Sustainable Work Incentive Supports Beyond WIPA:

Results and ImpactBecky Banks

Center on Community Living and CareersIndiana Institute on Disability and Community

~Indiana’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities~Indiana University

2853 East 10th StreetBloomington, Indiana 47408-2696

bebanks@indiana.edu

Benefit Information Network Project Overview

• Benefits Information Network emerged in 2005• Purpose was to engage employment service providers

in supporting BPAO/WIPA through:– Building capacity for WIPA to serve more individuals (case

development and ongoing support for Vocational Rehabilitation customers receiving WIPA services)

– Incorporating work incentives into employment service planning and activities

– Engaging providers in supporting, tracking and implementing work incentives with beneficiaries

– Providing federal and state benefit information to individuals who were not eligible for WIPA services (not receiving SSA benefits, but were receiving other state and federal benefits)

Key Components:Training, Technical Assistance & Quality Assurance

• Intensive training to BIN Liaisons on all federal and state work incentives– Competency-based curriculum (annual recertification)– Advanced competency-based training offered annually to

experienced BIN Liaisons• Once Trained, Benefits Information Network Liaisons

assist with case development and follow-up to beneficiaries– Intake to assess state and federal benefits– Verify benefits and work incentives available with the Social

Security Administration (Benefits Planning Query) and other federal and state benefit verifications

– Develop a plan to manage and support work incentives that is incorporated into employment services plan

– Collaborate with SSA programs (WIPA, Work Incentive Liaisons, Area Work Incentives Coordinator) on work incentives

– Collaborate with other federal and state benefit programs

Key Components:Training, Technical Assistance & Quality Assurance

• Technical Assistance– Provided to BIN Liaisons in understanding work incentives and

how to support beneficiaries as they are involved in employment services

• Quality Assurance– Assuring accuracy of information provided to beneficiaries– Ensuring timely information is available to beneficiaries– Ensuring follow-up between beneficiaries, employment

providers and WIPA occurs– Assessing outcomes of beneficiaries:

• Using SSA work incentives• Participating in Medicaid Buy-In• Engaging in SGA• Understanding their benefits and focusing on financial literacy

• Project provides monitoring of BIN liaison performance and proficiency in supporting work incentives

Vocational Rehabilitation and MIG Partnership

• MIG funds have supported the development of the project, training costs and TA/QA component– Currently focusing on sustainability without MIG

funds

• Vocational Rehabilitation pays for the direct service to beneficiaries on a fee for service basis (up to $500 for case development and incorporating work incentives supports in employment plan)

Advantages of theBenefits Information Network

• Employment specialists understand the importance of work incentives and ensure VR customers are using work incentives while they support them in their employment goals

• Employment specialists provide the “legwork” for the WIPA programs– Helping beneficiaries in reporting wages– Helping beneficiaries access work incentives (i.e. Subsidy,

IRWE, PASS)• Helping WIPA connect with beneficiaries at critical

touch points• WIPA can serve individuals more efficiently and

effectively and address complex needs of beneficiaries and engage in ongoing benefits management

Results of the Benefits Information Network

• Over 200 employment specialists are certified• Approximately 2,000 individuals are served each year

through preliminary information on work incentives (case development for WIPA)

• Indiana SSA reports an increase in wage reporting, Subsidy development, IRWE Development

• Vocational Rehabilitation reports more movement toward SGA level of earnings

• Medicaid Buy-In has an increase of participants reaching SGA levels (39% increase in monthly earnings in past 5 years)

• Employment service providers report improvement in employment outcomes

• WIPA in Indiana is serving more beneficiaries

Sustainability of the Project• Experienced and proficient BIN Liaisons have moved to

advanced level-- “Tier 2” Liaisons– 25 graduated to the “advanced level” of expertise in 2008– Approximately 50 more BIN Liaisons will graduate to this

level in 2009• BIN Liaisons are training and mentoring others within

the Network--“Tier 3” BIN Liaisons – Four individuals have been trained as Community Partners

and are CWIC certified under SSA’s curriculum– These individuals participate by helping with training,

technical assistance and ensuring quality and accuracy of BIN Liaison supports to beneficiaries

• This project is anticipated to fund itself by 2011– Providers are paying for training and technical

assistance through the network– Vocational Rehabilitation is considering

supporting up to 5 more Tier 3 BIN Liaisons to work with the project in training, technical assistance and quality assurance to BIN Liaisons

Sustainability:What the Future Holds Beyond MIG Funding