Pathway to Community Employment

Transcription

1 Pathway to Community Employment

2 Customized Day Programs Achieva Vocational Programs Transitional Employment Adult Training Facility 1:6 ratio Senior Program 1:6 ratio Pre-Vocational Programs 5 sites (Strip District, Wilkinsburg, Bridgeville, West Mifflin, ARC of Westmoreland) Currently around 500 individuals 1:7 and 1:15 ratio Cleaning and Janitorial Achieva Supervisor and small work crew Community Based Employment Discovery Community Based Assessments Job Placement and Coaching

3 The Pathway is a program designed to empower people to explore employment in their communities and develop skills leading to employment success!!! What is the Pathway?

4 Why did ACHIEVA create the Pathway? Over the past few years more and more people have expressed a desire to work in their communities. Paul at Kuhn s Market in Banksville The Pathway is designed to expand employment choices and opportunities for people receiving services through ACHIEVA s various pre-vocational programs Sharon at the Children s Museum of Pittsburgh

5 Who can participate? Anyone who participates in an ACHIEVA prevocational program can participate!!! Once an individual has expressed an interest in exploring community employment a meeting is called with their support team to explain the STEPS TO COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT Together, the team will listen to the individual and we will discuss how to best support moving toward their goals

6 What does the pathway look like? The pathway consists of a few new program elements Daily Next Step Groups Customized Curriculum instruction Weekly peer support Job Club Community Based Learning Experiences Individualized Employment Supports including Discovery, Community Based Assessments, and Customized Job Development

7 Next Step Groups Small Groups of 7-8 people that meet 1 hour per day, 4 days/week at each Pre-Vocational site Groups are facilitated by Pre- Vocational team members Customized curriculum is geared toward both soft and employment related skill development

8 Sample Curriculum Topics Identifying personal interests and strengths Customized Curriculum Developing listening skills Appropriate work behaviors Filling out job applications The curriculum is combined with various activities, videos, and practical/hands on exercises to reinforce concepts. Interview preparation Job retention skills Balancing finances

9 Weekly Peer Support Job Club Mission of Job Club Job club aims to strengthen and develop skills for those who are interested in becoming and staying successfully employed in their communities.

10 Community Based Experiences ACHIEVA partners with community businesses and companies that open their doors to NEXT STEP participants. As a valued community partner, businesses can provided tours, employee mentorship opportunities, and other various on site learning opportunities to reinforce concepts learned in small group instruction

11 Individualized Employment Supports Members of the Pathway will also have an opportunity to work with Employment Specialists We will work with these individuals and their support teams to provide 1:1 community employment supports. We will utilized a number of approaches to work toward the goal of community employment. Discovery Community Based Assessments (CBA s) Customized Job Development

12 More info Visit us on the web at: Give us a call at: (412) X 583 Send us an at: pathway@achieva.info

13 Promoting Employment Among Social Security Beneficiaries Through Work Incentives CY 2016

14 About the Agency Mission to serve the community as a catalyst in the employment and development of persons with disabilities. Two state network (PA & DE) with exclusive focus on employment since inception in 1977 During the prior year (14-15), AHEDD served a total of 1,080 people with disabilities who were working. These individuals had combined earnings of $9.8 million during the year. Among these individuals 752 were receiving SSA benefits and based on earnings, benefits should have been reduced by $1.08 million. When compared to the taxpayer/government costs for AHEDD s services, we estimate a $3.44 return on every $1 invested in AHEDD. Work Incentive Counseling Cooperative Agreement with the Social Security Administration since 2001, expanded through other sponsors. Coordinate PA Business Leadership Network

15 Change the Message I don t want to work or only want to work part time because I don t want to lose my benefits TO I want to work and be better off financially

16 Social Security Benefits as Barrier to Employment Fear Eligibility criteria - difficulty qualifying Prevalence of wrong, partial information Complexity within administration of other benefit programs (e.g. SNAP) Overpayments No early intervention

17 Social Security Income Support Programs 1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Social Security Childhood Disability Beneficiary (SSCDB) Disabled Spouse 2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

18 Social Security Disability Insurance Publicly funded Long Term Disability (LTD) Title II Work history, monthly payments based on personal work history - credits 6 month wait for cash, 2 year wait for Medicare Relevant Sub group: Childhood Disability Beneficiaries

19 Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Security Income (SSI): a low income, low resources program for which many adults and youth with disabilities qualify. Signed into law in the 1970s by President Nixon.

20 SSI Features Limited Assets application, continuous) Earnings below SGA for eligibility, irrelevant post eligibility Federal benefit rate: $ (CY 2016) Most states provide an SSI supplement. In PA, DPW provides $22.10 Monthly SSI cash payment adjustment based on countable unearned and earned income

21 Work & SSDI Extensive Time Horizon Trial Work Period Full Cash Extended Period of Eligibility Full Cash or Suspension depending upon earnings Termination or Continuation of Cash benefits depending upon earnings and/or use of specific work incentives

22 Work & SSI Each month, Social Security needs to know: Unearned income Earned income Changes in other variables (e.g. spousal income, change in residence)

23 SSI Cash Payment Reduction from Earned Income 1619a 1619b 1619b With monthly earnings of $1,090 in CY 2016, the person has continuation of benefits under 1619(a). Even when cash benefits are suspended, 1619(b) allows for continuation of Medicaid. In CY 2015, the Medicaid Threshold is $35,821. Example does not include the PA State Supplement!

24 Sample of Work Incentives Continued Medicare or Medicaid Career- Vocational Savings Program (PASS) Reduction countable income through Impairment Related Work Expenses Preferential Job Placement & on going employment support through Ticket to Work Options for self employment

25 Concurrent Beneficiary Someone receives SSDI and also qualifies for SSI How does this happen? What does this mean?

26 Concurrent Beneficiary & Employment During Trial Work Period (SSDI), earned income may cause SSI to go to $0 (1619b) After Trial Work Period, and depending on earnings, SSI may be reinstated during the Extended Period of Eligibility.

27 Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (PA) MAWD Medical Assistance while a person works even though earnings increase above limits for other programs. Premium is the amount a policy holder pays to purchase health insurance: 5% of an individual s monthly countable income.spousal income not included in premium determination

28 MAWD Requirements/Exclusions Requirements Be at least 16, but less than 65 years old Be employed and receiving compensation Disabled according to Social Security standards or DPW Guidelines Countable Income < 250% of Federal Poverty standards Family 1 -$2,431/mo. or $29,175/yr Family 2 $3,277/mo. or $39,325/yr Resources below $10,000 Income Exclusions The first $20 of any unearned or earned income Transportation costs The first $65 of any earned income Impairment related work expenses 50% of remainder of earned income

29 WIPA Work Incentives Planning Assistance Program Cooperative Agreements between Social Security and local WIPA contractors Work Incentive Counseling for Social Security beneficiaries, ages who are working, actively pursuing, or planning for employment.

30 Work Incentive Counseling Confirm current status with Social Security (optional but strongly recommended); Work history and/or current strategy, education, relevant personal facts (e.g. marriage, age); Scenario Analysis of Income; Applicable Work Incentives; Address unusual circumstances (e.g. overpayments); Recommended form letters & benefit management tools; Delivered via individualized report! Follow up