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This year NENA is again offering virtual fundamentals courses in August known as Pre-Conference Sessions.

2024 EN Fundamentals Course: Employment Network (EN) 101:

In this session, we will cover the basics that every organization operating as an Employment Network needs to know - hiring processes, suitability administrative requirements, operational procedures, intake, tracking, PII, partnering, marketing, and more.

Examples of forms, agreements, policies, procedures, and other tools will be made available to participants. Offering weekly from August 6-27, 2024.

2024 EN Fundamentals Course: Work Incentives (WIC) 101:

This session is aimed at ENs who are focused on providing support services to new or returning workers. Our discussion will focus on the existing SSA work incentives and how each will be used when earnings are received. You will be familiar enough with each work incentive applying to Title II and to SSI and will be prepared to have a basic discussion with your worker about each. You will also learn when that worker needs to be referred to a benefits planner for intensive planning services involving all public benefits found within your worker’s benefits portfolio. Offered weekly from August 1-22, 2024.

1. There are 2 ways to sign-up for these courses. Register while signing up for the 2024 Conference! There is a reduced rate for the Fundamentals courses when also registering for the conference. 
2. Register separately for each individual course if not attending the 2024 Conference (click on event below)

2024 EN Fundamentals Course: Employment Network (EN) 101

2024 EN Fundamentals Course: Work Incentives (WIC) 101

***Reasonable accommodations for the Employment Network Fundamentals Courses must be requested by July 19, 2024.

June 3, 2024

The Social Security Administration would like to inform all Employment Networks (EN) that an updated Request for Application (RFA) SSA-EN-RFA-24-0002, dated May 31, 2024, is posted to the Work site. To view the updated application, visit EN RFA. The following clarifications and updates are included:

Administrative EN (AEN) Business Model (Part III, Section 1.B.2.c.(3).iii.)

• AENs must maintain a minimum of two provider affiliates.
• AENs are responsible for ensuring their provider affiliates meet and maintain the requirements identified in Part III, Sections 1.A and 1.B.
• AENs are no longer required to submit the monthly provider affiliate report.
• AENs must report to ENService@ssa.gov any changes in provider affiliates within one business day of the change event using the updated Form 1374: Ticket Program Agreement (TPA) Change Form.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) (Part III, Section 1.B. NOTE. and Part III, Section 4.C.)

• ENs with more than one business model or interested in adding another model are not required to obtain a separate UEI.

EN Reporting Requirements (Part III, Section 8.A.2.)

• ENs are not required to report to ENService@SSA.gov IWP amendments or Ticket unassignments. ENs still need to keep case notes and IWP amendments on file.

Security and Suitability Requirements (Part IV, Section 5)

• The National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) Electronic Application (eApp) replaces the Electronic Questionnaire (eQIP) for background investigations processing.
• Applicants are no longer required to submit the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Authorization Form as part of the suitability package.
• New link to the updated Employment Network Security and Suitability Business Process Guide and eApp Application Listing.

This RFA replaces the prior RFA, SSA-EN- RFA-24-0001. All ENs are required to adhere to the new EN TPA that the updated RFA offers. ENs are NOT required to sign this new RFA version. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ENService@ssa.gov.

June 10, 2024

June 18, 2024

Washington, D.C., June 18, 2024 – Last month, the Senate Finance Committee convened to address challenges and opportunities within Social Security Disability benefits. Discussions focused on enhancing work incentives and support systems through policy reforms, aiming to strengthen employment opportunities while ensuring sustainable disability benefits. Access the recorded session, members' statements, and witnesses' testimonies on the Senate Finance Committee's website using the hyperlink provided in the title above.

Senate Hearing on Work and Social Security Disability Benefits

June 26, 2024

Social Security regularly verifies the employment status and role of Employment Network (EN) employees to ensure Social Security has up-to-date contact information and for portal users to maintain access to the Ticket Portal. Social Security has streamlined the employment verification process and will now utilize Survey Monkey. As usual, Social Security will verify the employment of all EN employees as part of the regular annual Security Awareness certification in February. Additionally, Social Security will verify the employment of all portal users and main Points of Contact (POC) (Signatory Authority, Program Contact, Ticketholder Contact, Suitability Contact, and Payment Contact) during two other timeframes within the year.

On July 1, Social Security will send each Program Contact an email titled, “July 2024 Employment Verification,” from EmploymentVerificationProcess@yourtickettowork.ssa.gov that includes a link via Survey Monkey. Following the link, the Program Contact will be asked to click a button to affirm that the individuals listed as main POC and portal user(s) in the Ticket Portal are currently employed by the EN and have such authority. The Program Contact must verify and complete this affirmation by July 10.

NOTE: If an EN has more than one business model with the same Program Contact, Social Security will send the Signatory Authority an employment verification link for one model.

In preparation for affirming this information in Survey Monkey, a current portal user should use the following steps to verify that all main POC and portal user information is accurate in the Ticket Portal:

Login to the Ticket Portal and navigate to the “About your EN and SVR” section on the main screen.

Click the “View directory information about your EN or SVR” link.

Review the listed names for the main POC and portal users to ensure that everything is accurate.

If all information is accurate, no further action is needed until the Program Contact receives an email on July 1 with the link via Survey Monkey to complete the affirmation.

If any information is inaccurate, complete the required fields in section 1, section(s) 3 through 5, and sign the last page of the TPA Change Form to update the information and submit to ENService@ssa.gov. It may take up to 48 hours for any changes to be reflected in the Ticket Portal. Do not complete the affirmation in Survey Monkey until all updates are accurately reflected in the Ticket Portal.

By logging into the Ticket Portal and verifying all information in advance of July 1, ENs will have the opportunity to submit any change requests and Social Security can process them before the July 10 deadline. More information on completing the employment verification process will be included in the email titled, “July 2024 Employment Verification,” sent to all Program Contacts (and in some cases, the Signatory Authority) on July 1. Please contact ENService@ssa.gov with any questions.

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Help Wanted Job Board

Does your member organization have an internal position available within your organization that you would like to post in the NENA E-News?

As a member courtesy, we will post your opening in our next E-News update one time.

Posting requirements:

• The posting must be for a specific, EN-related position within your organization (i.e., career specialist, career services provider)

• Email admin@nenaticket.org to submit your post

• Include the title, location, a brief description (25 words) and contact information on the form.

*Those interested in applying should contact the EN directly. NENA will have no further information about any posted positions.