Section 4: Employment Networks (ENs)

Section 4 - Employment Networks (ENs)

Part 1 - Who can be an Employment Network (EN)?
Part 2 - How does an entity become an EN?
Part 3 - What are the EN's responsibilities?
Part 4 - Does an EN charge a beneficiary for services?
Part 5 - Can an EN discontinue working with someone who has assigned
Part 6 - If an EN has received the Ticket assignment from a beneficiary,
Part 7 - Employment Networks Memorandum of Understanding

Part 1 - Who can be an Employment Network (EN)?

A. An EN can be Any Public or Private Entity

An EN is any qualified entity that has entered into an agreement with the SSA to function as an EN under the Ticket to Work program. To serve as an EN, an entity must meet and maintain compliance with both general and specific selection criteria. General criteria include:

• having systems in place to protect the confidentiality of personal information about beneficiaries seeking or receiving services;
• being both physically and programmatically accessible;
• not discriminating in the provision of services based on a beneficiary's age, gender, race, color, creed, or national origin;
• having adequate resources to perform the activities required under the agreement with SSA or the ability to obtain them; and,
• implementing accounting procedures and control operations necessary to carry out the Ticket program.

The specific criteria that an entity must meet to qualify as an EN include:

• using staff who are qualified under applicable certification, licensing or registration standards that apply to their profession including certification or accreditation by national accrediting or certifying organizations;
• using staff that are otherwise qualified based on education or experience, such as by using staff with experience or a college degree in a field related to the services the EN wants to provide such as vocational counseling, human relations, teaching, or psychology; and
• taking reasonable steps to assure that if any medical and related health services are provided, such medical and health-related services are provided under the formal supervision of persons licensed to prescribe or supervise the provision of these services in the State in which the services are performed.

Any entity must have applicable certificates, licenses, or other credentials if such documentation is required by State law to provide VR services, employment services or other support services.

Part 2 - How does an entity become an EN?

An entity, other than a State VR agency, applies to SSA to become an EN by responding to SSA's request for proposals (RFP). This RFP is available through SSA's website at: www.ssa.gov/work. The applicant must certify that it is qualified to provide employment services, VR services, or other support services to beneficiaries either directly or through contract or other arrangement.

Part 3 - What are the EN's responsibilities?

The EN assumes responsibility for the coordination and delivery of employment services, VR services, or other support services to beneficiaries who have assigned their Ticket to that EN. An EN may consist of either a single provider of such services or a group of providers organized to combine their resources into a single entity. A one-stop delivery system established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 can serve as an EN. An EN provides services either directly or by entering into agreements with other providers, which can furnish appropriate services and serve prescribed service areas and take measures to ensure that services provided under the Program meet the requirements of individual work plans (IWPs). An EN must develop and implement IWPs in partnership with each beneficiary whom they agree to serve in a manner that affords the beneficiary the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting an employment goal and specific services needed to achieve that goal. Each IWP must meet the requirements detailed in the section below.

Finally, the EN must report to the Program Manager (i.e. Maximus) each time it accepts a Ticket for assignment; submit a copy of each signed IWP to the PM; submit to the PM copies of amendments to a beneficiary's IWP; submit to the PM a copy of any agreement the EN has established with a state VR agency; submit information to assist the PM conducting the reviews necessary to assess a beneficiary's timely progress; report to the PM the specific outcomes achieved with respect to specific services the EN provided or secured on behalf of the beneficiary; provide a copy of its most recent annual report on outcomes to each beneficiary considering assigning a Ticket to it; meet all financial reporting requirements; collect and record such data as SSA requires; and, adhere to all requirements specified in the agreement with SSA.

SSA will periodically evaluate the EN's performance to ensure effective quality assurance in the provision of services by ENs. SSA will solicit and consider the views of the individuals the EN serves and the PM monitoring the EN. ENs must make the results of these periodic reviews available to beneficiaries to assist them in choosing among available ENs. ervices or other support services.

Part 4 - Does an EN charge a beneficiary for services?

No, an EN can not charge a beneficiary for services. The EN can be paid by SSA through two payment options.

Part 5 - Can an EN discontinue working with someone who has assigned their Ticket to the EN?

An EN's role in the Ticket Program is voluntary. This is true of all ENs, other than a State VR agency serving as an EN. An EN is not required to serve any particular beneficiary. An EN is not required to provide or offer any specified list of services. After beginning to serve a beneficiary, the EN may choose, by following certain procedures outlined in the final Ticket regulations and subject to any dispute resolution procedures, to sever the relationship and stop serving the beneficiary. We expect most ENs will limit their work to those areas, which are within their expertise.

Readers should take note, that in the case of a state VR agency serving as an EN, all of the requirements of Title I of the Rehabilitation Act, which govern State VR agencies, will continue to apply to services provided through the Ticket program. As a practical matter, this may mean that some beneficiaries will have a better guarantee of available services through the State VR agency than through an EN. It is up to the beneficiary, with or without help from third parties, to evaluate the contrasting services available and work with the entity of his or her choice.

Part 6 - If an EN has received the Ticket assignment from a beneficiary, can the EN refer the beneficiary to the state VR agency for services?

An EN that holds a beneficiary's Ticket assignment may refer the beneficiary to a state VR agency for services. However, to do this, the EN and state VR agency must have an agreement that specifies the conditions under which the state VR agency will provide services. This agreement, or memorandum of understanding, must be in writing and signed by the EN and VR agency before the referral is made.

Part 7 - Employment Networks Memorandum of Understanding (EN MOU) Form Packet

These forms are in Acrobat format (.pdf). If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can get it free at Adobe.

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