A News-brief about the Massachusetts Network of Information Providers for People with Disabilities
Brought to you by: DisabilityInfo.org
January 8, 2009
January 8, 2009
The Ticket To Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA) offers opportunities for people with disabilities to work and keep their health and/or financial benefits.
Ticket to Work Program (TTW) provides people that receive social security benefits due to disability more choices for receiving employment services. Social Security Administration (SSA) issues tickets to eligible beneficiaries who, in turn, may choose to assign those tickets to an Employment Network (EN) of their choice to obtain employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services to achieve a vocational goal. Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is an Employment Network. If EN accepts the ticket, they will coordinate and provide appropriate services to help the beneficiary find and maintain employment.
If interested in the Ticket to Work Program, call the Local MRC office or Mass Rehabilitation Commission toll free number at 1-800-245-6543.
To learn more about Ticket to work, visit the following link, Social Security's Work Site: Ticket to Work
If you are planning on returning to work, you can talk with a Benefits Specialist free of charge. Project Impact & BenePLAN programs assist beneficiaries, family members, and professionals to calculate the impact of work might have on their Social Security and other benefits
Both programs give individuals with disabilities access to information regarding social security work incentives, maintaining public health insurance, employment-based health insurance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and federal and state housing programs.
MassHealth CommonHealth provides health insurance for people with disabilities who are working at least forty hours a month.
For information and resources about benefits planning, health insurance and employment services and supports for Massachusetts residents with disabilities, their families, and service providers go to MassCHEC (CommonHealth & Employment Connection) website at http://www.masschec.org
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides benefits to disabled or blind individuals who are "insured" by workers' (their children or surviving spouse) contribution to the social security trust fund.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a "Needs-Based" program that provides cash assistance payments to adults and children with disabilities who meet specific low-income guidelines. SSI benefits are also payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet low income guidelines. The Federal Government funds SSI from general tax revenues.
MNIP Database Training
There may be some people on your staff who would benefit from our MNIP training. It includes the use of the databases on-line and the use of all the resources to which you have access as MNIP members. If you or anyone at your organization would like to be trained for the first time, or would like a refresher on using MNIP resources, please contact Angie Aguirre at Angie.Aguirre@neindex.org
Joining the MNIP
If your agency is not yet a member of the MNIP and is interested in joining, or if you know of an agency that is interested, please direct it to our application page. There is no charge for membership in the MNIP. Members receive the MNIP newsletter; have access to a members’ site with electronic tools to facilitate provision of information and referral; and participate at periodic trainings and conferences. Any organization, which provides information and referral for people with disabilities at no cost to the public, is eligible for membership. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Bass at Robert.Bass@umassmed.edu
MNIP Funders
New England INDEX and the MNIP are funded by: Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
| Name | Position | Phone Number | E-mail Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bass | Director | (781) 642-0246 | Robert.Bass@umassmed.edu |
| Angie Aguirre | Special Projects Assistant | (781) 642-0289 | Angie.Aguirre@neindex.org |
| Vadim Droznin | Network Administrator | Vadim.Droznin@neindex.org | |
| Jonathan Gottlieb | Office Assistant | Jonathan.Gottlieb@neindex.org | |
| Audrey Huntley | Information Acquisition Coordinator | (781) 642-0286 | Audrey.Huntley@neindex.org |
| Becky Olsen | Information Specialist / Office Administrator | (781) 642-0026 | Rebecca.Olsen@neindex.org |
| Dave Owens | Web & Database Developer | Dave.Owens@neindex.org | |
| Viet Do | Web & Database Developer | Viet.Do@neindex.org | |
| John Rochford | Director of Technology | (781) 642-0255 | John.Rochford@neindex.org |
About INDEX
New England INDEX is a program of Commonwealth Medicine, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, located at the Shriver Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Note: Archived issues can be found at http://www.disabilityinfo.org/MNIP/news/archive
Useful information about our Web sites and network members can be found within those issues.
To receive this newsletter in text-only format, please send a message to info@disabilityinfo.org