Social Security Administration
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel Teleconference
April 9, 2002

Introduction: Deborah Morrison called the meeting to order at approximately 1:40 p.m. and turned the meeting over to Ms. Sarah Mitchell.

Panel Members Present

Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair
Bryon MacDonald
Susan Webb
Kris Flaten
Steve Start
Jerome Kleckley
Christine Griffin
Larry Henderson
Frances Gracechild

Panel Staff Absent

Richard Burkhauser
Thomas Golden

Panel Staff Present

Marie Strahan
Lisa Ekman
Bernard Wixon
Tamara Allen
Gordon Richmond
Deborah Morrison

Topic: Annual Report Overview

Speakers: Marie Strahan, Bernard Wixon

Topics: Executive Summary

• Competition for scarce SSA resources
• Options
• Ask for dedicated line item plus additional funds
• Ask for dedicated line item with no additional funds
• Maintain the status quo

Action Item: Ms. Strahan will check on Limitation on Administrative Expense (LAE) funds to see if funds are currently available or if additional funds should be appropriated.

Consensus: The panel accepts the agency's stated need for increased appropriations to the agency to administer all SSA programs. Appropriations should be increased to support TWWIIA activities. Additional funds should be designated to administer the TWWIIA program. There needs to be an increase in personnel to administer the TWWIIA in the field offices; e.g., the Employment Service Representatives.

Consensus: The report should stress the fact that SSA has made significant progress in implementing the Ticket program.

Topic: Annual Interim Report Employment Service Representatives (page 12)

Consensus: The paragraph will be rewritten after review of the ESR Report

Topic: Public Education and Training

Consensus: Department of Labor should be referenced with the list of other agencies.

Motion: A motion made, seconded, and passed to accept this section.

Topic: Regulations on Disabled Adult Children, Widows and Widowers

Consensus: The panel encourages SSA to move forward with the regulations as planned.

Motion: A motion was made, seconded and passed to adopt this section.

Topic: Marketing and Outreach

Consensus: The Administration, including White House staff and senior members of the administration, should be participating in the marketing effort.

Motion: Moved, seconded, and passed to adopt this section.

Topic: Protection and Advocacy Grants

Motion: Moved, seconded and passed to adopt this section with minor editorial comments.

Topic: Progress Report

Consensus: Some states are supplanting other funds (VR or state programs) with ticket funds. There is tremendous pressure on state budgets; states are scrambling for scarce resources. This issue could be inserted under the Current Status Section.

Topic: Analysis of Recommendations: Ticket Eligibility and Use

Consensus: Motion made, seconded and passed, to accept this section with minor editorial changes.

Topic: EN Requirements and Qualifications

Consensus: "The panel continues to take issue with the agency's position," should be added at the end of this section." This sentence should also be added to paragraphs which describe the agency's position when it differs from the position of the panel. A separate paragraph clarifying that medical CDRs are separate from work CDRs should be added.

Motion: A motion was made, seconded, and adopted to accept this section.

Topic: Overpayments

Consensus: This title should be changed to "Wage Reporting, Overpayments, and the Ticket Program". Beneficiaries will be asked to report their wages twice-once to the ENs and once to SSA. The panel suggested that staff ascertain whether the recommendations on this issue in the Advice Report can be included in the annual report. BP&Os and P&As should be able to assist beneficiaries with these problems. This problem will only get worse if not addressed comprehensively.

Topic: Adequacy of Incentives

Motion: A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adopt this section.

Topic: Other Issues

Presenter: Susan Webb

There is an interaction between consumers using work incentives and EN services. The work incentives are in direct conflict with payment for the ENs.

Collecting of earnings data by the ENs is extremely burdensome.

Relationship between TWWIIA and other programs, including HUD, WIA, etc. should be explored.

The induced Entry issue also needs further exploration.

Presenter: Kris Flaten

If the ticket is assigned to the state VR agency, the rehabilitation agency can only accept the payment method in force when the ticket was assigned.

Consensus: These issues will be summarized in a few paragraphs at the end of the report.

Topic: One-for-Two Report

Consensus: It was decided to hold on the Annual Report until the One-for-Two Report is ready to be adopted. These two reports will be considered at the May meeting.

Action Item: Ms. Strahan will develop a list of issues that need to be brought to the Commissioner's attention before the annual report is completed.