Case managers form a true partnership with their beneficiaries,collaborating and working together to ... [+]
When people have been out of work for an extended amount of time due to illness or injury, they may not know where to start in their job search. Their physical abilities may have changed due to their disability and they may not be sure what is possible now. Still, they want to get back to work and need to figure out what role they can take on. Employment Networks (EN) like Allsup Employment Services (AES) or local vocational services offices can provide experts in helping Social Security disability beneficiaries get back to work.
Level Set With Work History and Insights
To place returning workers in the right job, it is important to understand someone’s past work and interests moving forward. Case managers typically play an important role in helping people with returning to the workforce under Social Security’s Ticket to Work (TTW) program by building relationships and getting to know the people they are assisting.
Case managers ask questions to determine the type of work the client has done, what their strengths are and what type of development might benefit them and their new, prospective employer. Beneficiaries are encouraged to open up about their physical or other capabilities so that case managers can align them with an appropriate job goal.
Connecting With What’s Possible Now: Post-Disability Onset
The next element of job placement is how case managers explore with their beneficiaries the process of evaluating their hard and soft skills, and finding transferable skills based on past work history. They assist by piecing together the puzzle of what’s next for the beneficiary by marrying what they’ve done in the past, prior to their disability, with what they enjoy doing – while keeping an eye out for skills employers are seeking. During this process, clients may be directed to use the Occupational Information Network, or O*Net OnLine.
O*NET is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. The application was developed to provide broad access to the O*NET database of occupational information. It offers a variety of search options and occupational data to help people make informed decisions about their job search. Every job requires a mix of knowledge, skills and abilities, and is performed using a wide range of activities and tasks. Knowing these distinguishing characteristics of a role can help job seekers find something for which they are well-suited.
A beneficiary may work with their case manager on completing an O*NET assessment based on the Holland Occupational Codes. It groups people on their suitability for six different occupational categories and examines personality traits to see what new directions and interests are appealing to a job candidate. The six job codes apply directly to the O*NET database that identifies appropriate careers, skills and abilities for the client.
Overcoming Perceived and Actual Barriers
A major part of the vocational rehabilitation process is identifying the potential barriers to employment for an individual with a disability. Case managers form a true partnership with their beneficiaries, collaborating and working together to assist the beneficiary in their return to work journey. Part of the case manager’s role is also to help their clients build confidence.
Beneficiaries who join the Ticket to Work program are essentially putting their toe into the water of the workforce, possibly after a lengthy absence, and frequently have a lot of anxiety about what may happen and how they will address gaps in their employment history. Their case manager can help them get comfortable with conversations they may need to have when job-seeking. They can also work with them to overcome any barriers they are facing or anticipate with their job search. Mock Zoom interviews are a particularly successful way to help beneficiaries develop confidence and feel more prepared for what comes next.
And while the pandemic has been a difficult time of employment for many people, it also has significantly reduced the stigma of having a gap in employment history. So many people have left the workforce due to a variety of factors that it’s not uncommon for employment gaps to show up in candidate applications and resumes. Along with this, employers have become more understanding or at least aware that there are reasonable factors leading to gaps in work history that are often out of the person’s control.
Success Story: Seeking Job Accommodations
Case managers also can assist when a beneficiary is having difficulty with an existing job, such as assisting an individual with putting together their request for a job accommodation. One beneficiary reached out to his AES case manager to help him look for a different job due to back pain. His case manager encouraged him to seek an accommodation and keep his existing job.
The client was uneasy about asking because of his job responsibilities, so the case manager suggested he look for a new position at the same company that was less physically demanding and/or reducing his work hours. The client hadn’t considered this option and was interested in moving forward.
The case manager provided information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requesting an accommodation. The client and case manager worked together to draft a letter to HR. Ultimately, he was moved to a different position that accommodated his limitations. Another positive turn is that he received reduced hours with a higher hourly pay rate. The employer was motivated and supported accommodations to keep this employee.
The process of returning to work is an evolutionary process that can include past work, current need and work capacity. The case manager’s support and guidance provided a critical role in allowing the beneficiary to stay with his employer and transition to a new position to accommodate his work restrictions. This is just one small example of how AES case managers empower their clients to be successful in the workforce.
Attempting a return to work can be a challenging path. It can be full of instability, fear and at times overwhelming, but there is significant support available to achieve success. Case managers are here to help beneficiaries find, attain and keep a job that works for them and their employer.
