Categorized In: Case Services - Planned Services
Approved Date: May 26, 2023
Owner: Carla Lasley
Clients who receive local, state, and/or federal benefits will be referred and authorized for Benefits Analysis Services (also called 'Benefits Services') in accordance with standard procedures. These services provide vital information about how benefits will be affected by earnings so the client may make an informed choice about working, as well as training and support regarding work incentives, wage reporting, and other processes relevant to earnings and benefits.
Individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will be informed they may be protected from Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) when their Ticket to Work (TTW) is assigned to Nebraska VR under an approved Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and will receive support to unassign their TTW if it is assigned to another entity.
At case closure, VR Benefits Orientation Specialist/VR Specialist will provide information and support for the client to assign their TTW to an Employment Network (EN) within 90 days of case closure.
1) Following Benefits Orientation, Benefits Orientation Specialist provides the client/authorized representative information about the choice of Benefits Service Providers available in the area. (See Benefits Services Providers Form that lists Benefits Provider choices in each area of the State and is used to document client's declination of Benefits Services.)
2) Benefits Orientation Specialist completes Referral Form for Benefits Assessment and obtains client/authorized representative's signature on applicable releases (see forms/applicable releases in Benefits Orientation Chapter.) Benefits Assessment is authorized for all clients whose local, state, and/or federal benefits may be affected by earned income. This affords the client informed choice about earning income that will affect benefits and allows them to be prepared for any benefits changes that come with earning income. See below for special circumstances and how to document clients' declination of Benefits Services, if applicable.
3) Copies of all referral documents are placed in the case file in accordance with Documentation Policy and local office practices.
Process for authorizing Benefits Assessment and Benefits Planning Services
1. Following Benefits Orientation, client is referred for Benefits Assessment, which is authorized for all clients who receive local, state, and/or federal benefits that may be affected by earning income. Benefits Assessment is typically completed before the IPE (in Assessment) so the information gathered may be used to develop the IPE, to identify errors in the Social Security record, and to afford the client initial information to make an informed choice about earning income that affects benefits. Immediate referral for Benefits Assessment after the Benefits Orientation provides time for the Benefits Provider to complete the assessment while other career planning activities are completed so the IPE can be developed within the 90-day timeframe called for in regulation.
2. The Benefits Services Providers Form attached to this chapter is reviewed with client who chooses a Benefits Provider from available options. This Form is also used to document a client's declination of Benefits Services, as signed by the client and filed in the case file. The form is filed with releases and consents in the case file. (See below for details about declining Benefits Services.)
3. Benefits Assessment referral and authorization is completed. Elements of the Benefits Assessment service include, but are not limited to:
For individuals who are already working, Benefits Assessment may be authorized to address issues such as, but not limited to:
Consult with the selected Benefits Provider to identify whether a Benefits Assessment will provide optimal support for someone who is already working, or if authorization for Benefits Planning (following IPE development) will provide sufficient information for the client to make an informed choice about working and how benefits will be affected.
4. Authorize $345.00 for Benefits Assessment. The service is entered as QE2 Category: Career Planning, QE2 Service: Benefits Assessment.
5. VR Benefits Orientation Specialist and VR Specialist, if not one and the same, receive and review Benefits Assessment report which includes: types of assistance received, different levels of potential income with work incentives that are options at each level, health insurance/coverage (Medicare/Medicaid/employer/parent/spouse) and guidelines for continued coverage, as well as notations on how errors found in the SSA BPQY record were resolved, as applicable.
6. While the Benefits Assessment report has been reviewed with the client by the Benefits Services provider, additional review and discussion with the client in the context of development of the IPE will be completed by the VR Specialist.
7. Review the client's Ticket to Work (TTW) status (determined at the time of the Benefits Orientation.) If the client's Ticket is currently assigned to another entity, provide support to unassign the TTW so it may be assigned to VR when the IPE is signed. Follow process in Ticket to Work Chapter to unassign Ticket.
8. After the IPE is signed, the Benefits Orientation Specialist/VR Specialist authorizes Benefits Planning. A determination about when to authorize this service (before or after job start) is made on a case-by-case basis. Consultation with the Benefits Services Provider may help to identify the best time to authorize the service. People in circumstances such as the following may indicate a need to authorize before job start:
This service includes, though is not limited to, the following core elements:
8. Authorize $690.00 for Benefits Planning. The service is entered as QE2 Category: Benefits Counseling, QE2 Service: Benefits Planning.
9. Payment for this service may be made after the BS & A/WIP review meeting is completed and the BS & A/ WIP and invoice are submitted to VR.
10. VR Specialist/Benefits Orientation Specialist review the earnings reporting requirements and tools for reporting when the person begins employment and provides reminders and assistance as needed to support accurate reporting.
Process for authorizing other types of Benefits Services
PASS (Plan to Achieve Self-Sufficiency) Development
1. When identified in the BS & A/WIP as a viable work incentive option, PASS Development may be authorized. This service may also be requested later by the client, VR staff, or the Benefits Services provider when a client's circumstances change, and PASS is identified as a viable work incentive option. Elements of the PASS Development service include, but are not limited to:
2. Authorize $915.00 for PASS Development. The service is entered in QE2 as Category: Benefits Counseling, QE2 Service: Benefits PASS Development.
3. Invoice for this service may be paid upon receipt of a copy of the PASS Plan and identification of training and on-going support activities to be arranged for and/or provided to the client.
Benefits Management
1. Benefits Management may be authorized when unforeseen problems or other crises arise, or critical transition points are reached after the provision of Benefits Planning or PASS Development have been completed. Some y issues or concerns present while Benefits Planning or PASS Development are in progress will be addressed under those authorizations without a separate Benefits Management authorization. Benefits Management may be authorized up to two times prior to VR case closure. Elements of the Benefits Management service include, though are not limited to:
2. Authorize $460.00 for Benefits Management. The service is entered in QE2 as Category: Benefits Counseling, QE2 Service: Benefits Management.
3. Invoice for this service may be paid when a written report is submitted and identifies how issues were resolved.
NOTE ABOUT DECLINING BENEFITS SERVICES FOLLOWING BENEFITS ORIENTATION:
As noted in the Benefits Orientation Chapter: During the Benefits Orientation, discussion of the importance of receiving Benefits Services is vital. A client who does not understand work incentives may be limiting their ability to maximize income and benefits to reach greater economic self-sufficiency. The Benefits Orientation Specialist and VR Specialist (if not one and the same) play a key role in educating clients on the importance of accessing Benefits Services. To ensure a client/authorized representative can make an informed choice about receiving Benefits Services, the VR Specialist will discuss the following:
Benefits Services, among other things:
1) Identify work incentives and other tools so that needed benefits are retained while maximizing earnings
2) Provide basic support for budgeting earnings and income
3) Address concerns with Social Security records found to be incorrect or incomplete
4) Provide training and information on how employment and earnings changes (such as starting or ending a job, or obtaining additional or different benefits) may signal the need to seek additional benefits consultation and support; and,
5) Provide continuity of support for benefits via Ticket to Work reassignment after VR case closure.
If, given all this information, the client declines Benefits Services referral, the client's signature on the Benefits Services Providers Form will document such declination. At this time, the client will be informed they may request benefits services at any time while their VR case is open.
The Form documents the provision of informed choice and is filed in the client record with other consents/releases. The declination will also be documented in a Customized Task note, titled, "Benefits Services Declined." The note will include the reasons why the person refused the service after being provided information sufficient for them to make a choice to decline the service(s) and will document the client has been informed they may request benefits services at any time while their VR case is open.
Approved Date | ||
---|---|---|
April 11, 2022 | Show this Archived Version | |
December 01, 2021 | Show this Archived Version | |
January 23, 2019 | Show this Archived Version | |
January 23, 2019 | Show this Archived Version | |
November 30, 2018 | Show this Archived Version | |
August 06, 2018 | Show this Archived Version | |
March 08, 2018 | Show this Archived Version |