Get Latest WorkWORLD

Employment Network (EN)

An Employment Network (EN) is a qualified public or private organization that has entered into an agreement with SSA to function as an employment network under the Ticket to Work Program and assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services to beneficiaries who have assigned their Tickets to that employment network.

Once you receive your Ticket, you can contact any Employment Network in your area or your State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to see if it is the right one for you. Both you and the Employment Network have to agree to work together to attain your employment goals. You are free to talk with as many Employment Networks as you choose without having to give one your Ticket. And you can stop working with one Employment Network and begin working with another one, or with the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.

SSA pays Employment Networks directly for services provided under your Ticket. Each Employment Network chooses which of several payment systems it wishes to be paid under. The Employment Network's financial interests may affect the nature of the services it provides, and each Employment Network may have different expectations and outcomes that it hopes to achieve. It may be important that individual consumers and advocates understand the interaction of these factors when selecting the most appropriate Employment Network. See the topic Ticket Payment Systems and Employment Networks for more information.

A State VR agency and an EN can both receive payment sequentially, VR under Cost Reimbursement and EN under the elected EN payment system after VR case closure and assignment of Ticket to the EN. An EN that accepts a ticket after VR achieves an employment outcome and closes the case is only eligible for Phase 2 Milestone and Outcome payments. Phase 1 Milestone payments will not be available.

Finding an EN

You can search for a current list of Employment Networks serving your Zip Code area, City, County, and/or State at the Ticket to Work Program Manager's website: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/endir.

For more information regarding current Employment Networks, call the Program Manager (MAXIMUS, Inc.) at this toll free line: 1-866-YourTicket (1-866-968-7842) and ask to speak with an EN Marketing Coordinator for assistance.

Choosing an EN

If you need help in choosing an Employment Network, you may contact the Protection and Advocacy System (P&A) in your State.

You can call the Program Manager, MAXIMUS, Inc., at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK) for the P&A telephone number and address. You can also find this information at:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate.

Becoming an EN

Any agency or an instrument of a state (or political subdivision), or a private organization is eligible to apply to be an EN.

Employment Networks can be a single entity, a consortium, or an association of organizations collaborating to combine resources to serve Ticket-holders. Examples of organizations that may wish to become ENs include, but are not limited to:

·           Employers that offer (or arrange for) job training, vocational rehabilitation, support, retention, or other types of job-related services and/or assistance for individuals with disabilities;

·           Any public or private entity that can provide directly or arrange for appropriate employment services including job readiness, placement, VR, training, support and/or retention services for individuals with disabilities;

·           One Stop delivery systems established under the Workforce Investment Act;

·           State VR agencies under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

·           Organizations administering VR Service Projects for American Indians with disabilities authorized under special sections in Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;

·           Alternate Participants (APs) currently operating under contract with SSA; and

·           Public or private schools providing appropriate employment-related skills training, VR services, transitional education or career development services or programs.

SSA will award an unlimited number of non-competitive contracts to qualified EN's through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The RFP package is available for electronic downloading from the SSA Work website at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/enrfp.html.

Completed proposal (application) packages are forwarded to SSA and a copy is sent to the MAXIMUS Program Manager. MAXIMUS reviews the applications for completeness, and if all is in order, forwards them promptly to SSA for final approval and contract award. MAXIMUS works directly with prospective ENs to ensure that all the applications are complete before submission to SSA.

Should you require further information, clarification or assistance in obtaining or completing the RFP package is available by calling MAXIMUS at this toll free line: 1-866-YourTicket (1-866-968-7842) and ask to speak with an EN Marketing Coordinator for assistance.

Why become an EN?

Reasons an organization might become an Employment Network (and some of the value of becoming an EN) include, according to the Program Manager:

·           Consumers need unlimited numbers of EN's

·           Long-term contract - business expansion

·           Increases choices for consumers

·           RFP is open-ended and non-competitive

·           No cost to apply to become an EN

·           Applying is an easy process

·           Many partnering options open to organizations

·           Totally voluntary - organization chooses whom to serve

·           Additional revenue source

·           Does not replace existing funding sources

·           Continue to receive referrals from VR and other agencies

·           Continue to serve current clients - many will become Ticket-holders

·           Additional work incentives for clients

See also:

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999

Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program

Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program - Summary Presentation

Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency - Appearance Sample

Ticket Payment Systems and Employment Networks

Employment Network Outcome/Milestone Payment Amounts - TWWIIA

Source

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/enrfp.html

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate

http://www.yourtickettowork.com/who_en

http://www.yourtickettowork.com/en_faqs

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/envr.html

WorkWORLD™ Help/Information System

   Share/Save: Click the button or link at left to select your favorite bookmark service and add this page.

This is one topic from the thousands available in the WorkWORLD™ software Help/Information System.
Complete information about the software is available at: http://www.WorkWORLD.org