Sustainable Work Incentive Supports Beyond WIPA: Results and Impact

1. Sustainable Work Incentive Supports Beyond WIPA:Results and Impact Becky Banks Center on Community Living and Careers Indiana Institute on Disability and Community ~Indiana’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities~ Indiana University 2853 East 10th Street Bloomington, Indiana 47408-2696 bebanks@indiana.edu

2. Benefit Information Network Project Overview • Benefits Information Network emerged in 2005 • Purpose was to engage employment service providers in supporting BPAO/WIPA through: • Building capacity for WIPA to serve more individuals (case development and ongoing support for Vocational Rehabilitation customers receiving WIPA services) • Incorporating work incentives into employment service planning and activities • Engaging providers in supporting, tracking and implementing work incentives with beneficiaries • Providing federal and state benefit information to individuals who were not eligible for WIPA services (not receiving SSA benefits, but were receiving other state and federal benefits)

3. Key Components:Training, Technical Assistance & Quality Assurance • Intensive training to BIN Liaisons on all federal and state work incentives • Competency-based curriculum (annual recertification) • Advanced competency-based training offered annually to experienced BIN Liaisons • Once Trained, Benefits Information Network Liaisons assist with case development and follow-up to beneficiaries • Intake to assess state and federal benefits • Verify benefits and work incentives available with the Social Security Administration (Benefits Planning Query) and other federal and state benefit verifications • Develop a plan to manage and support work incentives that is incorporated into employment services plan • Collaborate with SSA programs (WIPA, Work Incentive Liaisons, Area Work Incentives Coordinator) on work incentives • Collaborate with other federal and state benefit programs

4. Key Components:Training, Technical Assistance & Quality Assurance • Technical Assistance • Provided to BIN Liaisons in understanding work incentives and how to support beneficiaries as they are involved in employment services • Quality Assurance • Assuring accuracy of information provided to beneficiaries • Ensuring timely information is available to beneficiaries • Ensuring follow-up between beneficiaries, employment providers and WIPA occurs • Assessing outcomes of beneficiaries: • Using SSA work incentives • Participating in Medicaid Buy-In • Engaging in SGA • Understanding their benefits and focusing on financial literacy • Project provides monitoring of BIN liaison performance and proficiency in supporting work incentives

5. Vocational Rehabilitation and MIG Partnership • MIG funds have supported the development of the project, training costs and TA/QA component • Currently focusing on sustainability without MIG funds • Vocational Rehabilitation pays for the direct service to beneficiaries on a fee for service basis (up to $500 for case development and incorporating work incentives supports in employment plan)

6. Advantages of theBenefits Information Network • Employment specialists understand the importance of work incentives and ensure VR customers are using work incentives while they support them in their employment goals • Employment specialists provide the “legwork” for the WIPA programs • Helping beneficiaries in reporting wages • Helping beneficiaries access work incentives (i.e. Subsidy, IRWE, PASS) • Helping WIPA connect with beneficiaries at critical touch points • WIPA can serve individuals more efficiently and effectively and address complex needs of beneficiaries and engage in ongoing benefits management

7. Results of the Benefits Information Network • Over 200 employment specialists are certified • Approximately 2,000 individuals are served each year through preliminary information on work incentives (case development for WIPA) • Indiana SSA reports an increase in wage reporting, Subsidy development, IRWE Development • Vocational Rehabilitation reports more movement toward SGA level of earnings • Medicaid Buy-In has an increase of participants reaching SGA levels (39% increase in monthly earnings in past 5 years) • Employment service providers report improvement in employment outcomes • WIPA in Indiana is serving more beneficiaries

8. Sustainability of the Project • Experienced and proficient BIN Liaisons have moved to advanced level-- “Tier 2” Liaisons • 25 graduated to the “advanced level” of expertise in 2008 • Approximately 50 more BIN Liaisons will graduate to this level in 2009 • BIN Liaisons are training and mentoring others within the Network--“Tier 3” BIN Liaisons • Four individuals have been trained as Community Partners and are CWIC certified under SSA’s curriculum • These individuals participate by helping with training, technical assistance and ensuring quality and accuracy of BIN Liaison supports to beneficiaries

9. Sustainability:What the Future Holds Beyond MIG Funding • This project is anticipated to fund itself by 2011 • Providers are paying for training and technical assistance through the network • Vocational Rehabilitation is considering supporting up to 5 more Tier 3 BIN Liaisons to work with the project in training, technical assistance and quality assurance to BIN Liaisons