Disability Benefits 101 db101

1. Disability Benefits 101 db101.org Age and Disabilities Odyssey Conference June 21, 2011

2. What is Disability Benefits 101? A new infrastructure that will help people with disabilities make informed choices about work.

3. Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) DB101 is about the PERSON. It brings together benefits information, tools and resources to make the work-planning process easier and more successful.

4. The Background Why do we need DB101?

5. Poverty & Disability: The Inextricable Connection • People with disabilities are poorer, as a group, than the general population. • People living in poverty are more likely than others to be disabled.

6. -Poverty and Disability, Atkins & Giusti, 2003

7. How do people get out of poverty? The surest way out of poverty is through work… and yet…

8. People with reported disability in the labor force: 21.9% • People with no reported disability in the labor force: 70.1% Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2010

9. “Side Effects” of Unemployment • Increased substance abuse • Increased physical problems • Reduced self-esteem • Increased psychiatric disorders • Loss of social contacts • Alienation and apathy • Source: Warr, 1987

10. Work Provides • More money and greater economic freedom • Social interaction and developing relationships • Sense of confidence and purpose • Structure and routine • Sense of identity in American culture • Greater stability • Ability to use talents and make a contribution Minnesota Employment Policy Initiative

11. “Work is about daily meaning as well as daily bread” -Studs Terkel

12. So, what keeps people with disabilities from going to work?

13. The perceptions of employers and society, rather than the disability itself, is often one of the most significant barriers to employment.

14. PERCEPTIONS“Working just isn’t an option for my client. He’s just too difficult.” MISCONCEPTIONS“It’s going to cost our company a lot of money to hire that person.”

15. FEAR • Fear of failure • Fear of losing benefits • Fears of family and friends • Fears of employers • Fears of professionals

16. Do most public programs & social supports encourage employment? “I could work more but I make sure I don’t work more than 18 hours each week so I don’t lose my Social Security.”Doug, MA-EPD Enrollee

17. Social Security’s Definition of Disability • “The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”

18. A New way of Thinking: The Expectation of Employment

19. “Most consumers are motivated to work, provided they perceive that the professionals helping them also embrace the belief in the importance of work and genuinely believe that they can work” -Rogers, Walsch, Masotta & Danley, 1991

20. “One of the Social Security Administration’s highest priorities is to support the efforts of disabled beneficiaries who want to work by developing policies and services to help them reach their employment goal.” Social Security 2010 Red Book

21. DHS Continuing Care’s Vision Statement Minnesotans will: • Live as independently as possible • Enjoy health, with access to quality health care • Have safe, affordable places to live • Be contributing and valued members of their communities, • Participate in rewarding daily activities, including gainful employment

22. MA-EPD 1619(b) Extended Medicare Ticket to Work Trial Work Period Extended Period of Eligibility Expedited Reinstatement Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) Subsidy Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) Earned Income Exclusion Blind Work Expense Student Earned Income Exclusion Work Incentives

23. The Goal Help assure that: • No one is discouraged from pursuing work based on misinformation or lack of information AND • Work remains part of the plan – people are encouraged to explore work as a viable option to get out of poverty and expand community connections

24. DB101: Support at all Stages Doesn’t know/believe work is an option Exploringwork asan option Limitsworkpotential(TWP, SGA, …) Wants towork topotential(no limits) Has aworkplan Workingasplanned Work/lifechanges(raise, promotion, marriage, disability)

25. DB101Expanded Benefits Planning System DLL & DB101.org DHS Work Incentives Connection Phone & Online Assistance Back-end Support In-depth Phone & 1:1 Assistance Exploration & Planning Tool Data & Information Formal Benefits Planning

26. Approach • DB101 System • Embed DB101 into the DLL system - neutral access, resources & coordination • Coordinate with MN Work Incentives Connection • MN Department of Human Services policy and benefit information • DB101 site • Design for people with disabilities to use • Incorporate “help center” to keep people engaged • DB101 as part of the process • Develop adoption strategies to support goals • Field test to learn DB101 applications • Provide training to support application

27. The Web Site

28. DB101 provides - • Content - centralized and easy to understand, that: • covers benefits programs and work incentives, • supports a learning process, • answers frequently asked questions, and • addresses common pitfalls. • Estimatorsthat tailor information to the user to: • show connections between work and benefits, • develop tailored plans, • help set work goals, • educate about work incentives and benefits, and • offer tips for success. • Experts (DHS, DLL, MNWIC) who can help: • answer questions, • access personal benefits information, • interpret results, • understand next steps, and • connect to community resources.

29. DB101.org – Home Page

30. DB101.org - Your Situation

32. DB101.org - Programs

33. Program Information • Cash Benefits: • SSDI • SSI • MSA • Housing • MFIP • Food Support • General Assistance (GA) • Child Care Assistance • Energy Assistance • Health Care: • Medicare • Medical Assistance (MA) • MA-EPD • Waivers • MinnesotaCare • Work Programs: • SSA Work Incentives • Ticket to Work • Voc Rehab

35. Comprehensive • Understandable language – user friendly • Alphabetical AND by Topic • Links to other relevant sites (NOTE: opens separate window) • Direct links to glossary definitions throughout site

36. Talk to an Expert Support along the way… • Real-time support for: • Content questions • Understanding next steps • Interpreting results • Technical assistance • Accessing public benefits data • Connecting to the Work Incentives Connection

37. DB101.org - Estimators

38. Benefits & Work Estimator

40. Real Time Benefits Access By clicking on talk to an expert you can connect to DLL Specialists at DHS who can pull benefits information from MAXIS and MMIS. Immediate access to benefits information keeps people engaged and creates more reliable estimator results.

41. Results

42. Estimator Results –NOT better off

43. Results go deeper…. • Summary • Timeline • Monthly Income and Expenses • Health coverage • Tips • Next Steps

44. Build full reports of all information in the plan • Can be saved in pdf format that can be e-mailed and/or printed

45. School and Work Estimator

46. Plan

47. MA-EPD Estimator Results

48. Learn More Online learning Quick Start Guides Meeting in a Box 48

49. The BIG DB101 Goal • Help your clients make the right work decision for them based on accurate information. • Help you and your clients see how work could be asolution to things like health care, financial problems and planning, socialization, living situation, self-esteem or self-worth, and incorporate work as a therapeutic solution. • Provide consistent, accurate information on how work affects benefits and benefits counseling at every point in the system (county social services, public health, voc rehab/employment service providers, school system, health care system, etc.) • Be a useful tool to make your job easier

50. Discussion • What are some ways you can incorporate DB101 into your work (e.g., training, reference, etc.)? • How will your providers/contractors use DB101? • How will your clients or customers use DB101?