Employment Resources

Through a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, the National Disability Institute (NDI) developed educational resources designed to educate Texans about how the benefits a person with a disability receives could be impacted if they have a job. The project, Understanding Employment Options and Supports, aim to bust some of the myths associated with working while receiving a public benefit like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These resources can help people with disabilities, their families, and professionals make informed decisions related to employment and financial empowerment for people with disabilities.

If you are a Texan receiving disability benefits, the thought of getting your first job or returning to work may be scary. Fortunately, Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Work Incentives can help you integrate slowly into the workforce, and knowing how to use their Work Incentives and work supports can help you achieve your employment goals and enhance your financial well-being. Even if you are not among the nearly one-third of Americans with a disability who live in poverty, you may be unsure about performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) fearing it may jeopardize your benefits.

While SSA’s Work Incentives provide a safety net when you are testing your ability to work, learning how to best use them may be confusing. Thanks to a self-paced online training developed by NDI, it doesn’t have to be. Making the Choice to Work: Social Security Disability Benefits and Work Incentives explains the process in detail and answers your questions about working with a disability. Whether you receive SSDI, SSI, or both (Concurrent) benefits, Making the Choice to Work was created to provide individuals, families, and professionals:

• Basic information about Social Security Disability benefits and Medicare/Medicaid benefits
• Information to support informed decision-making
• Introduction to programs and services available to help people with disabilities move toward financial success.

The videos below will answer most of your questions about using Social Security Work Incentives and supports and directs you to professionals who can fill in any knowledge gaps. Additionally, it provides information about advocacy, employment networks, and benefits counseling to assist you in your job search.

• • Video Resources 
    
    • “SSDI and SSDI Work Incentives” – Webinar developed in English and translated into Spanish
    • “SSI and SSI Work Incentives” – Webinar developed in English and translated into Spanish
    • “Answering the Big Question: If I Go to Work, Will I Lose My Medicaid or Medicare?” – Short video developed in English and translated into Spanish
    • “Debunking the Three Biggest Myths About SSI and Work” – Short video developed in English and translated into Spanish

• Employment Assistance (EA) is a service that helps people “obtain” competitive, integrated employment.
• Supported Employment (SE) is a service that helps people “maintain” competitive, integrated employment.
• Day habilitation (DH) is defined as a facility-based service provided in a group setting during weekday work hours.

In 2013, SB 45 defined these services in law and required them to be offered in all Medicaid community-based waivers. These programs include case management/service coordination, services specifically designed to assist people to be employed, and to get other services to help them meet their goals. The tables below demonstrate that although people want to work, competitive employment is not a goal reflected on service plans.

Although individuals are not required to include DH on their service plans, Medicaid community-based waiver participants’ service plans typically include day habilitation (57%). Services offered in DH vary, but may include recreational activity, specialized therapy, and life skills training. It is widely accepted that DH programs require remediation for compliance with the HCBS Settings Rule.

Many DH programs are segregated, involve repetitive tasks rather than skill building activities or employment goals, and some are co-located with sheltered workshops where some workers are paid below minimum wage.

Texas Employment First Task Force has begun discussions about system improvements, but without sustained agency commitment and effort, some are concerned that their work will stall. Best practices to consider include Oregon state agencies who strengthened collaboration by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding to support transitioning students with disabilities to enter the workforce. They were able to leverage new funding as well as sequence existing funding strategies to support their efforts. The MOU addressed reporting by streamlining agency data collection and making it available to stakeholders. Other states, like Vermont and New Hampshire, have also reduced duplication of effort by implementing effective strategies and partnerships to efficiently coordinate resources.

Recommended Actions for System Improvement

• Expect that employment is the first and preferred option provided to working age adults who receive public benefits.
• Designate employment supports as the primary method of funding state-financed day services.
• Initiate day activity plans before high school graduation by offering comprehensive transition programs that give students credit for working in the community within multiple work settings to explore interests and skills.
• Modify reimbursement methodologies because the current allocation supports segregated day options.
• Prohibit the co-location of sheltered workshops and day habilitation facilities.
• Ensure waiver participants know they may choose or decline to include day habilitation on their individual plans of care.
• Assist employed persons who receive SSI to implement work incentives to exclude money, resources, and certain expenses from total earned income.