TN 1 (10-02)

A. Definitions

Active participation: A requirement under the timely progress guidelines during the initial 24-month period that a beneficiary who has assigned a ticket must follow the goals established in the Individual Work Plan (IWP) or Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) that is signed with the State VR agency or EN (see DI 55025.025B.1.).

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO) Program: Community-based work incentives planning and assistance grant program specifically to provide accurate information related to work incentives to beneficiaries with disabilities (see DI 55001.005C).

Employment Network (EN): Any qualified private or public entity that that enters into an agreement with SSA to provide rehabilitation, employment or support services to an eligible beneficiary with a disability under the Ticket to Work program. An eligible beneficiary should have an assignable ticket or be eligible to receive a ticket under the Ticket to Work program. A State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency can choose to participate as an EN under the Ticket to Work program (see DI 55060.005C).

Employment Plan: A written agreement between a title II or XVI disabled/blind beneficiary and an EN. An employment plan describes the specific services that will be provided to the beneficiary to obtain an employment goal. An employment plan may be called an Individual Work Plan (IWP) if developed with an EN and an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) if developed with a State VR agency. A similar document developed with an Alternate Participant (AP) or an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) is also an employment plan. (See DI 55020.001B).

Inactive Status: During the initial 24-month period, the beneficiary can make a written request to the Program Manager to place the ticket in inactive status due to possible relapses in health condition or emergency situations. Months in inactive status do not count in deciding whether the beneficiary is making timely progress toward his/her work goals. (See DI 55025.025C) During this period the beneficiary is subject to a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) because he/she is not using the ticket. (See DI 55025.001B.6.)

Initial 24-Month Period: This is the 24-month period which begins with the month following the month in which the beneficiary first assigned his/her ticket. It is one of the basic time frames under the timely progress requirements. (See DI 55025.025B.1.)

Outcome-Milestone Payment System: The system providing a schedule of payments under the Ticket to Work program to an employment network that includes, in addition to payments during the outcome payment period, payment for completion by a beneficiary of milestones directed toward the goal of permanent employment. (See DI 55060.005B.)

Outcome Payment System: The system providing a payment under the Ticket to Work program to an EN for each month, up to a total of 60 months, during which Social Security disability benefits and Federal SSI cash benefits are not payable to a beneficiary because of the performance of SGA or by reason of earnings from work. (See DI 55060.005B.)

Program Manager (PM): The Program Manager is an organization under contract with SSA to manage the Ticket to Work program (see DI 55005.001). SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS to be the PM.

Protection and Advocacy to Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Program: SSA's grant program authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 for the protection and advocacy (P&A) systems, established under part C of Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, to provide certain services to title II and title XVI disabled beneficiaries seeking gainful employment. The PABSS program awards grants to P&As are for two purposes: (1) to provide information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services, and (2) to provide advocacy or other services that a disabled beneficiary needs to secure or regain gainful employment (see DI 55001.005B).

State Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System: System established in accordance with Part C of title I of the Developmental Disabilities assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6041 et. Seq.) in each State (including the U.S. territories and P&A for Native Americans) (see DI 55001.005B).

Ticket: A Ticket is a paper document that SSA may issue to disabled/blind beneficiaries for participation in the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program. (See DI 55002.020B and DI 55099.001).

Ticket Assignment: If the beneficiary has a valid ticket and is in current pay status, he/she usually can assign the ticket by selecting an EN/State VR Agency to work with on the employment plan. (See DI 55025.001B.1. and DI 55025.001B.2.)

Ticket In Use: In general, the ticket is in use if the beneficiary is actively following his/her approved plan to become self-supporting. A ticket is also considered to be in use during the extension period if the ticket becomes unassigned while in use (see DI 55025.001B.4.). When the ticket is in use, the beneficiary is not subject to a medical CDR. (See DI 55025.001B.3.)

Ticket Reassignment: A beneficiary may reassign his/her ticket if he/she meets the criteria for assigning a ticket described in DI 55025.001B.1. he/she may reassign his/her ticket only if he/she:

• Continues to meet the ticket eligibility requirements,

• Has an unassigned ticket,

• Has an EN/State VR Agency who is willing to work with them and sign a new IWP/IPE.

• The reassignment is effective on the first day these requirements are met. (See DI 55025.001B.5. for more information.)

Ticket Unassignment: If either the beneficiary or the EN/State VR Agency decides not to continue with the employment plan, the ticket becomes unassigned. (See DI 55025.001B.2.)

Timely Progress: Timely progress toward self-supporting employment is the standard that is used to determine if a beneficiary is using his/her ticket for purposes of suspension of medical CDRs. The PM/SSA define timely progress using two criteria: active participation within the initial 24-month period and increased work activity and earnings during subsequent 12-month progress review periods. (See DI 55025.025B.)

12-month Progress Review Period: After the successful completion of the initial 24-month period, the beneficiary is required to perform work activity for a specific number of months during the 12 month period and have earnings at a specified level. (See DI 55025.025B.2.)