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The New Freedom Initiative and Ticket to Work

President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative on February 1, 2001, as part of a national effort to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities. It is “a comprehensive plan that represents an important step in working to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives, and participate fully in community life” (www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/init.html).

The following excerpt from the initiative (www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html) outlines the use of the Ticket to Work legislation as a means to support participation in the workplace for persons with disabilities:

Integrating Americans with Disabilities Into the Workforce (Part B: Ticket to Work)

Overview

In 1999, Congress passed the “Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act,” which will give Americans with disabilities both the incentive and the means to seek employment.

As part of the New Freedom Initiative, the Administration will ensure the Act’s swift implementation.

Today, there are more than 7.5 million Americans with disabilities receiving benefits under Federal disability programs. According to a recent Harris Survey, conducted by the National Organization of Disability, 72 percent of the Americans with disabilities want to work. However, in part because of disincentives in Federal law, less than 1 percent of those receiving disability benefits fully enter the workforce.

Prior to the “Ticket to Work” law, in order to continue to receive disability payments and health coverage, recipients could not engage in any substantial work. The Ticket to Work law, however, provides incentives for people with disabilities to return to work by:

• Providing Americans with disabilities with a voucher-like “ticket” that allows them to choose their own support services, including vocational education programs and rehabilitation services.
• Extending Medicare coverage for SSDI beneficiaries so they can return to work without the fear of losing health benefits.
• Expanding Medicaid eligibility categories for certain working people with severe disabilities so that they can continue to receive benefits after their income or condition improves.

Summary of Action

President Bush Has Committed to Sign an Order to Support Effective and Swift Implementation of “Ticket to Work”. The order will direct the federal agency to continue to swiftly implement the law giving Americans with disabilities the ability to choose their own support services and to maintain their health benefits when they return to work.

Reprinted from www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html and www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/init.html.

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