Terms To Be Familiar With When Transitioning Into Dane Co. Vocational Services
Unearned Income & Insurance Terms
Print Terms (pdf)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - SSI is a federal needs based program. Once you are deemed n financial eligibility requirements to maintain your SSI benefit. There are three types of SSI: federal SSI, state SSI and SSI-E (see below for definitions). If you receive SSI, you automatically qualify for the Student Earned Income Exclusion. If you receive SSI, at the time of your graduation from high school you must inform the social security administration that you are exiting school. After your graduation, your federal SSI check will be calculated based upon your monthly gross earnings. After your graduation you should begin to report all earned income to the social security administration monthly. The most convenient way to do this is to mail your Social Security representative your pay stubs.
State-SSI - In the state of Wisconsin, a person who receives at least $1.00 of federal SSI is also eligible to receive the basic state supplement of $83.79 (2006). If your federal SSI payment ends due to your level of earned income, the basic state supplement and SSI-E will end.
Exceptional Expense Supplement (SSI-E) - SSI-E is an additional $95.99 (2006) per month. You can qualify if you require 40 hours per month or more of assistance in your home. If you are eligible, you will receive the basic state supplement and SSI-E payment in one payment of $179.77 (2006).
Medicaid (MA) - In Wisconsin, SSI recipients receive Medicaid (MA) automatically with SSI. If you are eligible to receive SSI, you are receiving the Medicaid benefit. In order to maintain MA and SSI eligibility, you must maintain less then $2,000 of assets and resources.
Medical Assistance Purchase Program (MAPP) - This program has many of the same benefits as MA but allows an asset level of $15,000. You must work at least 1 hour per month to be eligible for this program and can have a monthly premium cost depending on earned and unearned income.
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) - SSDI provides monetary benefits to disabled or blind individuals who are "insured" by workers' contributions to the Social Security trust fund. These contributions are based on taxes of your work earnings or those of your spouse or parents. You can become eligible for SSDI when you have contributed enough money into the Social Security trust fund. You are also able to receive SSDI when a parent or spouse retires or passes away (in this case you would draw from their work record). When you receive SSDI, you also receive Medicare.
Dane County SDS Terms
Self Directed Services (SDS) - Is the support model of Dane County Human Services. SDS aims to expand choices for people with developmental disabilities. It gives people and their families control over the allocation of their service dollars. SDS provides people the freedom to choose their Support Broker and Service Providers as well as the type of supports they purchase and how their providers get paid. With SDS people and their families have the opportunity to define and assess quality. You will receive support from a variety of agencies in the SDS system.
Community Integration Program (CIP) - The Dane County Department of Human Services receives money for services from a variety of sources including the State of Wisconsin, the federal government and local government. There are many rules and regulations connected to these funding sources. The most common funding source is CIP, a combination of federal, state and local money. You must qualify for Medicaid to participate in the CIP program. Your Transition Coordinator will help complete your initial CIP paperwork. Currently, Individuals who qualify for CIP will not have to pay a cost share for Dane County services.
Dane County Department of Human Services (Dane County) - Utilizes the Self Directed Services support model. Dane County is the long term funding source for your support needs. The Dane County Department of Human Services commonly uses CIP to receive money for services from a variety of sources including the State of Wisconsin, the federal government and local government. You will graduate from High School in the upcoming year and have been referred for Dane County Adult Developmental Disability Services. Dane County is currently committed to funding your future vocational support needs. Dane County will only fund paid vocational positions in the community. The funding is based upon how many hours you are working and the support you require at you job site. Dane County will also fund contacted services such as your Support Broker.
Transition Coordinator - Works with students with developmental disabilities in Dane County who are exiting the school system and entering Dane County Adult Communities Services. The Transition Coordinator assists students and families through this transition by providing support and service coordination during the last year of high school while working closely with school personnel as an active member of a student's team. The Transition Coordinator works closely with Dane County Human Services (DCHS) and disseminates information regarding DCHS policies to the team. During the last year of school, the Transition Coordinator will support you through this conversion to Adult Services; including helping you choose a Vocational Provider and a Support Broker, as well as completing all initial Dane County paperwork.
Support Broker - The support broker is the primary quality assurance monitor that will be a part of your team. It is important for you, your guardian and family to have an open relationship with your support broker. All of you should feel free to speak out and ask questions. Your broker will: Visit you in person at least one time every three months. Have contact with your support team every month. Assist in the negotiations for other needed supports. Complete ongoing paperwork. Your Transition Coordinator will assist you when selecting a support broker. Individuals typically select their support broker in mid-May (the month prior to graduation).
Rate - Your individual rate is the amount of money from DCHS you can use to buy supports. You will receive a vocational rate based on the amount of hours you are employed in the community and the support ratio you require at your paid job site(s). Your Transition Coordinator will help obtain a vocational rate from Dane County.
Person Centered Plan - Your person centered plan will describe your life and what you would like to do in the future. It will show how you plan to spend your DCHS funds. Your Transition Coordinator will help write your initial person centered plan. Your support broker will help update the plan in the future.
Individual Financial Plan (IFP) - This is the form that puts a dollar amount to all of your services. It shows which supports are paid under self-directed services and which are paid under contract. An IFP is completed annually by your support broker unless services change during the year.
Support and Services Agreement/Voucher - This is commonly referred to as a "voucher". You and your Transition Coordinator approve payments by signing a voucher. The voucher shows that you, the Transition Coordinator and the provider all agree to work together to achieve your support plan. The vouchers specifically shows how much the services will cost. Without this form, a provider will not be paid.
Fiscal Assistance of Dane County (FA) - Fiscal Assistance is a fiscal intermediary for your DCHS funds. Your signed voucher is mailed to FA, which then pays your provider agency according to the amount of money allocated in your plan. FA tracks your budget and vouchers and makes sure that no additional funds are paid out than are allocated in the agreement.
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