Calendar year 2003 marked the rollout of the Ticket to Work program to the 20 states not yet participating in the program. This fourth annual report of the Advisory Panel reviews implementation of the Ticket to Work program through the end of that year, identifies significant problems, and makes recommendations for improvement.

The Panel found that the Social Security Administration had not adequately marketed the program to SSI/SSDI beneficiaries, failed to engage enough employment networks (ENs) in the program, and failed to support the ENs that had enrolled. Only a fraction of eligible beneficiaries were being served by ENs, and only a third of the providers enrolled were actually accepting tickets and serving. beneficiaries. These problems, the Panel found, were due to provider reimbursement disincentives, insufficient training on the Ticket program for SSA staff, lack of coordination among federal agencies at the national and service delivery levels, and other factors.

The Panel's many recommendations included modifying the payment system for ENs, requiring SSA to improve its marketing and outreach activities, increasing funding for more training and outreach to parents and youth on SSI work incentives and transition planning, and mandating increased cooperation among federal agencies in implementing the program.