Disability Employment Initiative, SGA Announcement
US Department of Labor announces $22 million in grant funds for Disability Employment initiative WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a solicitation for grant applications for approximately $22 million to fund programs that will improve educational, training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. "At the U.S. Department of Labor, we are committed to the goal of 'good jobs for everyone'— in its entirety. After all, America's workers are the nation's number once resource.They are also our wisest investment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis."To be truly competitive in the global economy, we must leverage and foster the professional skills and talents of every single worker, including the millions of working-age people with disabilities across our country." The new Disability Employment initiative is a joint project of the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy. Programs will serve eligible individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, including those receiving Social Security disability benefits. Funds will be awarded to state workforce agencies, which will collaborate with workforce investment boards and local areas.Grant awards will range from $1.5 to $6 million each to be spent over a three-year period. Cooperative agreements will be used to foster service delivery through the public workforce investment system for job seekers with disabilities.Programs will build upon the Labor Department's Disability Program Navigator initiative and other model service delivery strategies. The complete solicitation for grant applications is available at http://www.doleta.gov/grants. Visit the Employment and Training Administration's http://www.doleta.gov home page to learn more about the range of Labor Department employment and training programs.
Posted On :
08/10/10 07:19AM
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73
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Announcement of the new Disability and Employment SGA
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA)has announced today the availability of approximately $22 million for cooperative agreements to state Workforce Investment Act (WIA) administering entities. The Combined Appropriation Act of 2010, Division D of Public Law 111-117, included $12 million in funds to ETA and $12 million to ODEP to develop and implement a plan for improving effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the workforce. The Department expects to award approximately six to ten cooperative agreements ranging from $1.5 million to $6 million. This funding is being used to implement the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) designed to: (1) Improve educational, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits; and (2) help these individuals with disabilities find a path into the middle class through exemplary and model service delivery by the public workforce system. DEI grants will be awarded for a three year period of performance. At a minimum, applicants must identify at least two of the following seven strategic components as significant elements of the service delivery approach for the youth or adult population to be served. Some of these strategies are not mutually exclusive nor are they always distinct or separate activities. These are practices and strategies that have been identified through both ETA and ODEP grant initiatives in increasing education and employment outcomes of the population to be served. 1. Integrated Resource Teams (IRT) 2. Integrating Resources and Services, Blending and Braiding Funds, Leveraging Resources 3. Customized Employment 4. Self-Employment 5. Guideposts for Success 6. Asset Development Strategies 7. Partnerships and Collaboration The closing date for applications is September 8, 2010.
Posted On :
08/09/10 03:56PM
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55
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21
GAO Forum, "Actions that Could Increase Work Participation for Adults with Disabilities," July 2010
GAO convened a Forum on March 16, 2010, to explore policy options and actions that could be implemented to help adults with disabilities participate in the workforce. Several challenges were identified, including the need for: 1) a more coordinated system of services and benefits; 2) additional information on benefits and work incentives; 3) additional employer incentives to hire persons with disabilities; 4) targeted information to employers to make the business case to hire persons with disabilities; and 5) a coordinated Federal policy to promote the employment of persons with disabilities. The Report and Highlights can be downloaded at: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-812SP Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10812sphigh.pdf
Posted On :
07/30/10 10:16AM
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118
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36
Training and Employment Notice to Announce the Release of the Report, "Use of One-Stops by SSDI Beneficiaries in Four States Implementing Disability Program Navigator Initiatives
The US DOL/ETA has just issued TEN 1-10, Release and availability of an ETA quantitative evaluation report, "Use of One-Stops by Social Security Disability Beneficiaries in Four States Implementing Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiatives." ETA contracted out with Mathematica Policy Research (MPR), Inc. to condcut a quantitative evaluation of the DPN initiative through the use of the One-Stop Career Cenetr system by Supplemental Security Income(SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. The stduy was condcuted in Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, and Oregon, which were early implementers of the DPN Initiative and were willing to share their Workforce Investment Act adult and dislocated worker and Wagner-Peyser data base information for program years 2002-2007. The data runs were matched with the SSI and SSDI Ticket to Work records system. This Reoport docuemnted that a very aklrge number of SSA disability beneficiaries are using the services of the public workforce system and achieving positive employment outcomes. The report is located here: http://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001018107873517795/info
Posted On :
07/07/10 02:39PM
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323
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104
Evaluation Report on the Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries Being Served by the One-Stops in Four DPN States
The Report was prepared by Mathematica Policy Research (MPR), Inc. under contract with the Employment and Training Administration. The purpose of this report was to conduct a quantitative evaluation of the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) initiative through the use of the One-Stop Career Center system by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. The study was conducted with Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, and Oregon, which were early implementers of the DPN initiative and were willing to share their Workforce Investment Act (WIA) adult and dislocated worker and Wagner-Peyser (W-P) data base information for the period Program Year 2002 – Program Year 2007. The data runs were matched with SSI and SSDI Ticket to Work (TTW) record system. The target population for the study was adults age 21 and over. In addition to determining if the impact of the DPN would effect WIA and W-P service and outcome levels for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, it was also intended to gain understanding of the: • Extent to which One-Stop Career Centers are serving persons who are SSA disability beneficiaries; • Characteristics of SSI/SSDI beneficiaries receiving these services; • Nature of the services received; and • How services and outcomes for beneficiaries compared with SSI/SSDI beneficiaries nationally. Key findings include: • One-Stop Career Centers are serving a very large share of persons receiving SSA disability benefits and the public workforce system is providing important support for SSA disability beneficiaries who want to work; • SSA beneficiaries who used One-Stop services achieved positive employment outcomes.
Posted On :
06/30/10 02:11AM
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1243
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581
Mathematica Information Brief, How Many SSDI Beneficiaries Leave the Rolls for Work..."
Mathematica Policy Reserach, Inc. issued an Information Brief, entitled "How Many SSDI Beneficiaries Leave the Rolls for Work," April 2010. This Brief discusses recent studies and longitudinal data to provide a new perspective on employment among beneficiaries, namely that more beneficiaries are engaged in work and employment activities than assumed. The findings from recent longitudinal data show employment outcomes among “work-oriented” beneficiaries, i.e. beneficiaries who in the National Beneficiary Survey expressed work goals or expectations. This group comprises 40 percent of all beneficiaries. Findings suggest that significant percentages are working, looking for work, worked in the previous year, or recently used employment services (around 50 percent of work-oriented beneficiaries indicated any of the above). However, there were differences among Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries and, overall, job retention was a challenge with health conditions playing an important role in employment status. For more information, visit http://www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/.
Posted On :
06/11/10 02:08PM
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91
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Social Security Administration's Youth Transition Demonstration Projects-Lessons Learned
The SSA's Youth Transition Demonstration Projects: Implementation Lessons Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. February 22, 2010 http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/Disability/SSA_YTD.pdf The SSSA is conducting the Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) as part of a broader initiative to encourage disability beneficiaries to return to work. The demonstration provides youth ages 14-25 with employment-related services and waivers of certain rules governing the SSI and SSDI programs, including childhood disability benefits. The waivers augment existing financial incentives for beneficiaries to work. Originally, SSA selected seven organizations to implement YTD projects through a Request for Applications in 2003. Subsequently, SSA contracted with Mathematica to conduct a multi-site evaluation of YTD. Six projects are participating in this evaluation. The seven original YTD projects were: Bridges to Self-Sufficiency (California); Colorado Youth WINS;Transition WORKS (Erie County, New York);Smart Start (Iowa);Project Transition (Maryland); Mississippi Youth Transition Innovation; and Youth Transition Demonstration Project of the City University of New York (Bronx County, New York) The Report includes six lessons learned that may help policymakers and administrators develop, fund, and provide interventions for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from school to adulthood.
Posted On :
05/15/10 05:04PM
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119
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VCU Article "Saving for Post-Secondary Education: Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have published an article in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation entitled, “Saving for Post-Secondary Education: Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities.” Citing misconceptions among individuals with disabilities, family members, and the disability services provider community, the article clarifies and details saving opportunities for students with disabilities that are in line with the Social Security disability benefit program rules. The provisions covered include: ? Plan for Achieving Self-Support, a Social Security work incentive that allows individuals to set aside income or resources needed to achieve a stated occupational goal; ? Educational Savings Accounts or 529 Plans, which allow individuals to (1) prepay tuition at a qualified educational institution at today’s tuition rates or (2) save money in a tax-deferred account (earnings only) to be used to pay for education at future tuition rates; ? Coverdell Accounts, which enable families to put away $2,000 per beneficiary, per year and use the money—tax-free—to pay for college expenses; ? Educational grants, loans or scholarships, including Pell grants, Federal Educational Loans (Federal PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, Ford Loans, etc.), Upward Bound, and Work-Study programs; and ? Individual Development Accounts, a provision where earnings deposited by an individual are matched at a particular rate, usually between $2 and $4 for every dollar deposited, by a combination of government and private-sector funds. To learn more about these provisions as well as others, read the full article at: http://www.worksupport.com/research/view Content.cfm/847.
Posted On :
03/09/10 08:35AM
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180
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62
Disability Policy Research Brief: Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities
In November 2009, Mathematica Policy Research Inc, issued a Disability Policy Research Brief, Number 09-04, entitled, "Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities?" "Working age people with disabilities in America have a low employment rate and a high rate of dependence on public programs-a situation fueled, at least in part, by the challenges of the current health care financing system." In this Brief, the following misconceptions are dispelled: 1) people with disabilities cannot work; and 2) they are all insured by public programs.
Posted On :
03/01/10 03:07PM
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198
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Social Security Disability Benefits to Wounded Warriors
Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors Social Security Administration http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/ Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Access the website to link to the following questions that include answers to questions most people ask about applying for disability benefits. • What types of benefits can I receive? • What is Social Security’s definition of disability? I was disabled for a while several years ago and my health has now improved. • Can I receive disability benefits for the time that I was disabled? • How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits? • How do I apply? • What do I need to apply? • How does Social Security make the decision? • How long does it take for a decision? • Can I do anything to speed the decision? • Can my family get benefits? • How does Medicare affect my TRICARE benefits? • Contacting Social Security In addition, this website includes links to other useful information.
Posted On :
01/16/10 05:29AM
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260
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84
Ticket to Work / Employment Network 30-Second Training Series
A 6 part series of 30-second trainings that has been developed for DPNs to use with staff and partners in their Local Workforce Investment Areas to increase understanding and promote the use of the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work, Work Incentives and Employment Networks. These 6 Trainings cover the following topics: Working and Social Security Benefits… Work Incentives… What a Ticket to Work is… What an Employment Network is… How an agency can become an Employment Network… What to do when someone wants to assign their ticket…
Posted On :
09/29/09 04:16PM
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549
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141
Increasing Active Participation by the One-Stop Career Center System in the Ticket to Work Program
One-Stop Career Centers and LWIBS should consider becoming ENs because this program is a potential funding source for any entity that provides return-to work services to Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities. It is likely that you are already providing such services to your customers with disabilities. This makes good business sense and will enable you to leverage funding to maximize services to your customers and better respond to the needs of your business customers. ETA has been working with SSA to promote the Ticket Program to One-Stop Career Centers and LWIBs. The DPNs are playing a leadership role in this process. This webinar will highlight two One-Stop Career Center models for becoming ENs. States will have an opportunity to hear first-hand from Iowa and Florida: how their One-Stop Career Centers/LWIBs became ENs; the challenges; milestones of progress; and potential ROI. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a highly interactive discussion of their individual state situations and benefit from the experiences and perspectives of their colleagues in the workforce investment system.
Posted On :
09/29/09 02:40PM
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259
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90
Tax Benefits for Veterans, Including Disabled Veterans: Internal Revenue Services and Department of Labor’s Veterans and Employment and Training Services and Employment and Training Administration Partnerships
The IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) Organization has a long-term partnership with the DOL/ETA to promote the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit, financial literacy, and asset development of people with disabilities. Disability Program Navigators have facilitated this initiative at the local levels by encouraging the One-Stop Career Centers to become Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. IRS’ SPEC organization realized disabled veterans were not taking advantage of tax benefits as credits, free tax preparation, and asset building services. Therefore, the DPN National Office connected IRS with VETS. Consequently, IRS partnered with several organizations that work with veterans to help get the word out on these services. The Webinar will discuss Ask VetsFirst, which is an exciting new Web-based service and this ground-breaking service will provide large numbers of veterans with an opportunity to get assistance with benefits-related inquiries quickly and efficiently. VETS will discuss its job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness and literacy and skills training) services and grants to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
Posted On :
09/29/09 02:25PM
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227
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Connecting One-Stop Career Centers with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Ticket to Work Program: Becoming an Employment Network (EN)-A Way to Serve Customers with Disabilities and Generate Revenues for the One-Stop Career Center system
This Webinar will highlight promising practices and lessons learned to facilitate the State and Local Workforce Investment Boards (S/LWIBs) and One-Stop Career Centers connecting with the SSA’s Ticket to Work Program. This Program provides work incentives for beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. Examples of service coordination among workforce partners utilizing the Ticket to Work incentives will be shared during this Webinar. Learn about how the One-Stop Career Centers that became ENs are generating program income which can be used for their operations. The Webinar will focus on how seven state agency partners, led by the Disability Program Navigator initiative in Iowa’s state workforce agency, became an approved EN in 2007. Revenue is being generated through the EN payment process.