Best Practice Guide, Financial, Community Support Alliance

Jon Peterson, DVR helped Jon to become an achieveGlobal^TMcertified co-facilitator by quickly processing funds to pay for the course, hotel, job coaching and mileage.

Inaccurate or no information about how to preserve benefits while working
Misinterpretation of Ticket to Work pressuring the person to "get any job"
Piecemeal and ineffective focus on funding
Poorly thought-out funding plan that undermines the employee's ability to do the job - i.e. no transportation funds
Not knowing funding choices

6.1 Financial Statistics

Financial Statistics - "7.5 million Americans with disabilities receive [federal disability] benefits... 72% of Americans with disabilities want to work. However, in part because of disincentives in Federal law, less than 1 percent of those receiving disability benefits fully enter the workforce" (Brooke, 2002).

6.2 Social Security Work Incentive Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)

Social Security Work Incentive Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) -SSI created PASS to encourage people with disabilities to work. PASS gives people a way to put money or resources aside to achieve work goals identified through whole-life planning. A PASS also lets a person still get SSI payments while they work toward making their own living. PASS can pay for services like training, education and supports that help people move toward getting off SSI benefits. Examples of support services include: help getting or keeping a job (for example, job coaching), vocational evaluation, transportation, job equipment, buying a business, or other work-related supports. (For more information, visit the web: www.passonline.org)

6.3 Ticket to Work

Ticket to Work - Ticket to Work is another program that encourages people with disabilities to get jobs. This program gives people with disabilities a voucher type ticket so that they can choose their own vocational supports (including education and rehabilitation). It lets people on SSDI keep their Medicare benefits while they work so that they don't have to worry about losing health coverage because they got a job. People with significant disabilities may also be eligible to keep receiving benefits after they have more money coming in from a job (Brooke, 2002). Anyone who gets a Ticket to Work should get benefits advisement first (See 6.7: Tracking and Reporting Wages to Social Security for free benefit advisement resources in New Mexico). (For more information, visit the at: www.yourtickettowork.com)

6.4 Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) - IDAs were established by The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1995. IDAs give low-income people a way to have savings grow. IDAs are matched to savings accounts. The person puts in money that is matched by the government at "one to four times the size of the deposit". These savings can be used for education, training, to fund businesses, and to buy a home. States do not count IDAs when they are determining eligibility for government assistance. (For more information, visit the web: www.financeprojectinfo.org/win/)

6.7 Tracking and Reporting Wages to Social Security

Tracking and Reporting Wages to Social Security - "An important job support consideration is identifying a person to track and report wages to Social Security... The result of not reporting wages to Social Security could mean loss of SSI benefits for the individual (i.e. medical coverage, housing and food support). The person identified to track and report wages is responsible for reporting to Social Security monthly income earned by the person, and keeping the records [and explaining] to the individual and/or family member/advocate about income changes in the monthly social security check" (Ibañez, 2001). Benefits Advisors can also offer important advice about how to track and report benefits. The New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Benefit Information Center provides free information about these benefits management services statewide at 1(800) 318-1469 or on the web at: www.succeedvr.com. They can also advise people about benefits and Ticket to Work.

6.8 Employment Benefits

Employment Benefits - An important part of determining a person's career path is to see what employment benefits the person would like. Career matching seeks employment benefits. Keeping existing benefits in mind, an employer may provide benefits of financial value to the person. For example, the employer may pay for continuing education and other skill building desired by the person. As another example, an employer may provide wellness opportunities that the person otherwise could not afford.

Common Financial Barriers

6. Financial