The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act also provides for a process to resolve disputes between beneficiaries and employment networks, between program managers and employment networks, and between program managers and providers of services. WorkWORLD could enhance a mediator's understanding of the options possible and/or chosen by or for an individual consumer and use the software to help devise a plan that may be acceptable to all parties.

Last year, at a symposium sponsored by the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities, the Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Social Security Administration's Office of Employment Support Programs, participants identified numerous issues of concern during this period of rapid change. WorkWORLD decision support provides potential solutions to these concerns:

One concern is that federal and state bureaucracies continue to serve as gatekeepers and may restrict access to services and supports for individuals with disabilities attempting to direct their own careers. Therefore, the "Work Incentives Outreach Program" directs SSA to establish a community-based work incentives planning and assistance program for the purpose of providing information related to work incentives to disabled beneficiaries. WorkWORLD decision support can ensure that comprehensive and accurate information is available to gatekeepers and consumers alike. Regular version updates include new information about program rules, benefit rates, and calculations. People with disabilities, their families, and advocates can make independent assessments about program options and alternative choices using WorkWORLD, both before and during the time they are interacting with gatekeepers. This kind of empowerment is an essential component to ensure the success of the outreach program.

Another concern is that Social Security disability recipients continue to suffer from inadequate or inaccurate information about work incentives and the impact of employment on their financial and health care status. New legislation provides for periodic reviews of employment networks to ensure effective quality assurance in the provision of services.

Under the program, SSA is directed to establish a competitive program of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to provide benefits planning and assistance, including information on the availability of protection and advocacy services, to disabled beneficiaries; and to establish a corps of work incentive specialists within the Social Security Administration who specialize in Title II and Title XVI work incentives for the purpose of providing accurate information to disabled beneficiaries.

WorkWORLD offers one of the most effective ways to manage the majority of complex interacting policies related to work incentives and benefits. The key word in the Act related to providing information is "accurate"-- without WorkWORLD decision support software it is very difficult to provide accurate information. It is nearly impossible for any individual to know how policies interact without the assistance of decision support tools such as WorkWORLD. In the absence of a uniform and objective system for defining and managing the complexity of program eligibility standards and regulations, people make incorrect assumptions, miss important details, or make subjective judgments that make it difficult to meet the goals of the new legislative initiatives.

There continues to be great concern that federal and state services for individuals with disabilities are compartmentalized, with fragmented eligibility criteria and conflicting goals. WorkWORLD is a logical technology resource that untangles the complex program standards and presents details about only those that are most relevant to the user. WorkWORLD'S Help/Information System provides an easy-to-use index that contains information about programs, with instant links to information about related topics and related programs. Text results in the software provide alerts and recommendations based on an integrated assessment of current and new situation data that cross a broad range of independent, yet interacting, programs.

Finally, concerns have been raised that federal employment and rehabilitation efforts have failed to sufficiently promote and support entrepreneurial and self-employment options for individuals with disabilities. WorkWORLD is completely neutral with respect to the kinds of employment options individuals may wish to explore using the software. People who are interested in re-careering by starting their own entrepreneurial ventures, and individuals who are ready to return to work after injury-related disabilities, can use the software to evaluate new employment situations, including the impact on benefits and net income.

Up to the Top

Up to Module 1 Page

Back to Previous Lesson

Forward to Next Lesson