Consumer Advocacy in the Implementation of the Ticket to Work Act. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center On Workplace Supports

摘要

On December 17, 1999, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TTW) (Public Law 106-170) was signed into law. TTW recognizes that the obstacles facing beneficiaries as they attempt to exit the SSI and/or DI roles are complex and that a comprehensive set of reforms is necessary to assist individuals to maximize their economic self-sufficiency. First, beneficiaries should be allowed to choose the services they need to assist them in achieving their employment goals and direct their own careers. Second, beneficiaries seeking to obtain employment or increase earnings often face a loss a health care coverage, a risk that is often viewed as more significant than the loss of the cash benefit itself. Third, the complexity of SSA regulations and work incentives often creates a disincentive to employment, as beneficiaries worry that any attempt to return to work will result in a total loss of their cash benefit and Medicaid or Medicare coverage. Fourth, beneficiaries need access to accurate and independent information on work incentives and the impact of employment on their benefit and health care status.