Statement of Quintin M. Mitchell, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Richmond Area Arc, Richmond, Virginia

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Social Security
of the House Committee on Ways and Means

March 18, 2004

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, my name is Quintin M. Mitchell and I am Director of Rehabilitative Services for the Richmond Area Arc in Richmond, Virginia.  Thank you for the invitation for me to comment on Social Security Administration’s management of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program.

I would like to take a brief moment to provide some background information on how our agency elected to become a participating Employment Network (EN).

Upon reviewing the Ticket to Work initiative, one of the motivating factors of Richmond Area Arc to become an EN was having an opportunity to provide Employment Services to individuals who want to work and become self-sufficient.  Additionally, it provides a non-traditional referral base and the Ticket-holders are individuals who have the appropriate skill set for filling positions that we have open, and other jobs in the community.  Our agency has traditionally serviced the M.R. population. However, other areas of service provision includes individuals with diagnosis of M.I., autism, developmentally delayed, brain trauma and individuals with physical disabilities.

Our agency’s NISH contracts have provided the opportunity to service a vast array of individuals. Individual’s backgrounds include undergraduate and graduate degreed persons as well as Phd. Graduates.

When positions become available within our organization individual Ticket-holders are encouraged to apply when their skill set matches the advertised position.

Since Ticket participants don’t have to use their Ticket we have found that those who have elected to do so really have the incentive to work because they aren’t forced to.  There are many participants who want to get off the benefit rolls and this desire benefits not only the participants but other sources as well. Employers who are in need of skilled, reliable employees, ENs who have the resources to provide Employment and other related services and the reduction of benefits being paid out by the Social Security Administration (SSA) are all win-win situations.

Richmond Area Arc’s initial experience with the Ticket to Work Program was that of being bombarded by Ticket-holders wanting Employment Services. We began providing services in March of 2003. To date we have screened over three (340) hundred forty calls from individuals wanting us to provide Employment Services. While this may not be seen as an astronomical number by comparison with other ENs, however, in Virginia, we have billed for the most Milestones, fifteen (15). (Tina Chang, Financial Director for Maximus).   We have accepted and have been assigned, so far, ninety (90) Ticket-holders. Holding Orientation twice per month at two (2) locations has resulted in meeting the needs of individuals who do not have the means to come to our facility. As of this date the need to conduct Intakes more frequently has resulted in weekly one- on -one consultations/screenings.

In order to meet the various needs of the Ticket-holders we have elected to implement features in the orientation to expedite the process.  Initially, as Tickets began to rollout in Virginia, calls jammed the switchboards. Now all inquiries are routed either to the Employment Specialist or me with an extension just for Ticket-holders. ARC makes it a policy to return all calls promptly. Additionally, recruitment is not limited to call-ins of inquiries. We also, after viewing of the monthly disk of Ticket-holders, that Maximus supplies, sends letters of introduction to a random sampling of the unassigned Ticket-holders, specifying what services we provide and inviting them to an orientation. Employment Specialists also post flyers at the local SSA office, attend the Metro Richmond networking meetings, participates in focus groups and job fairs and have been the fortunate recipient of marketing expertise by the Leadership Metro Richmond organization. Additionally, an advertisement is placed in the Employment Guide publication.

It should also be noted that no additional staff was hired in order to meet this undertaking. Even though no additional staff was hired, the ARC still meets the presenting needs of all inquiries and works towards effectively and efficiently addressing areas of concerns that most have about their benefits and how they will be affected.

Maximus has provided much support and endless help in maneuvering through the maze of red tape we have encountered in many instances.

While there are many positives in the Ticket to Work and Self Sufficiency Program there are also obstacles that impede and deter Ticket-holders from participating in the program. Unfortunately, some Ticket-holders have elected, after having gone through screening, interviewing, counseling and placement on the job, to leave their jobs and in some cases, decide against being employed at all because of the lack of critical information having been provided to them by S.S.A.

It has been our experience that most Ticket holders are unaware of the most basic information concerning their benefits and how they can be affected and/or knowledge of Work Incentives.  This information, now, has become a part of the orientation process when we meet with the Ticket-holder. 

Some of the problems that impede and interrupt the provision of services, for our agency, to Ticket-holders, revolve around the lack of information provided to them by the Social Security Administration. A few examples that we have encountered, and continue to encounter are:

1. S.S.A. has provided inaccurate and sometimes inconsistent information to Ticket-holders. Ex.: Ticket-holder was told there was an application for 1619b by S.S.A. but they couldn’t find it while another person told the Ticket-holder there was no application.
2. Inconsistency of providing EN Payment Processing Report so as not to know the status of receiving payment for services rendered.
3. Ticket-holders, who have been working before contracting services with our agency, have not been informed that they were required to turn in their pay stubs. This lack of information causes the individual to be in overpayment and the EN doesn’t receive payment.
4. Not notifying beneficiary that they are not eligible for benefits, but check is mailed/deposited and beneficiary is in overpayment.
5. The lack of advertisement/marketing in the S.S.A. office building about the Ticket to Work Program.

The Ticket to Work Self Sufficiency Program is a viable entity to beneficiaries who want to work. However, identifying and rectifying the problems that impede the successful placement of individuals in jobs has to be addressed.

The potential for other agencies becoming an E.N. is sometimes thwarted by the lack of manpower, resources, and investment coupled with the slow turnaround time of being paid for the services they provided.

Having had the opportunity to provide services to a wide range of individuals, who have the desire and initiative to be gainfully employed, and the continuation of inquiries regarding our Employment Services are all indicators that the Ticket Program can be a success. In order to facilitate this success it is absolutely essential that all stakeholders work collaboratively and consistently.

In closing, I thank you for this opportunity to share our agency’s experiences with the Ticket to Work Self Sufficiency Program.  It is my hope that after identifying areas of concerns, that impact the Ticket-holder in an adverse manner, we can move towards resolution.

Ticket to Work can be a beneficiary’s best option.