1. Based on the findings of the Benefits Orientation, the VR Benefits Orientation Specialist, VR Specialist, and Office Director will identify the need for Benefits Services to be provided under a service agreement with an outside Benefits Services provider with which VR has a service agreement.
2. Generally, Benefits Services should be authorized when any cash and/or non-cash local, state, or federal benefits will be affected by earning income from work and/or when a person may benefit from any work incentives available to them.
3. If the person will not be referred for Benefits Services, document in a task note:

• Benefits (Social Security and others, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing/other economic assistance benefits, as applicable;) will not be affected by the expected amount of income from work, and,
• The person will not benefit from any available work incentives, or
• Other

      4. Provide the client with a choice of Benefits Services available in the area; document the client’s choice.  The list of providers and their descriptions are found in forms under Benefits Service Providers.  The area each covers is as follows:

• Easterseals:  Accepts referrals statewide
• Goodwill of Greater Nebraska:  Accepts referrals for people served by the following VR offices:  Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte, Scottsbluff, and South Sioux City
• Region V Services:  Offers services to those living in the following counties:  Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Johnson, Jefferson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Salina, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, and York

5. Identify and authorize the type of benefits service needed.  Complete the Universal Benefits Services Referral Form and have the client sign releases specific to the chosen provider, including:

•   SSA 3288 Consent for Release of Information/General 
•  SSA 3288 Consent for Release of Information/Earnings
•  DHHS Eligibility Release of Information, MLTC-34

       6.  Authorize identified services for the initial number of hours allowed.  Any request for additional hours will be reviewed by the Program Director for Community Services.  Attend the first appointment in person, by phone, or by video conference to ensure communication and continuity of services.  Services that may be authorized and initial authorization are as follows:

• BENEFITS ASSESSMENT, allows for an initial authorization of four (4) hours when these circumstances exist in any combination:
  • Review of applicable work incentives as needed based on the BPQY—Trial Work Period usage, Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are likely to be used, Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) is a possible applicable work incentive, or the person could benefit from a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
  • The person is considering self-employment
  • Social Security benefits have been lost/stopped
  • Medicaid has been suspended or closed
  • Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) indicates earnings have not been reported accurately or there is other inaccurate information on BPQY

NOTE:  The Benefits Assessment service may be authorized during assessment [prior to the development of the Individual Plan for Employment (IPE),] or at any other time after IPE development. 

COST per hour:  $50.00 (Authorize 4 hours) 

• BENEFITS PLANNING, initially, ten (10) hours may be authorized after the IPE has been completed and signed for the following activities and documents:  
  • Analysis of all cash and non-cash benefits (i.e., Health care—Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance; Veteran’s Administration (VA) Benefits, Railroad Retirement and Survivor Benefits (RRB/RRSB), Worker’s Compensation, Unemployment, as well as other federal, state, and local benefits)
  • Correction or clarification of any errors or inaccuracies found in the BPQY from the Social Security Administration (SSA)
  • Benefits Summary & Analysis (BS & A), using the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) standardized format, which summarizes the findings of the Benefits Planning service
  • Involvement of the person, guardian and representative payee, as applicable, and VR specialist in discussion of options and conclusions
  • Written Work Incentive Plan (WIP) development, which includes:
    • Resolution of existing benefits issues
    • Management of SSA benefits and work incentives, including instruction on how what, when, and to whom earnings and changes in circumstances need to be reported, and follow-up to ensure that the plan for reporting is being followed
    • Planning for future health care needs
  • Communication and agreement on the WIP, and understanding of findings of the planning activity as well as responsibilities for carrying out the Plan

 COST per hour:  $50.00 (Authorize 10 hours) 

• PLAN TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUPPORT (PASS) DEVELOPMENT, initially, four (4) hours may be authorized when the BS & A/ WIP have identified PASS as a viable work incentive option. Activities and documentation for this service include:
  • Assistance with / preparation of the PASS form SSA-545-BK
  • Assistance with submission of PASS for approval
  • Providing training to the client, their guardian and representative payee, as applicable, on PASS monitoring, progress reviews, collection of documentation:  receipts, bank statements, management of monthly deposits into PASS dedicated account, and state benefits coordination
  • Communication of activities and results with VR Benefits Orientation Specialist
  • Coordinating with SSA PASS Cadre for Plan acceptance

COST per hour:  $50.00 (Authorize 4 hours) 

• BENEFITS MANAGEMENT allows for authorization of four (4) hours of service to provide support and problem-solving in addressing issues resulting from reporting issues, changes in income or benefits, or other identified problems.  The need for this service, if anticipated, should be described in the WIP, but may also be authorized when unanticipated crises arise.  Examples of circumstances that may indicate a need for authorization of this service include:
  • PASS monitoring and problem resolution
  • Loss of Social Security Benefits
  • Loss of Medicaid
  • Failure to report earnings
  • Incorrect information on the BPQY
  • Accessing other needed and available work incentives and/or other local, state, and federal benefits

COST per hour:  $50.00 (Authorize 4 hours) 

      7.  Place copies of all referral documents in file. 

8. Obtain and review all documentation from the Benefits Services Provider.
9. Communicate with client, Benefits Services provider, and others as applicable, to identify next steps in using work incentives, responsible parties for reporting income, schedule for reporting, and other important details, such as use of ENable account, etc.
10. Following the completion of any type of Benefits Service (upon receipt of all documentation and invoice from provider) document the outcome of the service in a task note titled to match the service provided (Benefits Assessment, Benefits Planning, PASS development, and Benefits Management.)

• The Benefits Planning task note must include the following details for use in job placement and as the person continues to work:
  • List of work incentives available to the person and those chosen by the person as part of their strategy to return to work
  • Projected impact of chosen work incentives on benefits
  • Maximum number of hours the client can work and maximum earnings he or she can make in order to implement the outlined plan (work incentives, identification of projected impact on benefits, etc.)
  • Identification of who will be responsible for reporting income and other information, to which entity (SSA, DHHS, HUD, and any other entity applicable), as well as how the information will be reported
  • List of any record-keeping tool to be used by the client or others, any training that is needed, and who will provide the training
• Other task notes must include sufficient detail to identify the findings of the service provided and any next steps or activities that must be completed, such as reporting or follow-up.

11. Verify the accuracy of income and benefits information on the Household Income and Services and Benefits screens in QE2.

Clients will be referred for Benefits Services when it is anticipated that 1) earned income from working will affect local, state, or federal benefits; and/or when 2) work incentives will be used as part of the client's plan to begin working or to return to work.   This information is vital for the client to make informed decisions about working and its impact on benefits.

Benefits Services providea comprehensive review of the client's information to assess real or potential impact of employment on the client's local, state and federal benefits, and the Ticket to Work program.

The client can get further information about the ticket program by visiting www.choosework.net. For questions, the client can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1.866.968.7842/866.833.2967 (TTY/TDD) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST or send an e-mail support@chooseworkttw.net.