Federal Register: December 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 249)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-31567
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Treasury Department
CFR Citation: 20 CFR Part 411
RIN ID: RIN 0960-AF11
NOTICE: Part II
DOCUMENT ACTION: Final rules.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program
DATES: These regulations are effective January 28, 2002.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
We are publishing final regulations implementing the Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program (Ticket to Work program) authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The Ticket to Work program provides beneficiaries with disabilities with expanded options for access to employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services. We will pay the providers of those services after the beneficiaries achieve certain levels of work.
SUMMARY:
Social Security Administration,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
The National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of 1998 found that only 29 percent of individuals with disabilities were working full or parttime. From calendar year 1986 to calendar year 1999, the number of individuals receiving disability benefits rose 80 percent, with about half receiving Social Security disability benefits and half Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Among the factors contributing to this increase were outreach efforts of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the aging of the work force. The Federal government spent $51.3 billion on Social Security disability benefits in calendar year 1999, and $22.9 billion on SSI. Many States use State funds to supplement the benefits of SSI beneficiaries.
According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, less than one percent of Social Security disability and SSI beneficiaries leave the Social Security and SSI rolls each year as a result of paid employment. Of those who leave, about onethird return within three years. If just onehalf of one percent of the current Social Security disability and SSI beneficiaries were to cease receiving benefits as a result of engaging in selfsupporting employment, savings in cash benefits would total $3.5 billion over the worklife of those individuals.
These final regulations are intended to expand the options available for Social Security disability beneficiaries and disabled or blind SSI beneficiaries to access vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, employment services, and other support services that are necessary for such beneficiaries to obtain, regain or maintain employment that reduces their dependency on cash benefits. We expect that the expansion of these options and the creation of new work incentives in the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106170) will remove some of the disincentives that many beneficiaries with disabilities face when they attempt to work or, if already working, continue working or increase their work effort. If more beneficiaries with disabilities engage in selfsupporting employment, the net result will be a reduction in the Social Security and SSI disability rolls and savings to the Social Security Trust Fund and general revenues.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999
On December 17, 1999, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106170) became law.
In section 2(b) of Public Law 106170, the Congress states that this legislation has the following four basic purposes:
To provide health care and employment preparation and placement
services to individuals with disabilities that will enable those
individuals to reduce their dependence on cash benefit programs.
To encourage States to adopt the option of allowing individuals with
disabilities to purchase Medicaid coverage that is necessary to enable such individuals to maintain employment.
To provide individuals with disabilities the option of maintaining Medicare coverage while working.
To establish a ``Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program'' that
allows Social Security disability and disabled or blind SSI beneficiaries to seek the employment services, vocational
rehabilitation services, and other support services needed to obtain,
regain, or maintain employment and reduce their dependence on cash benefit programs.
Section 101(a) of Public Law 106170 amended Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (the Act) by adding a new section 1148, The Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program (Ticket to Work program). The purpose of the Ticket to Work program is to expand the universe of service providers available to beneficiaries with disabilities who are seeking employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services to assist them in obtaining, regaining and maintaining selfsupporting employment.
The Social Security Administration is required to develop the regulations necessary to implement section 1148 of the Act, as well as certain other amendments to the Act made by Public Law 106170, and to provide details regarding the Ticket to Work program. Section 101(e) of Public Law 106170 requires the Commissioner of Social Security (the Commissioner) to prescribe such regulations as are necessary to implement the amendments made by section 101. We are prescribing these regulations to address a number of areas where specific policy decisions were left to the discretion of the Commissioner.
Under the Ticket to Work program, the Commissioner may issue tickets to Social Security disability beneficiaries and disabled and blind SSI beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will have the option of using his or her ticket to obtain services from a provider known as an employment network (EN). The beneficiary will choose the EN, and the EN will provide employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services to assist the beneficiary in obtaining, regaining and maintaining selfsupporting employment. ENs will also be able to choose whom they serve. Beneficiaries issued a ticket also will have the option of taking the ticket to their State vocational rehabilitation agency for services.
The Commissioner's intent in publishing these final regulations for
the Ticket to Work program is to allow service providers that have
traditionally provided employment services, vocational rehabilitation
services and other support services, as well as other types of
entities, to qualify as ENs and serve beneficiaries with disabilities
under the program. The expansion of options available to obtain these
services will provide beneficiaries with real choices in getting the services they
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need to obtain, regain, or maintain employment.
Public Education Forums and Conferences
Immediately following passage of Public Law 106170, we began
working with the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services,
Education, and Labor, as well as the Presidential Task Force on the
Employment of Adults with Disabilities, the President's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities, and the National Council on
Disability. These Federal partners joined together to plan and conduct
a series of public education forums. The purpose of the forums was to
increase the awareness of public disability programs and programs
designed to help individuals with disabilities start or return to work among individuals with disabilities, their families and
representatives, service providers, advocates and State agencies. The
forums focused on Federal and State employmentrelated policies and programs for people with disabilities.
Forums were held in eleven major cities across the country. Those cities were Baltimore, Maryland (December 12, 1999); Kansas City, Missouri (February 2, 2000); Durham, North Carolina (March 9, 2000); Phoenix, Arizona (March 30, 2000); New York, New York (April 6, 2000); Austin, Texas (May 17, 2000); Seattle, Washington (June 13, 2000); Worcester, Massachusetts (June 26, 2000); Chicago, Illinois (August 1, 2000); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (August 15, 2000); and Denver, Colorado (September 1314, 2000).
Representatives from many national and communitybased organizations participated in these forums, including the SSI Coalition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the National Brain Injury Association, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Council on Independent Living, Capstone Group, as well as State representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Councils, the State Independent Living Councils, and the Governors' Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities.
The forums provided participants with both information and an opportunity for discussion. Topics included: SSA customer services and work incentives; State health care systems and models; and employment initiatives of the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.
The forums were also used as an opportunity to share information about Public Law 106170 and conduct exploratory discussions about policy issues relating to the implementation of the provisions in the legislation that were left to the Commissioner to interpret. New models where State and local systems are working together to serve their common customers with disabilities were highlighted.
SSA representatives were also involved in meetings and conferences
on the national, regional, State, and local levels. These included SSA
sponsored forums in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Denver, and
Philadelphia conducted in January and February 2000, which focused on
the Ticket to Work program. At these meetings and conferences, SSA
representatives made presentations on Public Law 106170, facilitating
discussion and obtaining recommendations that were considered in
developing the provisions of the Ticket to Work program that were addressed in our proposed rules.
SSA's Programs for Rehabilitation Services Prior to Implementation of the Ticket to Work Program
In titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, Congress provided
that we promptly refer individuals applying for or determined eligible
for Social Security disability benefits or SSI benefits based on
disability or blindness to State vocational rehabilitation (VR)
agencies for necessary rehabilitation services. Under the statute and
by regulations, if a State VR agency does not serve a beneficiary whom we referred, we may use other public or private agencies,
organizations, institutions or individuals to provide services. Under
our regulations, these other providers of services are known as
alternate participants. We are authorized under the Act to pay State VR
agencies and alternate participants for the reasonable and necessary
costs of services provided to Social Security disability beneficiaries
and disabled and blind SSI beneficiaries under specific circumstances.
The most frequent circumstance permitting payment under the Act is when
the services provided result in the beneficiary performing substantial
gainful activity (SGA) for a period of at least nine continuous months.
These programs for referral and reimbursement for VR services are
provided for in sections 222(a) and (d) and sections 1615(a), (d), and (e) of the Act.
Section 101(b) of Public Law 106170 makes a number of conforming amendments to the Act, which require amendments to existing regulations that implement these statutory provisions. As we gradually implement the Ticket to Work program in States selected by the Commissioner, the provisions of the Act for referring beneficiaries to State VR agencies will cease to be in effect in those States as provided in sections 101(b), (c) and (d) of Public Law 106170. Additionally, the use of alternate participants under the title II and title XVI vocational rehabilitation reimbursement programs will be phased out in the States as the Ticket to Work program is implemented, as authorized under section 101(d)(5) of Public Law 106170.
Section 101(b) of Public Law 106170 also repealed sections 222(b) and 1615(c) of the Act, under which the Commissioner was authorized to impose sanctions (i.e. make deductions from Social Security disability benefits or suspend SSI benefits) with respect to any beneficiary who refused, without good cause, to accept rehabilitation services made available by a State VR agency or an alternate participant.
The proposed rules to implement these statutory changes will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Section 101(b) of Public Law 106170 also amends sections 225(b) and 1631(a)(6) of the Act under which SSA is authorized to continue disability or blindness benefit payments to individuals who recover medically while participating in a program of vocational rehabilitation services approved by the Commissioner if the Commissioner determines that continuation in or completion of the program will increase the likelihood that the individual will be permanently removed from the disability or blindness benefit rolls. Section 101(b) of Public Law 106170 amends these sections of the Act by striking ``a program of vocational rehabilitation services'' and inserting ``a program consisting of the Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program under section 1148 or another program of vocational rehabilitation services, employment services, or other support services''. The proposed rules to implement this expanded definition will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
We will also publish at a later date in the Federal Register the rules for implementing section 112 of Public Law 106170, Expedited Reinstatement of Disability Benefits.
General Goals of the Ticket to Work Program
The Ticket to Work program will enhance the range of choices available
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to Social Security disability and disabled and blind SSI beneficiaries
when they are seeking employment services, VR services and other
support services to obtain, regain or maintain selfsupporting
employment. The coordinated and interrelated public policy embodied in
various provisions of Public Law 106170 will remove several
disincentives to employment faced by beneficiaries with disabilities.
The Ticket to Work program will increase beneficiaries' access to
public and private providers to obtain employment services, VR
services, and other support services. As a result, the Ticket to Work
program, together with other provisions of Public Law 106170, should
increase the number of beneficiaries who increase their work effort and
leave the Social Security or SSI disability rolls due to income from employment.
In addition to providing the increased opportunity for these beneficiaries to obtain services when they seek employment, Public Law 106170 may result in substantial savings for the Federal government and State governments. Not only should there be an increase in the number of beneficiaries leaving the Social Security and SSI disability rolls due to work or earnings, some individuals will secure work with employers who offer group health coverage, thereby reducing Medicaid and Medicare expenses. Earned income should also yield tax receipts while reducing expenses in Social Security disability and disabled and blind SSI benefits, food stamps, HUD housing rent subsidies, and certain veterans benefits. Improved employment rates of individuals with disabilities should increase the independence of such individuals and strengthen our communities and workforce.
Ticket to Work Program
Section 1148 of the Act, which was added by section 101(a) of Public Law 106170, directs the Commissioner of Social Security to establish a Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program. Section 1148(b) of the Act authorizes the Commissioner to issue a ticket to disabled beneficiaries. Beneficiaries may choose among public or private service providers that have been approved by SSA to function as ENs under the program to obtain employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services to assist them in obtaining, regaining or maintaining employment that will reduce their dependence on cash benefits. Beneficiaries will also have the option of choosing to obtain services from their State VR agency. The overall purpose of the Ticket to Work program is to expand the universe of options available to beneficiaries with disabilities for obtaining such services.
Section 101(d) of Public Law 106170 requires the Commissioner to implement the Ticket to Work program in graduated phases at phasein sites selected by the Commissioner. This is to permit a thorough evaluation of the program and ensure that the most effective methods are in place for full implementation of the program. This section also provides that the Ticket to Work program should be available in every State not later than 2004.
SSA has decided that the Ticket to Work program will be implemented in the following manner:
During Phase I of the Ticket to Work program, we will distribute tickets to eligible beneficiaries in the following States: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin. We intend to implement this phase upon the effective date of these regulations.
During Phase II of the Ticket to Work program, we will distribute tickets to eligible beneficiaries in the following States: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and in the District of Columbia. We intend to implement this phase in calendar year 2002.
During Phase III of the Ticket to Work program, we will distribute tickets to eligible beneficiaries in the following States: Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, as well as in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We intend to implement this phase in calendar year 2003.
Section 1148(d)(1) of the Act authorizes the Commissioner to conduct a competitive bidding process and enter into an agreement with one or more organizations to serve as a Program Manager (PM) to assist SSA in administering the Ticket to Work program.
The PM will recruit and recommend for selection by the Commissioner ENs for service under the program; monitor all ENs serving in the geographic areas covered under the PM's agreement to ensure that adequate choices of services are made available to beneficiaries; assure that payment by the Commissioner to ENs is warranted; facilitate access by beneficiaries to ENs; ensure the availability of adequate services; and ensure that sufficient ENs are available and that each beneficiary under the program has reasonable access to employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services.
Section 1148(d)(4) of the Act directs the Commissioner to select and enter into agreements with service providers that are willing to function as ENs and assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services to beneficiaries with disabilities under the Ticket to Work program. A beneficiary with a ticket may assign his or her ticket to any provider that is serving as an EN under the Ticket to Work program and is willing to accept the assignment. Beneficiaries who are issued a ticket also will have the option of taking the ticket to their State VR agency for services.
Section 101(e) of Public Law 106170 requires the Commissioner to prescribe such regulations as are necessary to implement the amendments made by section 101 of this legislation. These final regulations address those areas which must be regulated in order to implement the Ticket to Work program. Additional regulations necessary for the ongoing implementation of the program will be published as proposed rules in the Federal Register at a later date. For example, proposed performance measures to be used in conducting periodic reviews as necessary to provide for effective quality assurance in the provision of services by ENs will need to be developed and published in the Federal Register for comment.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
We published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on December 28, 2000 (65 FR 82844) proposing rules to implement the Ticket to Work program. We provided the public 60 days to submit comments. The comment period closed February 26, 2001. We received comments from over 400 commenters. We discuss the comments we received on the NPRM and provide our responses to the comments later in this preamble under ``Public Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.'' A summary of the public comments is available on the Internet at the SSA Office of Employment Support Programs' Work Site at http://www.ssa.gov/work. [[Page 67373]]
As we explain below, in these final regulations, we are making a number of changes from the proposed rules in response to public comments. As suggested in a number of these comments, we are also making other changes in the interest of improved clarity, consistency, and improved organization.
Final Regulations
We are adding a new part 411 to chapter III of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations to provide the regulations for the Ticket to Work program. The new part 411 is divided into the following subparts. Subpart AIntroduction
Subpart A of these regulations provides an introduction to the regulations in the new part 411. Section 411.100 provides an overview of the regulations in part 411. Section 411.105 describes the purpose of the Ticket to Work program. Section 411.110 explains that the Ticket to Work program will be implemented in graduated phases in sites around the country as required by section 101(d) of Public Law 106170. Section 411.115 provides definitions of terms used in part 411. In the final rules, we have reorganized the definitions of terms in Sec. 411.115 to place the terms in alphabetical order. In final Sec. 411.115(m) (proposed Sec. 411.115(i)), we have clarified the definition of State vocational rehabilitation agency to indicate that in those States that have one agency that provides VR services to non blind individuals and another agency that provides services to blind individuals, the term ``state vocational rehabilitation agency'' or ``state VR agency'' refers to either State agency. In addition, we have expanded Sec. 411.115 in the final rules to provide definitions of the terms ``employment network'' or ``EN,'' ``individual work plan'' or ``IWP,'' ``individualized plan for employment'' or ``IPE,'' ``program manager'' or ``PM,'' and ``ticket.''
Subpart BTickets Under the Ticket to Work Program
Subpart B of these regulations describes what a ticket is and explains who is eligible to receive a ticket.
Section 411.120 explains that a ticket is a document that provides evidence of the Commissioner's agreement to pay an EN or State VR agency to which a beneficiary's ticket is assigned for providing services to the beneficiary under the Ticket to Work program if certain conditions are met. As required by section 101(e)(2)(B) of Public Law No. 106170, we have added a complete description of the format and the wording of the ticket to this section.
Section 411.125 states the following requirements, among others, for eligibility to receive a ticket: a title II beneficiary must be age 18 to 64, and a title XVI beneficiary must be age 18 to 64 and be eligible for disability payments under the disability standard for adults; a beneficiary must be in current pay status for monthly cash benefits based on disability under title II of the Act or monthly Federal cash benefits based on disability or blindness under title XVI of the Act; and a beneficiary's case must either (1) have a permanent impairment or a nonpermanent impairment (i.e. an impairment for which medical improvement is possible but cannot be predicted), or (2) have an impairment that is expected to improve and have undergone at least one continuing disability review (CDR).
In developing requirements for ticket eligibility under these regulations, we considered, but decided not to extend eligibility for a ticket to three additional groups of individuals.
The first group consists of beneficiaries who have impairments that are expected to improve and for whom we have not yet conducted at least one continuing disability review. Because these beneficiaries have conditions that are expected to medically improve in a relatively short period of time, they could be expected to return to work without the need for services under the Ticket to Work program. Continuing disability reviews for this category of beneficiaries are scheduled for 618 months after the initial disability determination. Under these rules, if we determine in the first continuing disability review that the beneficiary remains disabled, we would then issue a ticket, provided that the beneficiary met the other ticket eligibility criteria. This approach would ensure that beneficiaries whose conditions do not improve as anticipated have the opportunity to benefit from services under the Ticket to Work program within a relatively short period of time after the initial determination.
The second group consists of individuals who have not attained age 18. Beneficiaries in this group generally are in school, still pursuing completion of their formal elementary and secondary education. For this group, participation in an employment plan under the Ticket to Work program could interfere with their pursuit of an education, completion of which many believe should be the primary focus and goal for school age youth.
The third group consists of those who received title XVI payments prior to attaining age 18 (i.e. under the disability standard for children) and have since attained age 18, but for whom we have not yet conducted a redetermination of their eligibility under the disability standard for adults. Because ongoing eligibility has not yet been determined for these beneficiaries, we believe that it is premature to issue a ticket to them immediately. Under the final rules, if we establish in the redetermination that a beneficiary in this group is eligible for disability payments under the disability standard for adults, we would then issue a ticket, provided that the beneficiary met the other ticket eligibility criteria.
We plan to review periodically our policy regarding ticket eligibility, including whether it would be prudent to extend eligibility to the groups discussed above. In addition, we are interested in exploring various approaches to assist youth under age 18 to transition to independence, further education, and careers in the workforce. Therefore, we are publishing a Notice elsewhere in today's Federal Register in which we are seeking suggestions from the public to assist us in designing for beneficiaries in the second and third groups an approach that could complement the Ticket to Work program.
In response to public comments, in these final rules we have added Sec. 411.125(c) to explicitly state that individuals whose entitlement to title II benefits based on disability is reinstated under section 223(i) of the Act, or whose eligibility for title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness is reinstated under section 1631(p) of the Act, will be eligible to receive another ticket in the first month he or she is entitled to reinstated benefits, as long as the beneficiary meets certain other requirements for eligibility for a ticket. Sections 223(i) and 1631(p) of the Act were added by section 112 of Public Law 106170.
Section 411.130 explains that SSA will distribute tickets in graduated phases.
Section 411.135 explains that participation in the Ticket to Work program is voluntary. This section explains that if beneficiaries want to participate in the program, they may take their tickets to any entity serving under the program.
Section 411.140 explains that a beneficiary may assign his or her
ticket to any EN or State VR agency that is willing to provide services, and that the
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beneficiary may discuss his or her rehabilitation and employment plans
with as many entities as he or she wishes. This section explains that
the beneficiary can obtain a list of the approved ENs in his or her
area. This section also explains certain requirements that must be met
in order for a beneficiary to assign a ticket. Section 411.140 provides
that an individual will be eligible to assign a ticket to an EN or
State VR agency only during a month in which the individual meets the
requirements of Sec. 411.125(a)(1) and (a)(2). In general, this means
the individual must be age 1864 and must be either a title II
disability beneficiary in current pay status who is not receiving
benefit payments under 20 CFR 404.316(c), 404.337(c), 404.352(d) or
404.1597a, or a title XVI disability beneficiary whose Federal SSI cash
benefits are not suspended and who is not receiving disability or
blindness benefit payments under 20 CFR 416.996 or 416.1338.
Section 411.140 also provides that beneficiaries and ENs must agree to and sign an individual work plan (IWP) (or, in the case of a State VR agency, an individualized plan for employment (IPE)) before a ticket can be assigned. In response to public comments, in these final rules we are revising Sec. 411.140(a) to indicate that individuals may assign their ticket to a State VR agency if they are eligible to receive VR services according to 34 CFR 361.42. We are making a similar change to Sec. 411.150 regarding reassignment of a ticket to a State VR agency. Also in response to comments, we are revising Secs. 411.140 and 411.150 to indicate that a representative of the State VR agency must agree to and sign the IPE. We also have modified Secs. 411.140 and 411.150 of the final rules to provide that in order for a ticket to be assigned or reassigned to a State VR agency, the beneficiary and a representative of the State VR agency must agree to and sign both an IPE and a form that provides the information described in Sec. 411.385(a)(1), (2) and (3) of these final regulations.
We are also making changes to Sec. 411.140(d) and (e) and Sec. 411.150(b) and (c) in these final rules to clarify that a copy of the signed IWP developed by the beneficiary and the EN, or the completed and signed form required for assignment or reassignment of a ticket to a State VR agency under Sec. 411.385(a) and (b), must be submitted to and received by the PM in order for a ticket to be assigned or reassigned to the EN or State VR agency. If the IWP or required form has been submitted to and received by the PM, and if the other requirements for assignment or reassignment of a ticket are met, we will consider the ticket assigned or reassigned to the EN or State VR agency, effective as of the first day on which such other requirements are satisfied.
Section 411.145 describes the conditions under which a beneficiary may take a ticket back after it has been assigned to an EN or State VR agency. It also describes other conditions under which a ticket that is assigned can be taken out of assignment. In response to public comments, we are revising Sec. 411.145(b) to state that a State VR agency may ask the PM to take a ticket out of assignment if the State VR agency stops providing services because the individual has been determined to be ineligible for VR services under 34 CFR 361.42, and to provide a crossreference to the reassignment rules in Sec. 411.150.
Section 411.150 explains the beneficiary's right to reassign a
ticket, if the beneficiary chooses. In response to public comments, we
have revised Sec. 411.150(b) to state that the beneficiary and a
representative of the State VR agency must agree to and sign an
Individualized Plan for Employment if the beneficiary wishes to
reassign his or her ticket to a State VR agency. Also, as discussed
above, we have modified this provision in the final rules to provide
that in order for a ticket to be reassigned to a State VR agency, the
beneficiary and a representative of the State VR agency must agree to
and sign both an IPE and a form that provides the information described in Sec. 411.385(a)(1), (2) and (3). We also are modifying
Sec. 411.150(b) to clarify that one of the conditions for reassigning a
ticket is that the ticket must be unassigned. We explain that if the
ticket currently is assigned to an EN or State VR agency, the
beneficiary must first tell the PM in writing that he or she wants to
take the ticket out of assignment as provided under Sec. 411.145. In
addition, as written, proposed Sec. 411.150(b)(2) potentially could
have prevented certain individuals who were working with ENs or State
VR agencies from reassigning their ticket, thus unnecessarily limiting
their ability to take full advantage of the provisions of the Ticket to Work program.
Accordingly, we have modified the requirements in Sec. 411.150(b) to provide exceptions to the general rule that in order to reassign a ticket, an individual must be age 1864 and either a title II disability beneficiary in current pay status or a title XVI disability beneficiary whose Federal SSI cash benefits are not suspended. Final Sec. 411.150(b)(3) provides that an individual does not have to satisfy these requirements if the individual and a representative of the new EN sign an IWP, or if the individual and a representative of the State VR agency sign both an IPE and the required form, within certain time periods. The time periods begin from the effective date on which the ticket was no longer assigned to the previous EN or State VR agency. The applicable time period depends on whether the individual's ticket is or is not in use under the rules in Sec. 411.170 et seq. For an individual whose ticket is not in use, the specified time period is 30 days from the effective date the ticket no longer was assigned to the previous EN or State VR agency. For an individual whose ticket is in use, the specified time period is the threemonth period that begins with the first month the ticket no longer was assigned to the previous EN or State VR agency. This threemonth period is the extension period described in Sec. 411.220.
The requirements that an individual be age 1864 and be either a
title II disability beneficiary in current pay status or a title XVI
disability beneficiary whose Federal SSI cash benefits are not suspended are two of the basic requirements specified in
Sec. 411.125(a)(1) and (2) which an individual must meet in order to be
eligible to receive a ticket under that section. In these final rules,
an individual must meet these same requirements in order to be eligible
to reassign a ticket under Sec. 411.150, unless one of the conditions specified in Sec. 411.150(b)(3) is met.
In addition, final Sec. 411.150(a) provides that an individual will not be eligible to reassign a ticket if he or she is receiving title II disability benefits under 20 CFR 404.316(c), 404.337(c), 404.352(d) or 404.1597a, or is receiving title XVI disability or blindness benefit payments under 20 CFR 416.996 or 416.1338. This rule was reflected in proposed Sec. 411.150(b)(2). We are retaining this rule in final Sec. 411.150(a). This rule applies regardless of whether one of the conditions specified in Sec. 411.150(b)(3) is met.
Other changes which we are making in final Sec. 411.150(b) and (c) are explained above in our discussion of the revisions to Sec. 411.140. Because of these changes, proposed Sec. 411.150(d) is deleted in these final rules.
Section 411.155 explains when a beneficiary's ticket terminates and
eligibility for participation in the Ticket to Work program ends. Once
a ticket terminates, a beneficiary may not assign or reassign it to an
EN or State VR agency. Under these regulations, a ticket will terminate
when: (1) entitlement to Social Security disability benefits ends for reasons other than the individual's
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work activity or earnings, or when eligibility for SSI benefits based
on disability or blindness terminates for reasons other than the
individual's work activity or earnings, whichever is later; (2) a
Social Security disabled widow(er) beneficiary attains age 65; or (3) a
disabled or blind SSI beneficiary reaches age 65 and may qualify for SSI benefits based on age.
In order to provide clarity regarding all of the circumstances under which a ticket will terminate and an individual's eligibility for participation in the Ticket to Work program ends, we also are expanding Sec. 411.155 to add a description of the events that terminate the ticket after the beneficiary's entitlement to title II benefits based on disability or eligibility for title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness terminated because of work or earnings. After such termination of entitlement or eligibility (and, in the case of a concurrent title II/title XVI disability beneficiary, the termination of entitlement/eligibility under the other program), a ticket will terminate in any of the following months: (1) the month we make a final determination or decision that an individual is not entitled to have title II benefits based on disability reinstated under section 223(i) of the Act or not eligible to have title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness reinstated under section 1631(p) of the Act; (2) the month in which we make a final determination or decision that an individual is not entitled to title II benefits based on disability or eligible for title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness based on the filing of an application for benefits; (3) the month in which a beneficiary reaches retirement age (as defined in section 216(l) of the Act); (4) the month in which the beneficiary dies; (5) the month in which a beneficiary becomes entitled to a title II benefit that is not based on disability or eligible for a title XVI benefit that is not based on disability or blindness; and (6) the month in which the beneficiary again becomes entitled to title II benefits based on disability, or eligible for title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness, based on filing a new application.
In addition, consistent with the modification to Sec. 411.125, we are modifying Sec. 411.155 to indicate that when a beneficiary is eligible to receive another ticket as a result of benefit reinstatement under section 223(i) or 1631(p) of the Act, the ticket that the beneficiary received in connection with the previous period of entitlement or eligibility will terminate in the month the beneficiary is eligible for the new ticket.
We have deleted reference to payment of 60 outcome payments to an
EN that was described in proposed Sec. 411.155(d), since this event
properly refers to the period of using a ticket (see Sec. 411.171(d) and (e)).
Subpart CSuspension of Continuing Disability Reviews for
Beneficiaries Who Are Using a Ticket
Under section 221(i) of the Act and under the authority granted by
sections 1631 and 1633 of the Act, we conduct periodic reviews to
ensure that beneficiaries continue to meet the definition of disability
under sections 223(d) and 1614(a) of the Act. These reviews are called
continuing disability reviews (CDRs). Public Law 106170 amends the Act
to add section 1148(i), which states that SSA may not initiate a CDR
during any period in which a beneficiary is using a ticket. The statute states:
``During any period for which an individual is using, as defined by
the Commissioner, a ticket to work and selfsufficiency issued under
this section, the Commissioner (and any applicable State agency) may
not initiate a continuing disability review or other review under
section 221 of whether the individual is or is not under a disability
or a review under title XVI similar to any such review under section 221.''
The definition of using a ticket is to be determined by the Commissioner of Social Security. Subpart C outlines our definition of using a ticket.
In developing our definition of using a ticket, we considered two key factors. First, the intent of the Ticket to Work program is to allow beneficiaries with disabilities to seek the services they need to work and to reduce or eliminate dependence on Social Security disability and SSI benefits. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that some beneficiaries are afraid that working, or even receiving vocational rehabilitation services, may increase the likelihood that their benefits will be terminated by a CDR. Therefore, using a ticket should be defined in a way that minimizes this employment disincentive for beneficiaries participating in the Ticket to Work program. In order to maintain the integrity of the disability programs, it is also important that beneficiaries who have medically improved and who no longer meet the definition of disability under sections 223(d) and 1614(a)(3) of the Act do not continue to receive disability benefits for an undue length of time.
Our definition seeks to balance these concerns by ensuring that CDRs are suspended only during the period in which beneficiaries are making timely progress toward reducing or eliminating dependence on Social Security disability or SSI benefits, while at the same time recognizing that progress toward that goal may not always be rapid or continuous.
Under our definition of using a ticket, a beneficiary will be considered to be using a ticket during the period in which he or she was making progress toward the goal of reducing or eliminating dependence on disability benefits within reasonable time frames. Under this approach, beneficiaries will be allowed a limited period to prepare for work. At the end of this period, they will need to show that they were progressing toward selfsufficiency by demonstrating increasing levels of employment.
An important advantage of this definition of using a ticket is that it increases employment incentives by ``rewarding'' beneficiaries who work and progress toward selfsufficiency with continued suspension of CDRs. However, requiring beneficiaries to demonstrate increasing levels of employment within a defined time frame results in a fairly complex regulation. The complexity arises from our attempt to balance the concerns discussed above and, to the extent possible, to accommodate the diverse employment needs of a wide range of beneficiaries. While some level of complexity is unavoidable, we have attempted wherever possible to simplify the regulation and to make it straightforward to implement.
Based on the comments that we received regarding the complexity and difficulty of this subpart, we are revising and reorganizing the content to increase clarity wherever possible.
Sections 411.160 and 411.165 introduce this subpart. In response to a comment on proposed Sec. 411.160 noting a confusion in the use of the term ``continuing disability review'' for both medical and work reviews, we are clarifying the language in paragraph (b) to reference our rules on when we may conduct a CDR to determine whether an individual remains eligible for disabilitybased benefits. In response to recommendations that we clarify proposed Sec. 411.165 to explain when the period of using a ticket begins and ends, we are expanding Sec. 411.165 to include crossreferences to Secs. 411.170 and 411.171.
We are adding Sec. 411.166 in response to comments on our proposed rules regarding the use of new terms. This
[[Page 67376]]
section provides a glossary of the following terms: ``active
participation in your employment plan,'' ``extension period,''
``inactive status,'' ``initial 24month period,'' ``progress review,''
``timely progress guidelines,'' ``12month progress review period,'' and ``using a ticket.''
In our proposed rules, we used the terms ``work review'' or ``work review period'' when referring to the requirements for making timely progress toward selfsupporting employment. In response to comments that these terms caused confusion with existing terms used to describe ``work CDR,'' we are now referring to ``progress review'' or ``progress review period,'' which are included in the glossary of terms in Sec. 411.166.
Sections 411.170 and 411.171 describe when the period of using a ticket begins and ends. The period of using a ticket begins when the ticket is first assigned to an EN or State VR agency. The primary purpose of the suspension of CDRs is to ensure that Ticket to Work program participants are not inhibited in their attempts to work or pursue an employment plan by the fear that such activities will increase the likelihood that their benefits will be terminated in a medical review. Prior to the assignment of the ticket, a beneficiary is not participating in these activities under the Ticket to Work program.
We are revising Sec. 411.171 to clarify that the period of using a ticket ends with the earliest of the following (1) the occurrence of one of the events listed in Sec. 411.155, which describes the events that will result in termination of the ticket; (2) when the beneficiary is determined to be no longer making timely progress toward self supporting employment according to our guidelines (see Secs. 411.180 through 411.200); (3) when the extension period expires if the beneficiary has not reassigned the ticket within the period; or (4) when we have made 60 outcome payments to an EN, including a State VR agency functioning as an EN, under subpart H. In instances where the beneficiary assigned a ticket to a State VR agency which selected the cost reimbursement payment system, the period of using a ticket also will end with the 60th month for which an outcome payment would have been made had the State VR agency chosen to function as an EN with respect to the beneficiary.
Section 411.175 describes our rules when a beneficiary assigns a ticket after a CDR has begun. A beneficiary may assign the ticket and receive services under the Ticket to Work program. We will, however, complete the CDR.
Sections 411.180, 411.185, 411.190 and 411.191 describe our guidelines for timely progress toward selfsupporting employment.
After assigning a ticket, beneficiaries will be allowed up to two years to prepare for employment. This twoyear period is referred to in the final rules as the initial 24month period. After two years, we will consider that beneficiaries are continuing to use a ticket, and are therefore eligible to receive the protection in Section 1148(i) of the Act regarding noninitiation of CDRs, if they work at progressively higher levels of employment. Such a progression would allow beneficiaries time to improve their employment capacities.
We are reordering certain paragraphs in Sec. 411.180 to provide a more appropriate placement for the definitions of terms we use to describe the guidelines we use to determine if an individual is making timely progress toward selfsupporting employment. We are also clarifying that, for purposes of counting the 24 months comprising the initial 24month period, we will not count any month in which the ticket is not assigned or not in use.
Under our timely progress guidelines, in the 24month progress review conducted by the PM, beneficiaries must demonstrate that their employment plan has a goal of at least three months of work, as defined in Sec. 411.185, by the time of the first 12month progress review. The PM also must find that beneficiaries can reasonably be expected to reach this goal. In response to public comments, we are revising Sec. 411.180(c)(1) to allow beneficiaries to use months worked during the initial 24month period to meet these requirements of the 24month progress review, as long as the work was at the level applicable to the work requirements for the first 12month progress review period under Sec. 411.185. In the third year of participation in the Ticket to Work program (referred to in the final rules as the first 12month progress review period), beneficiaries would be required to work at least three months at a specified level. In response to public comment, we are revising Sec. 411.180(c)(2) to allow beneficiaries to use months worked during the initial 24month period to meet this requirement as well, as long as the work was at the required level as described in Sec. 411.185. We are revising Sec. 411.185(a)(1), (b)(1) and (c)(1) to reference the rules in Sec. 411.180(c)(1) and (c)(2) on when months of work performed during the initial 24month period may be used to meet certain requirements of the 24month progress review and the work requirements of the first 12month progress review period.
In the fourth year of participation in the program, beneficiaries will be required to work at least six months at the SGA level. In the fifth and succeeding years, in order to be considered to be using a ticket, they will be required to work at least six months in each year and have earnings in each such month that are sufficient to eliminate the payment of Social Security disability benefits and Federal SSI benefits.
In developing these guidelines, we recognized that progress toward selfsufficiency is not always continuous, and some beneficiaries may not attain full selfsufficiency. Many beneficiaries have disabilities with cycles of relapse and remission. In addition, some beneficiaries may need to try more than one job before finding a situation that suits their abilities and needs. The requirement that beneficiaries need only work three months out of 12 in the third year and six months out of 12 in succeeding years recognizes that some beneficiaries may not be able to work on a continuous basis.
Section 411.185 provides levels of earnings that an individual must have in order to be considered to be using a ticket. It defines when an individual will be considered to be working for purposes of meeting the timely progress guidelines. Under this definition, the required earnings level will increase over time. In the third and fourth years of participation in the Ticket to Work program (i.e. the first and second 12month progress review periods), both Social Security disability beneficiaries and concurrent Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will be required to work at the SGA level applicable to nonblind beneficiaries for the specified number of months. This means that the beneficiary must have monthly earnings from employment or selfemployment, after any applicable deductions under 20 CFR 404.1572 through 404.1576, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non blind beneficiaries.
The SGA threshold amount is set by regulation under 20 CFR
404.1574(b)(2), and is currently $740 a month for nonblind
beneficiaries. Social Security disability beneficiaries, including
concurrent Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, who are in a trial
work period or who are statutorily blind will be deemed to have met the
requirement to work at the SGA level applicable to nonblind
beneficiaries if their gross earnings from employment, before any
exclusions, are more than the SGA threshold amount for nonblind [[Page 67377]]
beneficiaries, or if their net earnings from selfemployment, before
any exclusions, are more than the SGA threshold amount for nonblind beneficiaries.
Under the definition of work for purposes of the first and second
12month progress review periods, SSI disability and blindness
beneficiaries will be considered to be working in a month in which the
beneficiary has gross earnings from employment, before any exclusions, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for nonblind
beneficiaries, or has net earnings from selfemployment, before any
exclusions, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for nonblind beneficiaries.
Earnings at the levels established in Sec. 411.185 for the third and fourth years of participation in the program may not be sufficient to eliminate the payment of all disability benefits. The amount of earnings needed to eliminate the payment of disability benefits depends on a variety of factors, including whether the beneficiary receives Social Security or SSI benefits, or both, whether the beneficiary is blind, and whether the beneficiary has impairmentrelated work expenses or is eligible for other income exclusions. The earnings requirement for the third and fourth years are set at levels that allow beneficiaries time to work toward the higher levels of earnings that may be required to eliminate the payment of disability benefits for the required months in subsequent years of program participation.
In the fifth and subsequent years of participation in the program, both Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will be required to work for at least six months with earnings in each such month that are sufficient to eliminate payment of Social Security disability and Federal SSI cash benefits in a month. The requirement that individuals using a ticket eventually attain this level of earnings is consistent with the payment structure of the Ticket to Work program, in which ENs receive outcome payments only when Federal disability benefit payments are eliminated. It also reflects that one of the purposes of the Ticket to Work program is to produce savings in benefit payments. Since the suspension of CDRs for individuals using a ticket means that it is possible that some beneficiaries who no longer meet the definition of disability will continue to be eligible for benefits, it is important that the suspension of CDRs not continue for an undue length of time without a significant reduction in benefit payments due to earnings.
In Sec. 411.190, we discuss how it will be determined if a beneficiary is meeting the timely progress guidelines. To place the rules in a more logical order according to the sequence of events and actions they discuss, we are expanding Sec. 411.190 to incorporate the rules for placing a ticket in inactive status, as well as other rules relating to the initial 24month period, that were previously set out in proposed Secs. 411.192 and 411.220. (In the final rules, Sec. 411.192 has been deleted, and proposed Sec. 411.225 has been redesignated Sec. 411.220.) During the initial 24month period following assignment of a ticket, the PM will give beneficiaries the option of placing the ticket in inactive status if they are unable to participate in their employment plan for a significant period of time for any reason. Beneficiaries may decide to exercise this option because any months during which the ticket is in inactive status will not count toward the time limitations (i.e. the initial 24month period) under the timely progress guidelines. The PM will explain, however, that since the ticket will not be in use during the period in which it is in inactive status, the beneficiary will be subject to a CDR, should one become due.
A beneficiary will be subject to initiation of a CDR during any period for which the beneficiary's ticket is considered to be not in use. A ticket is considered to be not in use during any month during which the ticket is in inactive status as described in Sec. 411.190 or during which the ticket is unassigned following the close of the three month extension period described in Sec. 411.220. A ticket also is considered to be not in use after the period of using a ticket ends as described in Sec. 411.171.
We are modifying the summary table in Sec. 411.191 to reflect the rule we are adding to Sec. 411.180(c)(2) which will allow beneficiaries to use months worked during the initial 24month period to meet the work requirements of the first 12month progress review if the work was at the requisite level. We also are making changes to the table in these final rules to clarify certain entries in the table, to reflect changes we are making to other sections of the final rules in subpart C, and to provide a more accurate description of the level of earnings required for SSIonly beneficiaries during the first and second 12 month progress review periods.
In Secs. 411.195, 411.200 and 411.205, we discuss how the PM will conduct periodic progress reviews to ensure that beneficiaries are meeting the timely progress guidelines. The first review will be a 24 month progress review occurring at the end of the initial 24month period. This will be followed by 12month progress reviews. After successfully completing a progress review, the beneficiary will be considered to be meeting the timely progress guidelines until the next review is completed. If a beneficiary disagrees with the PM's decision in any review, the beneficiary will have the right to ask SSA to review the PM's decision. The Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee will review the decision. The criteria for the 24month progress review and the 12month progress reviews are designed to be as clearcut as possible. This feature, combined with the PM's responsibility for conducting the reviews should allow for rapid processing of reviews and decrease the administrative burden on both the beneficiary and SSA.
In response to public comments, we are adding a sentence to Sec. 411.195(a)(1) to indicate that the activities outlined in the employment plan during the initial 24month period may include employment.
In Sec. 411.210, we explain that a determination that a beneficiary is not making timely progress toward selfsupporting employment will result in our finding that the beneficiary no longer is using a ticket. The beneficiary would be allowed to continue in the Ticket to Work program, and the beneficiary's EN or State VR agency would be eligible for any payments that became due. In response to public comments, we are modifying Sec. 411.210(a) to indicate that these payments would include not just outcome payments, but also milestone payments (or, for a State VR agency electing payment under the cost reimbursement payment system, payments under the cost reimbursement payment system) for which the ENs or State VR agencies are eligible. These beneficiaries, however, would once again be subject to CDRs.
This section also provides that a beneficiary who fails to meet the timely progress guidelines will have the opportunity to be considered to be using a ticket later if the beneficiary actively participates in the employment plan or works for a specified number of months. The requirements which a beneficiary must meet in order to reenter inuse status (including the number of months, type of participation, and earnings level required) vary depending on how far the beneficiary had progressed when he or she failed to meet the timely progress guidelines.
We are providing this method of allowing a beneficiary to be considered
[[Page 67378]]
again to be using a ticket because, as previously stated, we recognize
that due to the nature of disability, progress toward increased self
sufficiency is not always direct. Beneficiaries may make unsuccessful
attempts before reaching their employment goals, and these unsuccessful
attempts should not deprive them of the supports that they need to make renewed efforts.
In response to a public comment, we are adding a new
Sec. 411.210(b)(1) to provide that a beneficiary who fails to meet the
timely progress guidelines during the initial 24month period may re
enter inuse status by demonstrating three consecutive months of active
participation in the employment plan. This new provision is more
consistent with the requirements of active participation during this
period under the timely progress guidelines under Sec. 411.190(a). In
new Sec. 411.210(b)(1)(iii) we explain that for a beneficiary who is
reinstated to inuse status after having failed to meet the timely
progress guidelines during the initial 24month period, the next review
will be the 24month progress review. We also have added a new
Sec. 411.210(b)(2) to provide a separate provision on reentering in
use status for a beneficiary who failed to meet the timely progress guidelines in the 24month progress review. In new
Sec. 411.210(b)(2)(i), we explain that, consistent with the proposed
rules, a beneficiary who fails to meet the timely progress guidelines
in the 24month progress review may reenter inuse status by
completing three months of work (as defined in Sec. 411.185(a)(1),
(b)(1) or (c)(1)) within a rolling 12month period. We have modified this provision (which was formerly a part of proposed
Sec. 411.210(b)(1)) to provide that the beneficiary also must satisfy
the test of Sec. 411.200(a)(2) regarding the anticipated level of the
beneficiary's work during the ensuing 12month progress review period
that would begin if the beneficiary were reinstated to inuse status.
We also clarify in new Sec. 411.210(b)(2)(i) and (iii) that the work
requirements for this 12month progress review period will be the work
requirements that are applicable during the second 12month progress review period.
To accommodate new Sec. 411.210(b)(1) and (b)(2), we have renumbered the remaining numbered paragraphs that were included under proposed Sec. 411.210(b). In Sec. 411.210(b)(3), (b)(4) and (b)(5) of the final rules, we have added provisions to the rules on reentering inuse status to provide that, in addition to completing the work requirements, the beneficiary also must satisfy the test of Sec. 411.200(a)(2) regarding the anticipated level of the beneficiary's work during the ensuing 12month progress review period that would begin if the beneficiary were reinstated to inuse status. This change is consistent with the twostep process for the 12month progress reviews under Sec. 411.200(a).
For further clarification of the process of reentering inuse status, we are adding Sec. 411.210(c), and revising Sec. 411.210(b), to describe the process for requesting reinstatement to inuse status, to explain that the PM will decide whether the beneficiary has satisfied the requirements for reentering inuse status, and to provide that a beneficiary may ask us to review the PM's decision that the beneficiary has not satisfied the requirements for reentering inuse status. These sections explain that a beneficiary must submit a written request to the PM asking that he or she be reinstated to inuse status. If the PM decides that the beneficiary has not satisfied the requirements for re entering inuse status, the beneficiary may request that we review the decision.
Final Sec. 411.220 was Sec. 411.225 in the proposed rules. Final Sec. 411.220 explains that beneficiaries who are using a ticket are eligible for an extension period of up to three months to reassign a ticket that previously was assigned to an EN or State VR agency and no longer is assigned. We have revised this section to indicate that the ticket must be in use for the beneficiary to be eligible for the extension period. During this period, we will consider that the ticket still is in use, and the beneficiary will not be subject to CDRs. In response to public comments, we are modifying this section to show the beneficiary's moving to an area not served by the previous EN or State VR agency as a reason the ticket may no longer be assigned. We also have explained in Sec. 411.220(e) of the final rules that a beneficiary whose extension period began during the initial 24month period will have a new initial 24month period when the beneficiary reassigns a ticket during the extension period to an EN or State VR agency, other than the one to which the ticket previously was assigned.
We are adding a new Sec. 411.225 to describe the circumstance of a
beneficiary reassigning a ticket after the end of the extension period.
This section concerns a situation that was not discussed in the
proposed rules. This section explains that a beneficiary may reassign a
ticket after the end of the extension period under the conditions
described in Sec. 411.150. Section 411.225(c) explains that if the
extension period began during the initial 24month period, a
beneficiary will have a new initial 24month period when the
beneficiary reassigns a ticket to an EN or State VR agency, other than
the one to which the ticket previously was assigned. The reason for
providing a new initial 24month period at this time is because the
beneficiary may have to reassign his or her ticket due to no fault of
his or her own. For example, the EN may have gone out of business or be
no longer approved to participate in the Ticket to Work program, or the
beneficiary may have to relocate or may have a relapse in his or her
medical condition. Section 411.225(d) explains that if the extension
period began during any 12month progress review period, the period
comprising the remaining months in that review period will begin with
the first month beginning after the day on which reassignment of the ticket is effective.
Subpart DUse of One or More Program Managers To Assist in
Administration of the Ticket To Work Program
Section 1148(d)(1) of the Act requires the Commissioner to enter into an agreement with one or more organizations to serve as a PM to assist the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Georgia E. Myers, Regulations Officer, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, Email to regulations@ssa.gov, or telephone (410) 9653632 or TTY (410) 9665609 for information about these regulations. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national tollfree number, 18007721213 or TTY 18003250778, or visit our Internet Web site, SSA Online, at www.ssa.gov.