ADVISORY
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

Subcommittee on Social Security

Shaw Announces Fourth in a Series of Hearings on
Social Security Disability Programs' Challenges and Opportunities

Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL), Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the implementation of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (P.L. 106-170).  The hearing will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2002, in room B-318 Rayburn House Office Building, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral testimony at this hearing will be from invited witnesses only.  However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Subcommittee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

BACKGROUND:

Over the past year, the Subcommittee has held a series of hearings examining the challenges and opportunities facing Social Security’s disability programs.  The first of these hearings provided an overview of the issues and options to decrease the processing time of disability decisions.  During the second hearing, the Subcommittee examined reasons for delay, complexity, and inconsistency in the disability determination and appeals process, and explored recommendations for change.  The third hearing in the series examined how disability is defined and the degree to which the definition addresses the needs of today’s workers, beneficiaries, and the intent of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, P.L. 106-170, signed into law on December 17, 1999, established the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, expanded the availability of health care coverage, and provided for demonstration projects and studies.  The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program, administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), provides greater opportunities for SSDI and SSI disability recipients to receive assistance that would help them return to work.  As part of the program, individuals receive a “ticket” from the SSA, which they may voluntarily assign to an Employment Network (EN) of their choice.  An EN is a public agency or private organization that provides employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services necessary to achieve a vocational goal.  The ENs are paid by the SSA for results, and choose between two payment systems, one based on the individual no longer receiving cash benefits because of work, the other based on attainment of certain vocational milestones.

“Tickets” to beneficiaries are being issued at the State level in three phases, the first began in February 2002, with 13 States.  Phase two is expected to begin in late 2002 and the third and final stage is expected early in 2003.  Since February, about 2 million tickets have been mailed to beneficiaries, and over 6,400 of these tickets have been assigned to one of the more than 400 ENs that have become part of this program so far.  The SSA has contracted with Maximus, Inc., to act as the Program Manager for the Ticket to Work program.  Maximus, Inc., is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the program, recruiting employment networks, ensuring services are available for beneficiaries, and answering questions about the program.

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel, which was established to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on issues related to work incentive programs, made a number of recommendations in their Second Annual Report.  These recommendations included:  the importance of securing necessary resources to inform the public about the ticket program, expanding the pool of individuals who may be eligible for a ticket, ensuring a sufficient number of SSA specialists in SSDI and SSI work incentives are available to assist ticket holders, and a number of other administrative and reimbursement recommendations.

In announcing the hearing, Mr. Shaw stated:  “Simply put, the Ticket to Work program is about work.  Its aim is to replace barriers with opportunities, so that individuals with disabilities may achieve their goal of working and supporting themselves and their families.  We must ensure implementation of this important program proceeds smoothly and addresses the concerns and needs of individuals with disabilities who want to work and organizations that are serving them.”

FOCUS OF THE HEARING:

This hearing will examine the Ticket to Work program’s implementation progress, identify preliminary results, and hear issues of concern, along with potential remedies.

DETAILS FOR SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS:

Please Note:  Due to the change in House mail policy, any person or organization wishing to submit a written statement for the printed record of the hearing should send it electronically to hearingclerks.waysandmeans@mail.house.gov, along with a fax copy to (202) 225-2610, by the close of business, Thursday, October 10, 2002.  Those filing written statements who wish to have their statements distributed to the press and interested public at the hearing should deliver their 200 copies to the Subcommittee on Social Security in room B-316 Rayburn House Office Building, in an open and searchable package 48 hours before the hearing.  The U.S. Capitol Police will refuse sealed-packaged deliveries to all House Office Buildings.

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. Due to the change in House mail policy, all statements and any accompanying exhibits for printing must be submitted electronically to hearingclerks.waysandmeans@mail.house.gov, along with a fax copy to (202) 225-2610, in Word Perfect or MS Word format and MUST NOT exceed a total of 10 pages including attachments. 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.  Any statements must include a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.  A supplemental sheet must accompany each statement listing the name, company, address, telephone and fax numbers of each witness.

Note: All Committee advisories and news releases are available on the World Wide Web at http://waysandmeans.house.gov.

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.