+---------+--------------------------------------------------+--------+
| ![      | **T**ICKET TO **W**ORK & **W**ORK **I**NCENTIVES | ![]    |
| ](media |                                                  | (media |
| /image1 | **A**DVISORY **P**ANEL                           | /image |
| .jpeg){ |                                                  | 2.jpeg |
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| he      |                                                  | 111in" |
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| 4444444 |                                                  | 652777 |
| 444in"} |                                                  | 777777 |
|         |                                                  | 78in"} |
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September 28, 2006

Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner

Social Security Administration

100 Altmeyer Building

6401 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

RE: Notice of Proposed Rule Making: Amendments to the Ticket to Work and
Self- Sufficiency Program (Volume 70, Number 189), Publication of Final
Rule

Dear Commissioner Barnhart:

On September 30, 2005, SSA published the Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(NPRM), "Amendments to the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program."
It is now the first anniversary of the publication of these proposed
amendments. I am writing on behalf of the Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Advisory Panel (the Panel) to communicate that we are
anxiously awaiting the release of the final regulations and to note that
the April 24, 2006 Unified Regulatory Agenda reported an expected
publication date of August 2006.

As you know, these proposed regulations address critical deterrents to
the participation of Employment Networks (ENs) in the Ticket program. We
are gravely concerned that not having the final regulations published
yet is severely dampening the enthusiasm of EN participation. Without a
reenergized pool of providers to choose from, the Ticket remains a
hollow promise for thousands of beneficiaries with disabilities who
could be moving toward becoming economically self-sufficient.

The Panel, as well as many others, commented favorably on the NPRM last
year. We now urge your strong commitment to issuing the final
regulations as soon as possible, but not later than this fall.

![](media/image3.png){width="2.0027777777777778in"
height="0.3680555555555556in"}Sincerely,

Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte

Chair

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel

cc: The Honorable President George W. Bush

The Honorable Charles Grassley

Chairman, Senate Finance Committee

The Honorable Max Baucus

Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee

The Honorable Rick Santorum

Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Social Security & Family Policy

The Honorable Kent Conrad

Ranking Member, Senate Subcommittee on Social Security & Family Policy

The Honorable Bill Thomas

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means

The Honorable Charles Rangel

Ranking Democrat, House Committee on Ways and Means

The Honorable James McCrery

Chairman, House Social Security Subcommittee

The Honorable Sander Levin

Ranking Democrat, House Social Security Subcommittee