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Work Incentive Benefits Services are intended to assist consumers receiving Social Security disability benefits or other public benefits toward self-sufficiency by addressing questions or concerns related to work and earnings and navigate benefit, entitlement, and economic assistance programs. This service is recommended for all consumers receiving public benefits including benefits and entitlements administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and FoodShare, Medicaid, BadgerCare, Subsidized Housing, county, and state benefits, etc.). There is no requirement that the consumer be working or have earnings to have any benefits services authorized.
Services should be responsive to the consumer's current need. Services should be individualized to reflect information the consumer would like to know regarding their benefits and how earnings or other goals could affect them.
Beginning in 2024, service providers must demonstrate that they have completed Work Incentive Benefits Counseling training. Service providers interested in adding the service to their service agreement should contact the Program Development Specialist, or refer to the list of approved trainings available on the DVR Service Provider Training webpage.
SERVICE | PURPOSE | TIMEFRAME(S) | DELIVERABLES | PAYMENT |
---|---|---|---|---|
Work Incentive Benefits Introductory Meeting | Establish shared understanding between consumer, provider and DVR of future benefits consultation activities | 45 days from date of authorization |
|
$200 |
Work Incentive Benefits Portfolio | Provide consumers with an accurate account of their current benefits situation | 60 days from date of authorization |
|
$300 |
Work Incentive Benefits Analysis with Plan | Assist consumer to execute a plan to access work incentives | 45 days from date of authorization |
|
$400 |
Work Incentive Benefits Plan Assistance | Assist consumers to execute the Work Incentive Plan | 45 days - 12 months from date of authorization |
|
$300 |
The purpose of the introductory meeting is to provide general information to the consumer about Work Incentives and help the DVR Staff, consumer and provider determine and understand the purpose of the Benefits Consultation services that will follow. To complete this work, the benefits consultant needs information from the DVR Staff and consumer regarding the consumer's goals, including employment and income targets, housing, etc. The benefits consultant also needs to verify information from public entities about the consumer's current benefits. The consumer or their guardian must sign releases of information for the benefits consultant to receive these verifications. The releases of information should be signed at this meeting.
This meeting should also include the following activities:
The benefits portfolio is a point in time summary of the consumer's current benefit situation. It informs the conversation about the consumer's employment goal. If the consumer's goal changes in light of the information shared by the provider, this updated goal should be used to complete a Work Incentives Plan.
Verified benefits the portfolio should include:
The Work Incentive Benefits Plan will combine the information about a consumer's goals from the intake interview and subsequent verification of benefits to forecast expected changes to benefits. It will explain actions the consumer needs to take to stay current with the agencies that administer these benefits, and assistance the consumer can access to execute those actions, including assistance from the provider.
The Plan should include:
Meetings between the consumer and service provider within the 12-month period following the plan review meeting, to implement the steps detailed in the Work Incentives Benefits Plan. Assist in managing benefits/entitlement/funding status, including wage reporting to SSA and continuing benefits eligibility and facilitate a warm hand off to Ticket to Work. The provider should also answer questions/consult as needed as progress is made and update the plan to address changing circumstances and additional consumer questions/concerns.
The provider is expected to supply VR with a summary of activities that were completed prior to billing for the final payment. This summary should include:
$200 | Work Incentive Benefits Introductory meeting: Payable upon completion of acceptable service, meeting, and report to DVR within 5 business days of the receipt of signed releases. Completion of service not to exceed 45 days from issue of service authorization. Code
|
$300 | Work Incentive Benefits Portfolio: Payable upon completion of acceptable service, meeting, and report to DVR within 5 business days of the conclusion of the last contact with the consumer. Completion of service not to exceed 60 days from issue of service authorization. Code
|
$400 | Work Incentive Benefits Analysis with Plan: Payable upon completion of acceptable service, meeting, and report to DVR within 5 business days of the conclusion of the last contact with the consumer. Completion of the service and report not to exceed 45 days from issue of service authorization. Code
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$300 | Work Incentive Benefits Plan Assistance: Payable upon completion of acceptable service, meeting, and report to DVR within 5 business days of the conclusion of the last contact with the consumer. Code
|
Service Notes:
Purchase Order Instructions/Timing: The WIBS Introductory meeting, Portfolio and Plan should be authorized together on a single purchase order on three separate lines. The time frame for all three services should not exceed 6 months. If the consumer is already working, or has immediate needs that require assistance, the Plan Assistance service should also be authorized.
Meeting Flexibilities/Attendance: DVR staff attending the various Workforce Incentive Benefits Services meetings whether in person, virtually, or by phone is important for providing vocational planning and support to our consumers. Based on local WDA practices, any DVR staff may attend these meetings. DVR staff attendance is not required at the Introductory meeting unless needed by the consumer. DVR staff attendance is required for at least one of the following meetings: the Portfolio Meeting, the Plan meeting, or the Portfolio/Plan combined meeting. Based on consumer circumstances, it may be decided to have a single/combined meeting to cover both the Portfolio and the Plan.
Required Reporting Templates
Qualifications
Providers who are delivering Work Incentive Benefits Consultation services must agree to have qualified personnel complete the services.
Starting in 2024, it is expected that DVR Service Provider staff will be required to complete a formal training program for the preparation of Work Incentive Benefits Analysis for consumers receiving public benefits. A provider will be required to have documentation of previous certification via the Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) program, or similar comprehensive training to include:
By 2024, the provider must be able to document training meeting the requirements for the 2024-2026 service agreement, effective July 1, 2024.
Metrics
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has identified service specific criteria for all statewide services. The list below contains objective information that DVR will begin to collect and use to establish baseline quality information, and eventually establish goals for quality improvement with our provider partners. The effort to collect the information, verify accuracy, establish data baselines and targets will take time and collaboration. DVR's goal in identifying these criteria in the technical specifications is to assist providers in understanding what elements DVR considers important in the delivery of statewide services.
Criteria |
---|
TIMELINESS |
Time from referral to service provider to conclusion of Work Incentive Benefits Introductory Meeting |
Time from referral to service provider to conclusion of Benefit Portfolio |
Time from referral to service provider to conclusion of Work Incentive Benefits Analysis and Plan |
Time from referral to service provider to conclusion of Benefits Plan Assistance |
Provider Qualifications: |
Professional Credentials Basic/Professional Certifications |