ADVISORY

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SECURITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: (202) 225-9263
March 10, 1998
No. SS-15

Bunning Announces Hearing on the
"Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998"

Congressman Jim Bunning (R-KY), Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998." The hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 1998, in the main Committee hearing room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral testimony will be from invited witnesses only. However, any individual or organization may submit a written statement for consideration by the Committee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

BACKGROUND:

Social Security programs are vital to all Americans. The disability program is particularly important because it protects workers and their families against severe financial hardship that occurs when workers sustain severe illnesses or disabling conditions that prevent them from working. Due to advances in medicine, technology, and the field of rehabilitation, there are people who, despite serious disabilities, want to work and could work if provided the kind of rehabilitation services they need.

Chairman Bunning and Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), expect to introduce this week the "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998," to help Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients return to a life of economic security and self-sufficiency. The major provisions of the legislation would ease the transition of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disabled beneficiaries into the workforce. Generally, the bill would provide Social Security beneficiaries with choice in selecting providers of services and choice in selecting the specific services they need to help them achieve gainful employment. Generally, the providers of services would be paid for outcomes and long-term results. The payment process would be designed to ensure that as many providers as possible are available to serve consumers of these services.

One of the primary barriers confronting beneficiaries who would like to work is the fear of losing health care coverage. To help alleviate that fear, the "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act" would extend Medicare an additional two years beyond current law to these individuals. This means that recipients would have Medicare coverage for a total of six years from the time they first make an attempt to work.

Due to the nature of their disability, many individuals incur extraordinary costs in trying to get a job and maintaining that job. The legislation would create a tax credit of 50 percent of impairment-related work expenses up to $10,000 a year. Also, to better help consumers transition into work, the bill would include a requirement that the Social Security Administration (SSA) test a gradual offset of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits by reducing monthly benefits $1 for every $2 in earnings over a determined level.

In addition, the bill would create an Advisory Panel, made up of consumers, providers, and employer representatives. Finally, the new program would be gradually phased in, closely monitored, and thoroughly evaluated over time.

In announcing the hearing, Chairman Bunning stated: "During the last three years, we have learned a great deal about the barriers that prevent beneficiaries with disabilities from attempting return to work. The 'Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998,' includes many provisions that help remove those barriers. I look forward to hearing the views of our witnesses to ensure that we are taking the best possible legislative action to provide real opportunities to persons with severe disabilities."

FOCUS OF THE HEARING:

The Subcommittee will receive the views of SSA, individuals with disabilities, and providers on the "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998."

DETAILS FOR SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS:

>Any person or organization wishing to submit a written statement for the printed record of the hearing should submit at least six (6) single-space legal-size copies of their statement, along with an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS Text or WordPerfect 5.1 format only, with their name, address, and hearing date noted on a label, by the close of business, Tuesday, March 31, 1998, to A.L. Singleton, Chief of Staff, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. If those filing written statements wish to have their statements distributed to the press and interested public at the hearing, they may deliver 200 additional copies for this purpose to the Subcommittee on Social Security office, room B-316 Rayburn House Office Building, at least one hour before the hearing begins.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:

Each statement presented for printing to the Committee by a witness, any written statement or exhibit submitted for the printed record or any written comments in response to a request for written comments must conform to the guidelines listed below. Any statement or exhibit not in compliance with these guidelines will not be printed, but will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

1. All statements and any accompanying exhibits for printing must be typed in single space on legal-size paper and may not exceed a total of 10 pages including attachments. At the same time written statements are submitted to the Committee, witnesses are now requested to submit their statements on an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS Text or WordPerfect 5.1 format. Witnesses are advised that the Committee will rely on electronic submissions for printing the official hearing record.

2. Copies of whole documents submitted as exhibit material will not be accepted for printing. Instead, exhibit material should be referenced and quoted or paraphrased. All exhibit material not meeting these specifications will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

3. A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting written comments in response to a published request for comments by the Committee, must include on his statement or submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.

4. A supplemental sheet must accompany each statement listing the name, full address, a telephone number where the witness or the designated representative may be reached and a topical outline or summary of the comments and recommendations in the full statement. This supplemental sheet will not be included in the printed record.

The above restrictions and limitations apply only to material being submitted for printing. Statements and exhibits or supplementary material submitted solely for distribution to the Members, the press and the public during the course of a public hearing may be submitted in other forms.

Symbol to Show Committee Seeks to Assist Persons with Disabilities at the Committee's facilities.The Committee seeks to make its facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. If you are in need of special accommodations, please call 202-225-1721 or 202-226-3411 TTD/TTY in advance of the event (four business days notice is requested). Questions with regard to special accommodation needs in general (including availability of Committee materials in alternative formats) may be directed to the Committee as noted above.