Ticket to Work Puts People Back in the Driver’s Seat
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Social Security encourages people to rejoin the workforce when they are able. Ticket to Work is our free and voluntary program that helps people get vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other employment support services.
This program is for people ages 18 to 64, who are receiving disability benefits, and need support re-entering the workforce or working for the first time. While many disabled individuals are unable to work and may never be able to return to work, we know that some are eager to try working again. Work incentives make it easier to work and still receive health care and cash benefits from Social Security while providing protections if people have to stop working due to a disability.
Social Security works with employment networks to offer beneficiaries access to meaningful employment. Employment networks are organizations and agencies, including state vocational rehabilitation agencies that provide various employment support services. Some services they may help with include résumé writing, interviewing skills, and job leads.
Ticket to Work gives individuals the opportunity to choose from several employment networks. Participants are free to talk with as many employment networks as they want before choosing one. If someone signs an agreement with an employment network, they’ll help the individual develop an employment plan. We’ll review their progress toward achieving the goals of their employment plan every 12 months. If they are making timely progress in their return to work plan, we will not conduct a medical review of their disability during the time they’re in the program.
Many people have successfully completed the Ticket to Work program. Anyone interested in the Ticket to Work program should call the Ticket to Work Helpline toll-free at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967). More information on the program is available online on our Ticket to Work Program page.
Remember, Social Security is with everyone through life’s journey, providing resources that can help people reach their work and retirement goals.
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Gloria M.
I have a question . When I am working for part time jobs. when my company paid me the check for Covid 19 and paycheck for Company.. Will SSA will count how much I have earned with my SSA and plus Covid 19 and paycheck from company ?
Please let me know what is policy for Covid 19 and jobs during the pandiec ?
Laura W.
Hi I am on SSDI and desired to work element time What is the cap on how a lot I can earn in line with month, and could this affect my benefit quantity I get each month? I want to ensure that via me operating it doesn’t reduce my advantage amount. Thank you.
https://www.divineleather.com/half-face-helmet-with-drop-down-sun-visor/
TRINA B.
Hi I am on SSDI and wanted to work part time What is the cap on how much I can earn per month, and will this affect my benefit amount I get every month? I want to make sure that by me working it doesn’t reduce my benefit amount. Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Trina, thank you for your question. Social Security has special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. These are called work incentives.
For SSDI beneficiaries, there is a Trial Work Period (TWP) and then an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During this period, you will receive your full disability benefit regardless of how much you earn as long as your work activity is reported and you continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2020, any month in which earnings exceed $910 is considered a month of the 9-month trial work period.
Once you’ve completed your TWP, you get a 36-month safety net called the EPE. During the EPE, you get benefits for all months your earnings or work activities are below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment. Social Security will suspend cash benefits for months earnings are over SGA and start benefits again if earnings fall below the SGA level. In 2020, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,260 in a month.
Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.