What's New:
WDBN Action Items:
The following information has been presented at recent WDBN meetings and / or included in recent newsletters. Your feedback is welcome.
GET INVOLVED! Calling for a Revised BPQY
The BPQY is one of the most useful tools for the ben spec, as it includes information about a person's benefits, earnings record, and use of work incentives. The information already present is necessary and helpful. Changes have been proposed to the BPQY, and these are some of the features we may see on the BPQY in the future:
- Acknowledgment of participation in SSA related demonstration projects,
- Primary and Secondary Disability information,
- Workers' Compensation or other offset income,
- Date of last Work Review,
- Use of Expedited Reinstatement,
- Self-Employment earnings verification,
- Use of Self-Employment Work Incentives, and
- Ticket to Work Status and Eligibility.
These proposed changes would give a ben spec more information about the individual; therefore, help a ben spec to provide more accurate information to a beneficiary. Additionally, a ben spec may not have to verify as much of the information on the BPQY with SSA.
Overall, changes to the BPQY are becoming increasingly important and possible. In order to see these changes take place, ben specs can write a letter to the Commissioner of Social Security, Michael Astrue. Please see the example letter attached. Feel free to use it and/or add additional feedback to the letter. The more we raise awareness, the more likely it is we will benefit from future changes to the BPQY.
You can send letters to:
Michael Astrue,
Commissioner
Social Security Administration
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21235
Please feel free to download our template letter (WORD).
Quality Assurance Update
Contributed by Tammy Liddicoat (liddicoat@eri-wi.org)
As part of the work of the Wisconsin Benefits Specialist Quality Assurance Task Force, a proposed Code of Conduct for Wisconsin Benefits Specialists has been developed in coordination with a variety of benefits specialists and stakeholders. The Code of Conduct is in the final draft form and the Task Force is now asking for final input from benefits specialists statewide so that these may be adopted as part of a professional credential that is slated for implementation in 2009. If you are a Work Incentives, Elderly or Disability Benefits Specialist practicing in Wisconsin, please read and review this Code of Conduct and indicate your approval or provide specific feedback to Tammy Liddicoat by email at tliddicoat@eri-wi.org by August 1, 2008.
Assessing Product and Services Sold to DVR
Contributed by Tammy Liddicoat (liddicoat@eri-wi.org)
How can Wisconsin Benefits specialists providing services to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to ensure that the products and services they are delivering are accurate, individualized and include the most appropriate information for a DVR customer? This has been a challenge for both the WDBN and DVR because our system does not have any process for assessing the products and services that work incentives benefits specialists (WIBS) provide.
For the past few months the WDBN has been involved in a work group with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation around the improvement of referral consistency and development of best practice standards for providing benefits services and reports. The committee is made up of several WIBS from across the state and four DVR reps including two counselors.
Together the work group has developed a written set of best practice quality indicators which apply to benefits analyses/written reports and will be using those to conduct a statewide assessment. The one-time pilot project will involve approximately 75 cases where benefit reports/analyses were purchased by DVR in 2007. Random, de-identified samples from each DVR vendor will be evaluated, along with the corresponding DVR case notes, against the list of quality indicators. The assessment will be conducted by the work group members and each case will receive two reviews.
The expected outcome of this exercise will be to create 1) a credible tool and system for assessing the quality of written benefits analysis products, and 2) a best practice standard and expectations regarding the role of DVR counselors in benefits counseling services.
The evaluation will be getting underway soon and will be completed by the end of the year. The final list of “benefits analysis quality indicators” will be available very soon. Look for this and any updates on our website under WDBN News (http://www.eri-wi.org/WDBN/News.htm). If you have any questions regarding this process please contact Tammy Liddicoat (liddicoat@eri-wi.org) or 608-246-3444 ext 222.
Managed Care and Employment Task Force Recommendations
Contributed by Mary Ridgely (mrid2252@aol.com)
The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) convened the Managed Care and Employment Task Force in May 2007. The Task Force was charged with recommending a comprehensive strategy to "expand work options for adults who rely on the community-based, long-term care system." Seven issue committees held over thirty meetings during the past year to analyze current issues and challenges facing people in the long-term care system and to develop specific recommendations for the full Task Force to consider. A draft of the Final Report was reviewed at the last meeting of the Task Force on May 28, 2008. It includes seventeen recommendations that support and facilitate a broad range of employment choices and outcomes for people with disabilities.
DHFS has planned a number of listening sessions around the state to allow members of the public to review the draft final report and make recommendations or offer comments and feedback. Two recommendations are of particular importance to benefits/work incentives specialists. The following are excerpted from the Draft Final Report:
Recommendation # 4 states: "As individuals consider the possibilities around employment, benefits specialists should be available to provide accurate, timely and easy-to-understand information on the intersection of benefits eligibility and employment, including work incentives that allow individuals to work while maintaining eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid and long-term care services."
"As individuals consider the possibilities around employment, they should be fully informed about the Medical Assistance Purchase Plan (MAPP). To increase the use of MAPP as a vehicle to facilitate employment among those enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid, the state should make specific programmatic changes that will eliminate disincentives to work that currently exist in MAPP."
Some of the "programmatic changes" that are recommended for MAPP include:
- Raising the income limits for participants in MAPP;
- Changing the MAPP premium formula to eliminate the impact of a participant's monthly disability/retirement cash benefit payment on the monthly premium amount;
- Creating the means for MAPP participants to retain assets accumulated through employment when they retire, without losing Medicaid eligibility; and
- Eliminating the "marriage penalty" for MAPP participants by excluding a spouse's income for eligibility purposes.
The most effective way to get support for these recommendations is through stories of real people who would be affected by the policy changes. If you know of any individuals who are working and face the possibility of losing Medicaid eligibility when they retire, contact Mary Ridgely at 608-455-1563, or email her at mrid2252@aol.com.
Accelerated Benefits Demonstration
The Accelerated Benefits Demonstration project will provide health benefits and employment supports to certain newly entitled Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. Under current law most SSDI beneficiaries must wait 24 months after cash benefits begin before they become eligible for Medicare. Thus, many people have no health insurance and therefore, have limited access to medical care during a period of time when access to those resources might serve to help improve their medical condition and thereby increase their ability to improve their self-sufficiency through employment. Beginning in March 2008, enrollments will begin in the Milwaukee / Waukesha areas of Wisconsin. More information.
National Association of Disability Benefit Specialists (NADBS)
The first edition of the National Association of Disability Benefit Specialists (NADBS), a Division of the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA), Newsletter is now available! Download a copy of the newsletter: WORD version | PDF version.
The mission of the NADBS Association is to increase public understanding of the social and economic gain to individuals and communities through empowerment of persons with disabilities to become self-sufficient, self-supporting, and contributing members of the community. NADBS will also:
- Help to develop a specific body of knowledge and skills in this field
- Work to disseminate new information
- Encourage and stimulate pragmatic research and enlightened inquiry
- Promote student learning and development in the field!
Approved by the NRA Board in November 2006, the NADBS is now accepting members!
Professional Membership is $30 (requires NRA membership)
Student Membership is $15 (requires NRA membership)
For more information about this exciting new Division, contact the NRA office at 888-258-4295 or download a copy of the National Association of Disability Specialists Membership Flyer (pdf).
WDBN Training and Technical Assistance
The WDBN is changing the Technical Assistance (TA) model starting in 2008. There will be three Technical Assistance providers for the WDBN. They are Megan Fowler, John Fuller and Stephanie Drum. Please find the county in which you are located to determine who your TA is. Download a copy of the map with list of counties: WORD format | PDF format.
Through the WDBN you are able to access benefits counseling support. Please contact the TA in your area with any questions you have related to your role as a benefits counselor. In 2008 the WDBN TAs will be visiting with benefits specialists across the state and offering more one-on-one training as needed.
Stimulus Payment News Release and Fact Sheets
Starting in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals. The vast majority of Americans who qualify for the payment will not have to do anything other than file their 2007 individual income tax return to receive their payment this year. The IRS will use information on the tax return to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payments. Check out the Internal Revenue Service website for instructions for Low-Income Workers and Recipients of Social Security and Certain Veterans' Benefits.
MIG-RATS Research
The MIG-RATS provide resources and support to the ongoing research activities of the Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIGs). The central feature of the MIGs is to support employment for people with disabilities. Our research efforts focus on employment, disability, and related services. Check out the projects and happenings in Benefits Counseling.
SSA Cheat Sheet for 2008
The 2008 Social Security Administration amounts are now available. Download this handy cheatsheet with the 2008 SSA amounts: WORD format | PDF format. We will be sending a complete update in February when the Federal Poverty Levels are released.
Benefits Planning Query Handbook
The Benefits Planning Query Handbook (BPQY) is now available for download as a WORD document. A BPQY is a planning tool that can be used by Area Work Incentive Coordinators (AWIC), the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) Cadre members, advocates and other personnel such as Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselors.
The information in a BPQY is used to provide customized services and information on SSA's employment support programs to beneficiaries with disabilities who want to start or keep working. Analysis of an individual's disability and work status is the first step when planning a successful return to work initiative. Download a copy of the Benefits Planning Query Handbook (WORD).
Medicare Part D Update Webcast & Materials
If you did not get a chance to attend the recent Medicare Part D Update training at any of the statewide locations, the training is now available for viewing by webcast.
Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It was enacted as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and went into effect on January 1, 2006. The training covers the basics of the program and includes information about what to expect in 2008.
Links to Webcast:
Please note the training was split into morning and afternoon sessions.
Materials:
The following materials were distributed at the training. Alternate formats of each handout are indicated.
- Medicare Part D Presentation: Powerpoint | PDF
- Low Cost Plans List 2008: WORD | PDF
- Medicaid Options For People With Disabilities: WORD | PDF
- 2008 Medicare Part D Plans: XLS | PDF
- Tips for Navigating Medicare.gov website: WORD | PDF
WDBN: Looking Forward to 2008!
We are very pleased to announce that Employment Resources, Inc. ERI has been awarded the contract to carry out the continued development and management of the Wisconsin Disability Benefits Network. We are very pleased by this news and look forward to working with all of you to further the understanding of benefits information and advance the profession of benefits counseling in Wisconsin.
It appears that 2008 will offer changes on many levels. In Wisconsin, Managed Long Term Care is expanding and the DHFS Managed Care and Employment Task Force is placing a renewed emphasis on integrated employment, which may influence state policy regarding benefits counseling and related training. Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) are combining elderly and disability services and will soon serve every county with the services of a Disability Benefit Specialist. Nationally, revised Social Security Ticket to Work regulations are planned to take affect this spring with promises of expanded eligibility for consumers and more flexible milestone payments for providers. National associations for benefits specialists have been formed to promote continuing education, standardization and unity for benefits specialists. We highly encourage benefits specialists to join these new associations.
As for next year, in partnership with Disability Rights Wisconsin and UW-Stout, the WDBN plans to 1) customize the WDBN initial training course to meet the unique needs of Work Incentive Benefits Specialists (WIBS) and Disability Benefits Specialists (DBS); 2) develop web-based training strategies to provide flexible and easily accessible information for benefits specialists; 3) build the WDBN web presence; and 4) continue to work with critical partners to create a united quality assurance system for the profession of benefits counseling in Wisconsin.
Basic Benefits Training Resources
For those of you who attended the recent 9 day WDBN Basic Training, don't forget that you can access training resources online. If you have any questions about the resources or forgot your login information, please contact Stephanie Drum (drum@eri-wi.org)
New Benefits Associations
National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists
The National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists is now accepting applications for membership. The goal of the organization is to serve as a medium for deliberation, exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills and experiences, and for compilation and dissemination of information.
NABWIS members will include individuals, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, including voluntary and private organizations, public and private not-for-profit rehabilitation providers, disability advocacy organizations, consumer organizations, self-help groups and individuals. Categories of membership are:
Membership Levels:
- Professional Members (PM) members are individuals who are committed to the purpose and supportive of the goals of NABWIS and have, presently are or will shortly (within one year) hold a position as a benefits/work incentives specialist or provides training and technical assistance to practitioners.
- State Chapter (SC) organizations or federations of organizations of which support the purpose and goals of NABWIS may be admitted as State Chapters.
- Associate Members (AM) are any individuals or organizations that support the purpose and goals of NABWIS. Associate Members are generally less than state-wide in the scope of their activities or are active in connection with specific disability groups or professions, or are composed mainly of volunteers.
Find out more at http://www.nabwis.org.
National Association of Disability Benefit Specialists (NADBS)
The National Association of Disability Benefit Specialists (NADBS) is a Division of the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA).
Our MISSION: To increase public understanding of the social and economic gain to individuals and communities through empowerment of persons with disabilities to become self-sufficient, self-supporting, and contributing members of the community. NADBS will also:
- Help to develop a specific body of knowledge and skills in this field
- Work to disseminate new information
- Encourage and stimulate pragmatic research and enlightened inquiry
- Promote student learning and development in the field!
Approved by the NRA Board in November 2006, the NADBS is now accepting members!
Professional Membership is $30 (requires NRA membership)
Student Membership is $15 (requires NRA membership)
For more information about this exciting new Division, contact the NRA office at 888-258-4295 or download a copy of the National Association of Disability Specialists Membership Flyer (pdf).
