2004 Annual Report Work Incentives Implementation Task Force

The Work Incentives Implementation Task Force continued to follow the implementation of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TTWWIIA).  To date, over 67,000 Tickets have been assigned to employment networks (ENs) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, with VR taking almost 90% of those assignments.  SSA is making milestone and/or outcome payments to 196 ENs on behalf of 778 beneficiaries.  Thirty one states are enrolling participants in a Medicaid buy-in authorized by TTWWIIA or the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.

Members of the task force monitored quarterly meetings of the TTWWIIA Advisory Panel and presented testimony to the May 2004 and November 2004 meeting of the Panel.  We also reviewed and discussed Panel documents such as the AOI (Adequacy of Incentive) Reports and other briefing papers. 

In March, the task force presented testimony to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security during an oversight hearing. 

Throughout the year, the task force met with Congressional staff and Social Security Administration (SSA) officials on issues related to coordination of the vocational rehabilitation system and the Ticket Program and on regulatory improvements to encourage greater participation in the Ticket Program by beneficiaries and private providers, and requested prompt promulgation of revised Ticket Regulations.  Members of the task force also conferred with staff from the Government Accountability Office for an examination of the Ticket program being done by that agency.  The task force supported the Social Security Protection Act (HR 743). 

During the summer, the task force co-chairs met with SSA officials to discuss the future of work incentives software systems designed to inform beneficiaries about return to work possibilities.  Co-chair Susan Prokop was subsequently appointed to an SSA Advisory Group on Work Incentives Software. 

In the fall, Co-chair Cheryl Bates-Harris was appointed to a four year term on the TW & WI AP (Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Advisory Panel).

For 2005 – the task force anticipates responding to new Ticket regulations currently at OMB and to continuing its liaison with the TTWWIIA Panel.  The task force also plans to offer comments to SSA on its planned Request for Applications on the Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) program.  The task force intends to work with the Employment and Training Task Force on the relationship of the Ticket program to Workforce Investment programs as Congress deals with reauthorization of WIA in 2005.  Now that TTWWIIA is fully implemented nationally, it is expected that Congress may pursue legislation to address issues identified during the preceeding four years.  The task force has begun to compile a list of recommended improvements to the Act which it will present to appropriate Congressional committees in the new year.

Work Incentive Task Force Co-chairs – Cheryl Bates-Harris, NAPAS, 202-408-9514; Andrea Harles, INABIR, 202.546.2847; Susan Prokop, PVA, 202-416-7707; Paul Siefert, USPRA.