Disability Benefits 101 db 101 org Age and

Disability Benefits 101 db 101. org Age and Disabilities Odyssey Conference June 21, 2011 1

What is Disability Benefits 101? A new infrastructure that will help people with disabilities make informed choices about work. 2

Disability Benefits 101 (DB 101) DB 101 is about the PERSON. It brings together benefits information, tools and resources to make the workplanning process easier and more successful. 3

The Background Why do we need DB 101?

Poverty & Disability: The Inextricable Connection • People with disabilities are poorer, as a group, than the general population. • People living in poverty are more likely than others to be disabled.

-Poverty and Disability, Atkins & Giusti, 2003

How do people get out of poverty? The surest way out of poverty is through work… and yet…

• People with reported disability in the labor force: 21. 9% • People with no reported disability in the labor force: 70. 1% Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2010

“Side Effects” of Unemployment • Increased substance abuse • Increased physical problems • Reduced self-esteem • Increased psychiatric disorders • Loss of social contacts • Alienation and apathy » Source: Warr, 1987

Work Provides • More money and greater economic freedom • Social interaction and developing relationships • Sense of confidence and purpose • Structure and routine • Sense of identity in American culture • Greater stability • Ability to use talents and make a contribution Minnesota Employment Policy Initiative

“Work is about daily meaning as well as daily bread” -Studs Terkel 11

So, what keeps people with disabilities from going to work?

The perceptions of employers and society, rather than the disability itself, is often one of the most significant barriers to employment.

PERCEPTIONS “Working just isn’t an option for my client. He’s just too difficult. ” MISCONCEPTIONS “It’s going to cost our company a lot of money to hire that person. ”

FEAR • Fear of failure • Fear of losing benefits • Fears of family and friends • Fears of employers • Fears of professionals

Do most public programs & social supports encourage employment? “I could work more but I make sure I don’t work more than 18 hours each week so I don’t lose my Social Security. ” Doug, MA-EPD Enrollee

Social Security’s Definition of Disability • “The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. ”

A New way of Thinking: The Expectation of Employment

“Most consumers are motivated to work, provided they perceive that the professionals helping them also embrace the belief in the importance of work and genuinely believe that they can work” -Rogers, Walsch, Masotta & Danley, 1991

• “One of the Social Security Administration’s highest priorities is to support the efforts of disabled beneficiaries who want to work by developing policies and services to help them reach their employment goal. ” Social Security 2010 Red Book

DHS Continuing Care’s Vision Statement Minnesotans will: • Live as independently as possible • Enjoy health, with access to quality health care • Have safe, affordable places to live • Be contributing and valued members of their communities, • Participate in rewarding daily activities, including gainful employment

Work Incentives • MA-EPD • 1619(b) • Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) • Extended Medicare • Subsidy • Ticket to Work • Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) • Trial Work Period • Extended Period of Eligibility • Expedited Reinstatement • Earned Income Exclusion • Blind Work Expense • Student Earned Income Exclusion

The Goal Help assure that: • No one is discouraged from pursuing work based on misinformation or lack of information AND • Work remains part of the plan – people are encouraged to explore work as a viable option to get out of poverty and expand community connections

DB 101: Support at all Stages Doesn’t know/believe work is an option 24 Exploring work as an option Limits work potential (TWP, SGA, …) Wants to work to potential (no limits) Has a work plan Working as planned Work/life changes (raise, promotion, marriage, disability)

DB 101 Expanded Benefits Planning System 25 DLL & DB 101. org DHS Work Incentives Connection Phone & Online Assistance Back-end Support In-depth Phone & 1: 1 Assistance Exploration & Planning Tool Data & Information Formal Benefits Planning

Approach – DB 101 System • Embed DB 101 into the DLL system - neutral access, resources & coordination • Coordinate with MN Work Incentives Connection • MN Department of Human Services policy and benefit information – DB 101 site • Design for people with disabilities to use • Incorporate “help center” to keep people engaged – DB 101 as part of the process • Develop adoption strategies to support goals • Field test to learn DB 101 applications • Provide training to support application 26

The Web Site 27

DB 101 provides • Content - centralized and easy to understand, that: • • covers benefits programs and work incentives, supports a learning process, answers frequently asked questions, and addresses common pitfalls. • Estimators that tailor information to the user to: • • • show connections between work and benefits, develop tailored plans, help set work goals, educate about work incentives and benefits, and offer tips for success. • Experts (DHS, DLL, MNWIC) who can help: 28 • • • answer questions, access personal benefits information, interpret results, understand next steps, and connect to community resources.

DB 101. org – Home Page 29

DB 101. org - Your Situation

DB 101. org - Programs

Program Information • Cash Benefits: – – – – SSDI SSI MSA Housing MFIP Food Support General Assistance (GA) – Child Care Assistance – Energy Assistance • Health Care: – Medicare – Medical Assistance (MA) – MA-EPD – Waivers – Minnesota. Care • Work Programs: – SSA Work Incentives – Ticket to Work – Voc Rehab

• Comprehensive • Understandable language – user friendly • Alphabetical AND by Topic • Links to other relevant sites (NOTE: opens separate window) • Direct links to glossary definitions throughout site

Talk to an Expert Support along the way… Real-time support for: • • • 36 Content questions Understanding next steps Interpreting results Technical assistance Accessing public benefits data Connecting to the Work Incentives Connection

DB 101. org - Estimators

Benefits & Work Estimator

Real Time Benefits Access By clicking on talk to an expert you can connect to DLL Specialists at DHS who can pull benefits information from MAXIS and MMIS. Immediate access to benefits information keeps people engaged and creates more reliable estimator results.

Results 41

Estimator Results –NOT better off

Results go deeper…. • • • 43 Summary Timeline Monthly Income and Expenses Health coverage Tips Next Steps

• Build full reports of all information in the plan • Can be saved in pdf format that can be e-mailed and/or printed 44

School and Work Estimator

Plan

MA-EPD Estimator Results 47

Learn More Online learning Quick Start Guides 48 Meeting in a Box

The BIG DB 101 Goal • Help your clients make the right work decision for them based on accurate information. • Help you and your clients see how work could be a solution to things like health care, financial problems and planning, socialization, living situation, self-esteem or self-worth, and incorporate work as a therapeutic solution. • Provide consistent, accurate information on how work affects benefits and benefits counseling at every point in the system (county social services, public health, voc rehab/employment service providers, school system, health care system, etc. ) • Be a useful tool to make your job easier 49

Discussion • What are some ways you can incorporate DB 101 into your work (e. g. , training, reference, etc. )? • How will your providers/contractors use DB 101? • How will your clients or customers use DB 101? 50

Accessing DB 101 Information • DB 101 MN List Serv by sending an e-mail to dhs. db 101@state. mn. us with "DB 101 LIST" in the subject line • Questions about DB 101 can also be sent to the email: dhs. db 101@state. mn. us. 51

Inform. Engage. Motivate. Work is possible … with the right support, the right tools and the right information. 52