning and end of work day is not hours worked. This transportation retains the characteristics of “normal home to work travel.”
Travel Time Workers with Disabilities
Reporting to centralized pickup point to get a ride to remote job site not readily accessible by public transportation is not hours worked if:
Workers do not perform any work at the pickup point
Workers do not engage in any activities considered an integral part of their principal activity
Workers retain the option to transport themselves to the jobsite
Travel TimeWorkers with Disabilities
Any time spent in transportation provided by the facility between jobsites during the course of the workday is hours worked.
The worker shall be paid a wage rate that is at least equal to his or her average hourly earnings during the most recently completed representative period, not to exceed a quarter.
Recordkeeping
Maintaining good records is essential to proper compliance
Records need not be kept in any particular form and time clocks are not required
Payroll records must be kept for 3 years and the time cards and wage computation records must be kept for 2 years
An accurate record of the hours worked each day and total hours worked each week is critical to avoiding hours worked problems
Required Records
Employee’s name, home address, occupation, sex, and birth date if under 19 years of age
Hour and day when workweek begins Total hours worked each workday and
each workweek Total daily or weekly straight time
earnings
Recordkeeping-workers with disabilities employed at special minimum wages Prevailing wage survey documentation SCA contract information to include
wage determination Productivity records Hours worked records Worker without disability production
standards used to set piece rates or hourly rates
Recordkeeping-workers with disabilities-continued
Consumer productivity evaluations and supporting documents including time studies
Posting of required special minimum wage poster
Advising consumers orally and in writing of the terms of special minimum wage certificate
Section 14(c) Certificates
Certificates are issued with both an effective date and an expiration date.
A certificate, along with the employer’s authorization to pay special minimum wages, will expire on the indicated date unless the employer files an application for renewal with the Wage & Hour Division before the expiration date.
Section 14(c) Certificates
Work Center and Patient Worker certificates are normally issued for 2 year period.
Business and School Work Experience Program (SWEP) certificates are normally issued for 1 year period.
Common Errors to Avoid
Use of entry level rates or minimum wage for prevailing wage rates
Failure to conduct prevailing wage survey at a minimum of annually
Use of behavioral factors to evaluate hourly paid workers with disabilities
Use of incorrect personal time, fatigue, and unavoidable delay (PFD) allowance factor in calculating piece rates
Common Errors to Avoid
Improper rounding of piece rates Recommendation: Carry out to 5
decimal places and round up to 4 places. Failure to use correct wage
determination rate for SCA work classification
Failure to pay full fringe benefits required by SCA wage determination
Child Labor
Minimum Age Standards
18 and above No limitations Minimum for occupations declared
hazardous by the Department of Labor 16 and 17 year-olds
General minimum for employment Limited to non hazardous occupations No limitations on hours or time
Minimum Age Standards(Continued)
14 and 15 year-olds Minimum age for employment in specified
occupations Limited to work outside school hours Total work hours limited per day and per
week Only non-hazardous and non-
manufacturing jobs Under 14 years of age
Work only in jobs that are exempt from or are not covered by the FLSA
NOTE: Rules differ in agricultural employment
Wage & Hour Section 14(c) Investigations
Complaint or directed Appointment letter Opening Conference Tour Review of records (both staff &
consumers)-Payroll, time, production records-Disability records
Wage & Hour Section 14(c) Investigations
Verification of sample number of time studies
Employee interviews Prevailing wage survey follow up Final conference Letter of findings
Enforcement
In the event there is not a voluntary agreement to comply and/or pay back wages, the Wage and Hour Division may:
Obtain an injunction to restrain the employer from violating the FLSA, including the withholding of proper minimum wage and overtime
Bring suit for back wages and an equal amount as liquidated damages
Northeast Region Section 14 Team Leader
Maggie MacDonald
U.S. Dept. of LaborWage & Hour DivisionJFK Federal Building, Room 525
Boston MA 0220617-624-6720
E-mail: [email protected]
CERTIFICATION TEAM STATE ASSIGNMENTS
Gail Arnold (312) 596-7198: CA (business establishments and schools only), C0, DE, DC, FL, GU, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, NJ, ND, OK, PA, PR, RI, TN, VI, and VA.
Nicole Howard (312) 596-7200: AL, AR, CA (community rehabilitation centers and hospital/residential care facilities only), HI, ID, LA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NV, NH, NC, SC, UT, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Nancy Madison (312) 596-7202: AK, AZ, CN, GA, KY, MA, MN, MS, MT, NM, NY, OH, OR, SD, TX, and VT.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Visit the WHD homepage at: www.dol.gov/esa/whd_org.htm
Call the WHD toll-free information and helpline at 1-866-487-9243
Use the DOL interactive advisor system - ELAWS (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses at: www.dol.gov/elaws
Call or visit the nearest Wage and Hour Division Office
Thank you,Any Questions?
Contact Maggie MacDonald 617-624-6720 Anonymous questions answered Stress free atmosphere
DDS EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE
Real Work For Real Pay!
Presence and participation in Connecticut life
Opportunities to develop and exercise competence
Opportunities to make choices in pursuit of a personal future
Good Relationships with family members and friends
Respect and dignity
“To participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued
members.”
How are most adults valued as contributing community members?
THROUGH EMPLOYMENT!
DDS Mission Statement
•Since 2008, DDS CT has promoted and supported an Employment First philosophy•This philosophy establishes that for working age adults served by DDS, integrated, individualized employment should be a preferred service outcome•This means that all individuals from age 16 through 55 should be encouraged to work and should be provided the supports needed to find, get and keep jobs in their chosen career path
Employment First!
• It is recognized that implementation of an Employment First philosophy and the creation of a stakeholder culture that values and promotes the employment for all people with disabilities will be a long-term process, requiring a general raising of expectations, consistent actions, capacity building of infrastructure and directing of resources to support this effort.
Implementation of an Employment First Philosophy
Agency MOA
• Employment First Conference• Training and Technical Assistance to Job
Developers• Benefits Planning and Financial Literacy• Group to Individualized Employment• Employment Idol 3• Employment Success Stories –
Employment Idol 4• APSE and SELN• DDS Partnership with Connect-Ability
Employment First Conference Held July 2010 Over 235 in attendance All the Presentation Material will be the
DDS website – Employment – 1/1/11 E-Polling Results
Training and Technical Assistance to Job Developers
43 Job Developers Selected from 25 agencies 20 Managers/Exec participated in first session 3 ICI mentors assigned to provide TA Outcome – to sustain a Job Developer Network
with support from Connect-Ability Themes reported
job training/networking helpfuljob developers reporting they don’t have the time to do follow-up work, TA calls
Benefits Planning and Financial Literacy
“Pathway to a Better Job” -Deadline extended
14 per Region – work with PSTs and Individuals on increasing over 20 hours of real work
Use existing DDS allocation = LON Additional supports – Benefits Counselor
work to explore options Identify barriers Scripts/training
Group to Individualized Employment
6 Agencies Identified – 2 per region Work with 6 people and their PSTs in each
organization ICE working with agencies to plan, identify
barriers, support changes needed Outcome:
Recommendation of what DDS needs to do to enhance their infrastructure
Each individual will have an individual job that = real work for real pay
Employment Idol 3
5 individuals selected Criteria:
Employed and paid be a private company Works 20 hours or more Being paid minimum wage or more Works in a competitive job – in a job that
any person with our a disability could do Loves their job and wanting to share their
work accomplishments
Employment Idol 3
Honored at the People First Conference in May
Brochure completed Begin Taping and should be completed
by 1/1/11
Employment Success Stories – Employment Idol 4 Review all that participants
of the DDS initiatives ICI will assist in the selection Select the top success stories Employment Idol 4 – complete within FY
Memberships
APSE – partnering to support Employment in CT Collaborating on an Employment Conference Support ongoing trainings SELN
SELN Monthly Webinars National Best Practices Employment Resources
Marketing
DDS Manuals being updated with Employment Focus
Employment Idol Brochure Employment Brochures Benefits – Easier guide – working with
BRS
Partnership
Working in partnership with Connect-Ability
State agencies working together to promote Employment for ALL!
TICKET TO WORK
An Evolving Program in Connecticut
• Administered by the Social Security
Administration, Ticket to Work is an
employment program for people with
disabilities who are interested in going
to work.
What is the Ticket to Work Program?
The Goal of the Ticket Program
• To assist the SSI/SSDI beneficiary
to obtain and maintain self-
supporting employment
The Ticket to Work Program
Increase opportunities and choices for Social Security disability beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and other support services from public and private providers, employers, and other organizations.
Under the Ticket Program, the Social Security Administration provides disability beneficiaries with a Ticket they may use to obtain the services and jobs they need from a new universe of organizations called Employment Networks (ENs).
Does your agency serve SSI/SSDI consumers (Ticket Holders)
As a Services Provider should you consider becoming or joining an Employment Network (EN)?
And do you assist those individuals find and keep employment?
THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR
AGENCY TO ENHANCE FUNDING.
As a ticket consumer, you have choice
Choice of goals Choice of providers Choice of services Choice of how and when services are
utilized Choice to modify an employment plan Choice to use or not use the “ticket”
Roles of the Consumer& Employment Network
ConsumerDecide they want to go to workChoose their ENMaintain contact with EN
Employment NetworkAny activities that will leads to a employment for the consumer.
Outcome-Milestone Payments
Key Points
Providers can participate in more than one Employment Network.
These are NOT service dollars. Payments are made to an EN only after the individual is working and reaching established employment milestones.
SSA goal is for a beneficiary to earn above SGA and go off of SSI/SSDI benefits.
Employment Networks (EN)
Can be a single entity
A partnership or alliance of entities (public and/or private)
A consortium of organizations collaborating to combine resources to serve Ticket-holders
Ticket Partnership with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program
Partnership Plus: A New Approach to Service Delivery
EN-VR partnerships pay both a state VR agency and an EN for services.
Services will be provided sequentially, not concurrently.
Program allows for flexibility when services are provided.
Ticket Partnership with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program
VR offers Vocational counseling and guidance
that will either be the entry to employment and/or the increase in retaining and upgrading employment
Benefits Counseling – guides the consumer to work from part-time to full time employment to achieve self sufficiency without cash benefits
Ticket Partnership with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program
EN offers Employment supports such as:
Life skills Assistance to maintain stable housing Assistance with healthcare needs
Follow along services to maintain long-term employment outcomes Regular “check-ins” with consumers Continued Benefits Counseling Creative Job supports
Technical Assistance
VR will provide TA on the “mechanics” of the TTW program
CESSI, SSA’s Program Manager for Recruitment & Outreach will help design interagency agreements for equitable revenue sharing and a coordinated system of services.
Employment Network Consortium will be established in CT
Next Steps
Consider your role in the Ticket to Work
Research the # of consumers eligible for program participation in your service organization
Project Technical Assistance needs
Informational Contacts:
Bureau of Rehabilitation ServicesNora Bishop phone/email
[email protected] Connect-Ability 1-800-844-1903
Web Resources
www.yourtickettowork.comFind the new regulations at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-10879.pdf
SEI RATE STUDY