Ticket to Work Service Provider Toolkit

This Toolkit contains a variety of educational and promotional materials to spread awareness and understanding of the Ticket to Work program. A sampling of available materials Ticket to Work Service Provider Toolkit

The Ticket to Work Service Provider Toolkit was created to support the activities of Employment Networks (ENs), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and disability employment-focused organizations as they assist people with disabilities as they enter or re-enter the workforce.

The materials in this Toolkit are designed to be tailored to suit your organization’s messaging about its involvement in the Ticket to Work program. The Toolkit will be updated periodically to reflect program changes and posted to the Document Library.

Contents of the Toolkit include:

Are You Ready to... • 24” x 36” Ticket to Work Poster (print-ready files) • Increase your income? • Explore your work options? • Keep your Medi ca id/Med icare wh ile you work? • Wallet Cards in English and Spanish (print-ready files) • Ga in greater personal ful fi llment through work?

Soci al Secu rit’iy s T cket to Wo rrrk p og am and o ther wo rk incen tives can he lp you • 8.5” x 11” Customizable Flyers find meani ng ful wo rk. If you ’re ages 18 thr ough 64 and you recei ve Soc ial Secu rity di sab ility benefi ts, you can take advant age of these fr ee se rv ices . • Ticket to Work Newsletter Article • Fact Sheets • WISE Webinar Viewing Party Guide • Print and Video Success Stories Sandy Rusnak, Receptionist, Wheeling, WV

Daniel Carrasco, Student, Washington, D.C. • Website Banners

Choose a T icket to Work emp loyment serv ices prov ider . • Meet Ben! An Introduction to Ticket to Work Video Work wi th your provider to plan a better future.

Are You Ready to Choose Work? Contact Info Click on a link (underlined in blue) to navigate directly to that page. Information/Resources Call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work www.facebook.com/choosework

Questions? Contact us at [email protected].

Ticket to Work Debunking the Three BIGGEST Myths about Disability Benefits and Work

There are several common myths about how working will affect disability benefits and health care coverage. Here are the three most common and why they are wrong. 1 If I try to go to work, I will automatically lose my Medicare or Medicaid. This is a myth. First, as long as you keep receiving a benefit check of any amount, you will keep your health insurance. If you earn enough that your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks stop, Medicare can continue for up to 93 months. If you currently receive Medicaid, you should be eligible to continue to receive Medicaid even after you stop receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to work. To be eligible you need to meet certain requirements, which include earnings below a threshold amount set by your state. Even if your earnings exceed the state threshold, you may still be eligible and should talk to your state Medicaid office. For more information about Keeping Your Medical Benefits after cash benefits stop, visit www.ssa.gov/redbook and www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/1619b.htm. If I use my Ticket to go to work, Social Security will conduct a medical review 2 of my case, and I will lose my benefits. This is also a myth. If you use your Ticket to help you go to work, Social Security CANNOT perform what is known as a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to see whether you still have a disability. Even if you would otherwise be scheduled to have a disability review, Social Security will postpone your review while your Ticket is in use and you are making progress toward your work goals. For more information about Protection From Medical CDR, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/cdrprotection.htm.

If my checks stop because I go to work and then I have to stop working because 3 of my disability, I will have to reapply for benefits all over again. It took me forever to be approved for benefits and I cannot afford to wait that long again. As a result, I should not try to work. Again, it’s a myth. You will not need to reapply if your benefits ended within the past five years due to your earnings and you meet a few other requirements, including that you still have the original medical condition or one related to it that prevents you from working. This is a work incentive called Expedited Reinstatement. You may even be able to receive up to six months of temporary cash benefits in addition to Medicare or Medicaid coverage while Choose fulfillment. Choose earnings. SSA conducts a medical review to determine if your benefits can be reinstated. For more information about Expedited Reinstatement, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/exr.htm. CHOOSE WORK For more information about these or other Social Security Work Incentives, contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD). For more information about the Ticket to Work program or to Support for People with Disabilities Who Want to Work access the service provider directory, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work.

www.socialsecurity.gov/work 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) 1 Are You Ready to... 24” x 36” Ticket to Work Poster • Increase your income? • Explore your work options? • Keep your Medicaid/Medicare while you work? • Gain greater personal fulfillment through work? Designed at a standard 24” x 36” size, the Ticket to Work Poster can

Soci al Secur ity ’s T icket to Work program and other work incenti ves can he lp you find meani ngful work. If you’ re ages 18 through 64 and you recei ve Soc ial Secur ity be printed by your local commercial printer. Decorate your office’s di sab ility benefits, you can take advant age of these free servi ces . reception area, hallways, and work spaces to boost program awareness and promote your organization’s involvement with Ticket to Work. The printed poster includes an area for you to customize with your organization’s contact information.

Sandy Rusnak, Receptionist, Wheeling, WV Printed posters are available free How to:

Daniel Carrasco, Student, Washington, D.C. of charge on a periodic basis. Click on a link

Choose a Ticket to Work employment services provider. Stay tuned via email for the next (underlined in blue) Work with your provider to plan a better future. and follow instructions promotion to receive your free poster, to download PDF file Are You Ready to Choose Work? Contact Info Information/Resources Download to your computer. Call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or or download the print-ready file and 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) File Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work www.facebook.com/choosework provide it to a commercial printer.

Attach the PDF file to an email and send to printer, or copy to

Send to a thumb drive and Commercial deliver in person. Printer

3.375” x 4.25” Wallet Cards Wallet Cards are an informative and convenient take-away that your organization can use to provide beneficiaries and others key information about the Ticket to Work program. The cards were designed to fold into the size of a credit card (3.375” x 2.125”) and fit conveniently within a wallet. The cards are available in English and Spanish.

Wallet cards are available free of How to: English version charge on a periodic basis. Stay Front and back Choose fulfillment. Choose earnings. tuned via email for the next promotion Click on a link views CHOOSE WORK to receive free wallet cards, or (underlined in blue) Support for People with Disabilities Who Want to Work and follow instructions download the English and/or Spanish to download PDF file www.socialsecurity.gov/work Download to your computer. 1-866-968-7842 (V) or File 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) version(s) and provide the file(s) to a commercial printer. Request 4-color process printing on card stock and Attach the PDF file scored for folding. 3.375” x 2.125” is to an email and send to printer, or copy to the folded size. Send to a thumb drive and Commercial deliver in person. Printer

Spanish version Front view

2 Are You Ready to... 8.5” x 11” Flyer • Increase your income? • Explore your work options? • Keep your Medica id/Medicare whi le you work? • Gain greater persona l fu lfillment through work? The Ticket to Work flyer can be printed by a standard office printer and

Soc ial Secu rity’s T icke t to Wo rk prog ram and o the r wo rk incen tives can help you find meaning ful wo rk . If you ’re ages 18 through 64 and you rece ive Soc ial Secu rity d isabili ty benefi ts , you can take advan tage customized to include your organization’s contact information. Provide of t hese free se rv ices . this easy take-away to Ticket-eligible beneficiaries and/or their family and friends.

Sandy Rusnak, Receptionist, How to: Wheeling, West Virginia Download the print-ready PDF or

Daniel Carrasco, Student, Washington, D.C. the customizable Microsoft Word Click on a link (underlined in blue) Choose a Ticket to Work employment services provider. version, and print from a standard Work with your provider to plan a better future for yourself. and follow instructions office printer. to download PDF Are You Ready to Choose Work? Contact Info Information/Resources or Word file to your Call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) Download Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work computer. www.facebook.com/choosework File

Attach the PDF file to an email and send to printer, or copy to Print with a thumb drive and Standard Office deliver in person. Printer

Newsletter Article NEWSLETTER Does your organization produce newsletters, e-newsletters, or blogs that are intended for beneficiaries? The Ticket to Work news article can be customized to include your organization’s contact information and easily inserted into a newsletter, e-newsletter, email updates, blog, etc. Use social media channels to help promote it.

Download the customizable How to: news article. Click on a link (underlined in blue) and follow instructions to download the Word Download file to your computer. File

3 Partnership Plus Factsheet Beneficiaries who use VR services to find employment may have their cases closed after 90 days. Partnership Plus helps ensure these beneficiaries enjoy continued support through the Ticket to Work program by helping them transition from VR to EN services. This factsheet provides clarification on how Partnership Plus works. The factsheet can be printed from a standard office printer.

Download the Partnership Plus How to: Factsheet and print from a standard

office printer. Click on a link (underlined in blue) and follow instructions to download PDF file Download to your computer. File

Print the PDF file using a standard office printer. Print with Standard Office Printer

Debunking Three Biggest Myths Ticket to Work Debunking the Three BIGGEST Myths about Disability Benefits and Work Factsheet There are several common myths about how working will affect disability benefits and health care coverage. Here are the three most common and why they are wrong. 1 If I try to go to work, I will automatically lose my Medicare or Medicaid. This is a myth. First, as long as you keep receiving a benefit check of any amount, you will keep your health This factsheet is a resource for beneficiaries, to ease their concerns insurance. If you earn enough that your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks stop, Medicare can continue for up to 93 months. If you currently receive Medicaid, you should be eligible to continue to receive Medicaid even after you stop receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to work. To be eligible and create understanding about how participation in the Ticket to Work you need to meet certain requirements, which include earnings below a threshold amount set by your state. Even if your earnings exceed the state threshold, you may still be eligible and should talk to your state Medicaid office. For more information about Keeping Your Medical Benefits after cash benefits stop, visit www.ssa.gov/redbook and www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/1619b.htm. program works with their disability benefits. It can be printed from a If I use my Ticket to go to work, Social Security will conduct a medical review 2 of my case, and I will lose my benefits. standard office printer. This is also a myth. If you use your Ticket to help you go to work, Social Security CANNOT perform what is known as a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to see whether you still have a disability. Even if you would otherwise be scheduled to have a disability review, Social Security will postpone your review while your Ticket is in use and you are making progress toward your work goals. For more information about Protection From Medical CDR, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/cdrprotection.htm.

If my checks stop because I go to work and then I have to stop working because 3 of my disability, I will have to reapply for benefits all over again. It took me Download Debunking the Three forever to be approved for benefits and I cannot afford to wait that long again. As a result, I should not try to work. How to: Again, it’s a myth. You will not need to reapply if your benefits ended within the past five years due to your earnings and you meet a few other requirements, including that you still have the original medical condition or one Biggest Myths Factsheet and print related to it that prevents you from working. This is a work incentive called Expedited Reinstatement. You may even be able to receive up to six months of temporary cash benefits in addition to Medicare or Medicaid coverage while SSA conducts a medical review to determine if your benefits can be reinstated. from a standard office printer. For more information about Expedited Reinstatement, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/exr.htm. Click on a link

For more information about these or other Social Security Work Incentives, contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD). For more information about the Ticket to Work program or to (underlined in blue) access the service provider directory, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work. and follow instructions to download PDF file Download to your computer. File

Print the PDF file using a standard office printer. Print with Standard Office Printer

4 Webinar Viewing Party Guide Ticket to Work produces Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) Webinars to: • encourage beneficiaries to participate in the Ticket program • explain Work Incentives and eligibility requirements • provide additional resources to help them explore their work and/or education options.

Webinar “Viewing Parties” are How to: an engaging way to inform Click on a link disability beneficiaries about (underlined in blue) the program. Hosting a and follow instructions Viewing Party is a great way to download files to Download your computer. to increase your organization’s File identification with the Ticket to Work program, educate Ticket holders about the benefits of Print the PDF file participating in the program, using a standard office printer. and serve as an opportunity to Print with Standard Office secure Ticket assignments. Printer

Viewing Party Download the Viewing Party Procedure Guide and access the online Toolkit Viewing Party Toolkit.

Success Story Radio Script Interested in promoting your organization’s services through local radio? Customize this 60-second script to include your organization’s name and phone number and provide it to your local radio station for inclusion in their advertising. The script features the success story of Terry Anderson, a cancer survivor who used Ticket to Work to get her life back on track.

Request the radio script by email: How to: [email protected]. Click on email address (underlined in blue) and send an email to request a copy of the Email Request radio script.

5 Success Stories

Jason Faust Success stories feature real people who found their path to financial Community Support independence with help from Ticket to Work and Work Incentives. Professional Educate your clients about the services you offer through the “You never know what your dream Ticket program by sharing these inspiring stories through your job is going to be until you find it, communication channels. Video success stories can be promoted and I really found mine! Ticket to through social media, blogs and email. Stories in print can be Work worked for me” published in or referred to via links in newsletters, your website, Read Jason’s Story email, social media, or blogs.

Rae Anna Witmer Nurse’s Aid “[Work] changed everything. It’s nice to know I have choices. Now I can… pay our bills… connect with people outside of the house… [and] make some plans.” View the Profiles in Achievement video Read Rae Anna’s Story

The Highlights Reel is a compilation of video success stories called “Profiles in Achievement”, which depicts a diverse group of individuals who have successfully used Ticket to Work to find employment and achieve financial independence. Rob McClain Dept of Transportation Field Agent Examiner Access the library of “SSDI and Medicare are stable. Ticket to Work How to: The workforce is not. I was glad Success Stories to find work, but didn’t want to Click on “Access the lose my disability benefits…” library...” graphic and select any of the video Read Rob’s Story or print stories listed View or Download Success on the web page Stories

Terri Guy Promote the success Benefits Counselor stories through social ! media, blogs, email “It feels like I’m a success again...” Promote and newsletters. Success View Terri’s Video Stories

Example of a print success story Just a few of the success stories you can watch or read about

Example of a video success story

6 Website Banners Use Ticket to Work Web Banners on your organization’s homepage to promote your involvement with the Ticket program.

Access the library of How to: Website Banners and choose the one that suits Ask your webmaster to add the banner of your choice your organization best. to your organization’s Add Banners website and hyperlink to to Your www.socialsecurity.gov/work Website

A sample of available web banners below, 75% actual size

7 Meet Ben Video - Promotional Content

Meet Ben, a qualified beneficiary who wants to work but needs to understand how it would affect his benefits. The Meet Ben! An Introduction to Ticket to Work video explains the program and shares Ben’s journey on navigating the Ticket program and his options for finding services to help him along the way. The video can be posted to your website, shared via your social media outlets, viewed directly with beneficiaries during initial meetings and also shared with beneficiary groups at meetings and other events.

The Meet Ben video can be downloaded from our website, or we can ship a CD How to: or DVD video directly to you. Complete Click on a link this order form to receive your CD or (underlined in blue) and follow instructions DVD copy. to download files to your computer. Download File

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