Beyond Benefits: Empowering SSDI & SSI Recipients Ready to Return to Work – 2026 Spring National Conference – Track I (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

Sarah Deaver, Esq., RN, Senior Director for Disability Programs | Enlyte

Sarah Deaver, Esq. is the Senior Director for Disability Programs at Enlyte, where she oversees Social Security operations along with the Disability Absence and Ticket to Work divisions. As both a licensed attorney and a registered nurse, Sarah brings a rare interdisciplinary perspective to program integrity and medical evidence development. With over 16 years of Social Security experience, she leads legislative affairs for the organization, anticipating enforcement trends and regulatory interpretations before they affect case outcomes. Her workshops on strategic case development are designed to help practitioners navigate evolving disability landscapes and challenging fact patterns, translating complex regulatory changes into actionable strategies.

Education & Credentials

• Sarah earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Emory University. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and is a registered nurse in Georgia — a dual licensure that anchors her uniquely interdisciplinary approach to Social Security disability practice. Her combined legal and clinical training equips her to address both the regulatory and medical dimensions of disability claims with equal depth and authority.

Recognition & Leadership

• Sarah is recognized as a thought leader at the intersection of Social Security disability law, nursing, and claims management. As Senior Director for Disability Programs at Enlyte, she leads a broad operational portfolio and heads the organization’s legislative affairs efforts, positioning her to anticipate and respond to regulatory shifts before they reach the case level. Her workshops on strategic case development have earned her a reputation as a practical, forward-thinking educator whose guidance helps disability professionals navigate a constantly evolving regulatory environment.

Professional Involvement

• In addition to her executive role at Enlyte, Sarah is actively engaged in professional education, delivering workshops that equip disability practitioners with strategies for complex case development and regulatory compliance. Her leadership of Enlyte’s legislative affairs function places her at the forefront of policy monitoring and advocacy within the disability industry. Her dual credentials as an attorney and registered nurse allow her to offer an integrated approach to medical evidence development and program integrity that is rare in the field and highly valued by practitioners and organizations alike.

Experience

• With over 16 years of Social Security experience, Sarah has built a career that spans legal practice, nursing, and claims management leadership. At Enlyte, she oversees the Social Security, Disability Absence, and Ticket to Work divisions, combining her legal background and nursing expertise to drive operational excellence and regulatory compliance across a complex program portfolio. Her ability to translate intricate regulatory changes into practical strategies for practitioners and to anticipate enforcement trends before they affect outcomes, reflects the depth of expertise she has developed across disciplines. As both a licensed attorney and a registered nurse, Sarah offers a blueprint for interdisciplinary excellence in a field that increasingly demands it.

Jennie Gailey, Esq., Vice President of Utilization Management | Enlyte

Jennie Gailey, Esq. is the Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, where she drives strategy and operational excellence across the company’s Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work programs. With over 21 years of experience in Social Security Disability, Ms. Gailey has represented tens of thousands of individuals before the Social Security Administration and built a distinguished reputation for leadership, innovation, and client-centered program management. She brings deep industry expertise and a customer-first approach to delivering solutions that improve outcomes and efficiency across Enlyte’s disability programs.

Education & Credentials

• Jennie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia. Her academic foundation in sociology and law informs a practice philosophy centered on understanding the human dimensions of disability while applying rigorous legal and operational frameworks to program management and client representation.

Recognition & Leadership

• With over two decades in Social Security Disability, Jennie has established herself as one of the field’s most experienced and respected leaders. Her representation of tens of thousands of individuals before the Social Security Administration reflects a career of extraordinary scope and impact. As Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, she holds a senior executive role overseeing multiple program areas, a position that reflects the confidence her organization places in her strategic vision and operational leadership. Her reputation for innovation and excellence has made her a trusted voice in disability program management nationwide.

Professional Involvement

• Jennie’s professional involvement spans direct client representation, executive program leadership, and strategic innovation in disability services. At Enlyte, she leads a broad operational portfolio that encompasses Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work, programs that collectively serve a wide range of clients navigating disability-related transitions. Her customer-first approach and focus on measurable outcomes reflect a commitment to continuous improvement in how disability programs are designed and delivered, and her long tenure in the field keeps her attuned to the evolving needs of both practitioners and the individuals they serve.

Experience

• Jennie Gailey’s career in Social Security Disability spans more than 21 years, beginning with direct representation of claimants before the Social Security Administration, work that gave her ground-level insight into the challenges individuals face navigating the disability system. Over the course of her career, she has represented tens of thousands of clients, developing deep substantive expertise and a strong operational foundation that she now applies at the executive level. As Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, she leads strategy and operations across Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work programs, driving innovation and efficiency across a complex portfolio with a consistent focus on delivering better outcomes for clients and practitioners alike.

I. Identifying Work-Ready Clients: Readiness Assessment Tools; Motivational Indicators; Life Transition Opportunities | 8:30am – 9:00am

Learn how to recognize when SSDI or SSI recipients may be ready to explore employment opportunities. This topic covers practical readiness assessment tools, motivational indicators that signal interest in work, and key life transitions—such as improved health, financial goals, or changes in family circumstances—that can create opportunities for returning to the workforce.

II. Breaking Down Barriers to Participation: Fear Management Strategies; Myth-Busting Resources; Success Stories | 9:00am – 9:25am

Many beneficiaries hesitate to pursue work because of fear and misinformation about losing benefits. This section explores strategies for addressing these concerns, including fear-management techniques, myth-busting resources that clarify SSA work incentives, and real-world success stories that demonstrate how beneficiaries can safely test employment.

III. Program Navigation Support: General TTW Program Review; EN Selection Support; Income Reporting Tools & OP Protection; Timeline Visualization Framework | 9:25am – 9:45am

Attorneys and representatives will learn how to guide clients through the Ticket to Work (TTW) program from start to finish. The discussion includes an overview of how the program operates, how to help clients select an appropriate Employment Network (EN), tools for accurate income reporting and overpayment protection, and visual frameworks that help clients understand the timeline of returning to work while maintaining benefit safeguards.