Anchorage Job Centers Ticket to Work Melissa Mitchell

Anchorage Job Centers & Ticket to Work Melissa Mitchell Employment Counselor Midtown Job Center 1

“It’s a full time job looking for a job!” 2

Anchorage Job Centers Muldoon Job Center – 269 -0000 Midtown Job Center – 269 -4759 Youth Job Center – (ages 14– 24) – 334 -2587 Eagle River Job Center – 694 -6904 Open 8 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday 3

Anchorage Job Centers 70+ Computers…. 8000+ Visitors monthly Resource Room: Printers…. Fax Machine…. . Copiers…. Information… Staff Assistance…. . No cost for any of our services. 4

Anchorage Job Centers Workshops! Interviewing 101 Resume Writing State of AK applications Job Search Employment After Incarceration Employment Counselors and Vet Reps 5

http: //www. jobs. state. ak. us/ 6

Anchorage Job Centers Assistive Technology 7

We partner with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. v v v Which of our services best meet the customer’s needs? Job experience and skill building at the job center. Partnership Plus with Ticket to Work 8

Other employment tools from the State of Alaska…… National Career Readiness Certificates/Work. Keys Fidelity Bonding 9

What is Work. Keys? Job skills assessment – results in receiving a National Career Readiness Certificate Skills needed for any occupation and at any level of education Measures these skills: Reading for Information Applied Math Locating Information 10

Who uses Work. Keys? Apprenticeships Construction Academy Some State of Alaska Jobs Other Companies Certificate can also be listed on a resume/application to show the skill level in these areas. 11

Two Parts of Work Keys 1. Career Ready 101 – an online practice course. 2. Come into the job center and complete the proctored Work Keys assessments. 12

The Alaska NCRC – Powered by Work. Keys® 13

Fidelity Bonding 14

What is a Fidelity Bond? A business insurance policy that protects the employer in case of loss of money or property due to employee dishonesty such as: theft forgery larceny embezzlement 15

Who is it for and how much? ◦ For people with felonies/misdemeanors and other “at-risk” job applicants designated by the insurance industry as being NOT BONDABLE ◦ $5, 000 Bond for a 6 month period 16

It’s easy to use ! Simple form for the Job Center staff to complete. The insurance can be put into effect instantly at time of job offer - no approval processing. There are no forms or other papers for the employer to fill-out. 17

If interested in Work Keys or Fidelity Bonding… Contact any job center! Call or visit the resource room and the staff will be able to help. 18

Job Center Employment Network and Ticket to Work 19

Social Security Disability Benefit Programs • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Both SSDI and SSI – concurrent benefits 20

What is SSDI? Social Security benefits provided to a person who is disabled or blind who has enough work credits. SSDI medical program is Medicare. 21

What is SSI? Social Security benefits provided to a person who is disabled or blind who has limited income or resources. SSI recipients usually receive $721/month (2014). SSI medical program is Medicaid. 22

Ticket to Work Program • Voluntary Program of the Social Security Administration • Eligibility - SSDI/SSI beneficiaries ages 18 -64 Goals: - Encourage people to try employment Reduce reliance on disability benefits Increase self-sufficiency Improve quality of life 23

Why participate in the Ticket to Work program? § Assistance and support with employment services. § Help with navigating and understanding the program and work incentives. § Protection from medical disability reviews. 24

What are Social Security Work Incentives? They are encouragements from SSA to try working – without losing all benefits immediately. There are different Work Incentives for SSDI vs SSI 25

Main questions and concerns… Will I lose my benefits and health care? How do I get the skills and experience I need? What if I have to stop working? 26

As an Employment Network, we can help Employment Counselor Answers questions about returning to work and help with employment skills Benefits Analysis Answers questions about how work will impact Social Security disability benefits 27

EN Services provided at the Job Center: • • • • Career counseling and guidance Vocational assessment/exploration Resume development Interview preparation Job search assistance Job coaching Social Security benefits advisement Information regarding the Alaska Working Medicaid Buy-In program Job accommodation instruction and assistance Follow-up supports including general employment guidance, job retention services and ongoing Social Security Disability benefits advisement Possible on-the-job training or skills training utilizing funding though the Workforce Investment Act, based on eligibility Referrals to additional services and supports Assistive technology 28

Additional EN Job Center Services • Partnership Plus Option to receive continued employment support at the job center after DVR case closure. 29

SSDI Work Incentives The Basics 30

SSDI Work Incentive #1 9 month Trial Work Period • Monthly wages are $770 + = Trial Work Period month • Keep entire SSDI check • Medicare coverage continues 31

SSDI Work Incentive #2 Extended Period of Eligibility – 3 years • When wages are over a certain amount – no SSDI check. • $1, 070 (2014 SGA non-blind) • $1, 800 (2014 SGA blind) • Medicare coverage continues as long as the SSA disability requirement is met 32

SSDI Work Incentive #3 5 year Reinstatement Period • 5 years after SSDI check is ended to reinstate previous claim - don’t have to file a new application. 33

SSI Work Incentives The Basics 34

SSI Work Incentives • SSA counts less than half of the earned income § Wages do affect the amount of the SSI check, but SSA counts less than half of wages § SSI check will be reduced to zero if earnings are high enough to reach the break-even point ü The break-even point for 2014 is $1, 507/mos 35

SSI Work Incentives Example: $865 in wages - 65 exclusions $800 Half of $800 is $400 is subtracted from SSI $721 - SSI rate (2014) - 400 $321 adjusted SSI check Total Financial Outcome: $ 865 wages + 321 SSI check $1186 – total monthly $ ! Working = more monthly income! 36

SSI Work Incentives Easy Reinstatement – • Benefits can start again if working stops or earnings decrease • No need to file a new application, inform SSA that status has changed 37

Ticket to Work Incentives There are several more work incentives for both SSDI and SSI…. . and lots more details! This is only Ticket to Work 101…. 38

Questions? 39

Thank you! Let us know how we can help…. Melissa Mitchell Employment Counselor II Midtown Job Center 269 -6514 melissa. mitchell@alaska. gov 40