DRC Programs
PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY (PABSS)
The goal of PABSS is to assist beneficiaries with disabilities in obtaining information and advice about receiving vocational rehabilitation and employment services. PABSS also provides advocacy or other related services that beneficiaries with disabilities may need to secure or regain gainful employment.
Click here to review Social Security Administration information about this program.
Click here to review the PABSS Annual Priorities under Employment.
All Social Security Administration (SSA) publications may be ordered on line. All the information you need to request multiple copies of materials including materials in alternative languages and formats is available on the SSA website. Simply go to http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/formspubs.htm
Work Incentives Planning & Outreach (WIPA) Program goal is to better enable SSA's beneficiaries with disabilities to make informed choices about work and benefits. Visit the websites below to review services offered by WIPA.
The Ticket to Work Program offers SSA disability beneficiaries greater choice in obtaining the services they need to help them go to work and achieve their employment goals. Visit the websites below to read more on the Ticket to Work Program.
PABSS Archives
On July 26, 2007, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel released its report "Voices for Change:Beneficiaries Paving the Way to Work, A Roadmap to Program Improvement," documenting recommendations received from beneficiaries of these program.
Social Security News
SSA Hiring Initiative!
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently received funding to hire a significant number of employees throughout the country. This hiring initiative offers a unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities who may want to get a job with SSA. These jobs will be at various skill levels including a number of entry-level positions. The SSA Hiring Initiative will end in September 2009. For more information, please direct your browser to http://www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/
SSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Revise SSA's Regulations on Representation of Parties – i.e. Social Security and SSI Applicants and Recipients
To make sure that your comments are considered, the Social Security Administration must receive them no later than November 7, 2008.
This is the Fed. Reg. Summary:
SUMMARY: We (SSA) are proposing several revisions to our rules on representation of parties. These proposed rules would recognize entities as representatives, define the concept of a principal representative, and authorize principal representatives to sign and file a claim for benefits on behalf of a claimant. These proposed rules would also mandate the use of Form SSA–1696 to appoint, revoke, or withdraw an appointment of a representative, and to waive a fee or direct payment of the fee. We propose to define the concept of a professional representative and require professional representatives to use our electronic services as they become available, including requiring professional representatives to submit certain requests for reconsideration or a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) electronically. Finally, we propose to require representatives to keep paper copies of certain documents that we may require. We are proposing these revisions to reflect changes in representatives’ business practices and to improve our efficiency by enhancing use of the Internet.
- Links to Full NPRM
- HTML: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-20500.htm
- PDF: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20500.pdf
The Proposed Changes are:
- Recognizing Entities as Representatives - seems straight forward and helpful, i.e. "Disability Rights "x" state" is the Representative recognized by SSA as opposed to only "Larry Lawyer," Disability Rights "x" state is the representative, so that if "Peter Paralegal", also of Disability Rights "x" state shows up at the SSA office with only an App't of Rep. form appointing "Larry Lawyer" the representative, Peter will be allowed to review the file or talk to the claims rep.
- Multiple Representatives and the Role of a Principal Representative – this section seems likely to create confusion so comments from the P&As with direct experience will be helpful
- The Role of a Professional Representative – This section could be a mixed bag so again comments from the P&As with direct experience will be helpful.
- Access Registration- Is really an element of the Professional Representation provision.
- Direct Payment Registration- Mostly not applicable to P&As except those few who do claimants entitlement work using non-PABSS funds.
- New Requirements to Use Form SSA-1696 to Appoint or Revoke the Appointment of Representative and to Waive a Fee, Direct Payment of a Fee, or Both – Likely to be confusing, burdensome, and error-prone if there are multiple representatives but not sure how to address
- Internet Appeals – Again a mixed bag, so comments from P&As needed.
- New Affirmative Duties for Representatives- mixed.
- New Prohibited Actions for Representatives- mixed
- Other Changes – most seem ok.
- Clarity of These Rules – The multiple, Principal and Professional Representatives provision acknowledge the reality of what happens but still could be clearer.
DATES: To make sure that your comments are considered, we must receive
them no later than November 7, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of four methods--Internet, facsimile, regular mail, or hand-delivery. Commenters should not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which of the following methods you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2007-0068 to ensure that we can associate your comments with the correct regulation:
- Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. (This is the most expedient method for submitting your comments, and we strongly urge you to use it.) In the Search Documents section of the Web page, type "SSA-2007-0068", select "Go", and then click "Send a Comment or Submission." The Federal eRulemaking portal issues you a tracking number when you submit a comment.
- Telefax to (410) 966-2830.
- Letter to the Commissioner of Social Security, P.O. Box 17703, Baltimore, MD 21235-7703.
- Deliver your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social Security Administration, 922 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days.
All comments are posted on the Federal eRulemaking portal, although they may not appear for several days after receipt of the comment. You may also inspect the comments on regular business days by making arrangements with the contact person shown in this preamble.
Caution: All comments we receive from members of the public are available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, you should be careful to include in your comments only information that you wish to make publicly available on the Internet. We strongly urge you not to include any personal information, such as your Social Security number or medical information, in your comments.
DRC Priorities for PABSS in Fiscal Year 2010
- Provide disability rights advocacy for people with disabilities who have a right to services under the federal Rehabilitation Act.
- DRC will represent Vocational Rehabilitation consumers to ensure that they receive information and advice regarding obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services or other services that a beneficiary with a disability may need to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment.
- DRC will identify and correct any deficiencies by entities providing services to people with disabilities related to employment networks and other concerns related to the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program.
- Review and investigate any complaint of improper or inadequate services provided to a beneficiary with a disability by a service provider, employer, or other entity, except SSA, involved in the beneficiary's return to work effort.
- DRC will review and investigate complaints by SSDI and/or SSI beneficiaries and take appropriate action to remedy the complaint.
- DRC will assist 10 beneficiaries in identifying issues and obstacles to their return to work effort and take appropriate action to remedy the complaint.
- DRC will inform people with disabilities of their legal rights at trainings conducted by DRC and other organizations.
- Conduct community trainings on the services DRC provides, sensitivity awareness and on specific topics related to DRC priorities as requested by other agencies.
- DRC will raise issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities at meetings attended by policy makers and/or people with disabilities.
- DRC will serve on the Arkansas Independent Living Council to advise the Council at its quarterly meetings on the role of DRC as well as ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- DRC will monitor the Board of the Division of Services for the Blind to advise the Board at its quarterly meetings on the role of DRC and on ways to stop discrimination against people who are blind or visually impaired.
- DRC will serve on the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Advisory Board's EmployAbility project to advise the Board at its quarterly meetings on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities who are Medicaid recipients.
- DRC will convene meetings of ARPie to share information with parent advocacy groups/Parent Training Information Centers about education advocacy issues.
- DRC will inform people with disabilities of their rights through the publication and dissemination of pertinent information.
- DRC will publish and distribute DRC newsletters to people on the DRC mail list, the e-mail list, and will publish each on the DRC website in accessible formats to inform the public on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- DRC will attend transition conferences to inform students and staff about DRC services.
- DRC will distribute the Client Assistance Program (CAP) and PABSS brochures to high schools to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
- Provide the DRC display and materials in conferences to inform the public about DRC activities to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- DRC will distribute the Client Assistance Program/PABSS DVD that was produced in FY 2009 to CRPs to inform people with disabilities of DRC services and client rights.
- Timely information will be provided on each DRC program, upcoming events, cases, investigations, legislation, etc.
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