Disability

Ticket to Work Works

March 3, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 3, 2016

Man in wheelchair after acident at work. Worker suffering from an illness.If you’re currently receiving Social Security disability benefits and you think you are ready to work, our Ticket to Work program can help. Ticket to Work is our free and voluntary program that helps you get vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other employment support services.

This program is for individuals 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, we know that some of you want to try. Work incentives make it easier to work and still receive health care and cash benefits from Social Security while providing protections if you have to stop working due to your 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 you with include résumé writing, interviewing skills, and job leads.

Ticket to Work gives you the opportunity to choose from several employment networks. You’re free to talk with as many employment networks as you want before choosing one. If you sign an agreement with an employment network, they’ll help you develop an employment plan. We’ll review your progress for achieving the goals of your employment plan every 12 months. If you’re making timely progress in your return to work plan, we will not conduct a medical review of your disability during the time you’re in the program.

Many people have successfully completed the Ticket to Work program, and are now enjoying fulfilling careers and earning more income for their families. If this sounds like your goal for the future, you may want to explore this program to see if it’s right for you.

If you are interested in the Ticket to Work program, please call the Ticket to Work Helpline toll-free at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967). You can also get more information on the program online at www.socialsecurity.gov/work or www.choosework.net.

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About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

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Comments

  1. Jan B.

    I am trying to pay back what I owe from last year. I can’t find a way to do it online

  2. Dominic

    how much can one make being on disability in 1999 and 2000 it seem I getting audit now since I work to take care of myself to pay for my sickness please let me know and I just got a letter from Doctor that I still need treatment I was told in 1999 I could work up to 9 months with out any problems now 2018 they coming back asking

    • R.F.

      Hello Dominic, when you receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and you work, your earnings trigger a trial work period. The trial work period allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months.
      The term “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) is used to describe a level of work activity and earnings. We use SGA as one of the factors to decide if you are eligible for disability benefits.
      See our Substantial Gainful Activity web page to find the SGA amounts for 1999 and 2000.
      We hope this information helps!

  3. Beverly H.

    I’m working part time now and need to report it do I need to go to the socail security office or what do I do.

  4. Beverly D.

    Im Beverly Howard, I’m working part time now and needs to report it to social security, do I have to go up to social security office or what do I do.

  5. edward

    is there a ticket to work i can use to get a job with the united states postal service? i know some deaf people that are working there.

    • J.Y.

      Thanks for asking, Edward! The Ticket to Work is a voluntary program from Social Security that provides most people receiving Social Security benefits more choices for receiving employment services. You can also contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 / 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM – 8:00PM EST to discuss your options. We hope this helps.

  6. Ernest

    I’m 42 and becoming disabled was never in my future plans nor was collecting disability but I’m curious how is one supposed to survive on those payments alone because I’m currently in debt for $20,000 and my monthly income is $786.25 and there are days when I get so depressed ask God how did I end up here or if this is a bad dream I wish someone would wake me up. When learning about the ticket to work program decided to give it a try but all the agencies on the list were either out of state or too far and living in NJ finally found one program in downtown Brooklyn. After scheduling an appointment and resume in hand went to their counselor and was handed a form to fill out and told to come back the next day after spending almost $20 in carfare so rather than getting upset returned the next morning and this women went over my resume with a fine tooth and comb conducted a few job searches online told me to email her my resume and that was four months ago and I haven’t heard from the program since but rather than waiting on them to call me I reached out to them and shockingly enough learned my counselor resigned and her case load was transferred to someone else and therefore the new caseworker would be contacting clients once organized. As the fifth month approached and still no call I reached out to this agency yet again and this time they didn’t even know who I was but suggested I leave my name and number and someone would be calling me within a week and that never happened either so I reached out again just to be told my new case worker was no-longer with the organization and his client list was transferred to someone else and its now July 27, 2017 and nothing. During this process I contacted one of the work at home companies affiliated with the ticket to work program and I won’t go into details but that turned into a nightmare simply because I decided to ask questions pertaining to employment and was later told best of luck in my job search. I called social security to file a complaint and was told several ticket to work clients have had issues with the same company so I then conducted a Google search on ITT and shockingly enough many clients say they were promised jobs and told to add a phone line, purchase a headset just to be told employment wasn’t guaranteed so my advice if looking for a part-time job don’t waste your time relying on these agencies and just conduct the search yourself which is what I’m doing now.

  7. Permanently D.

    Does Ticket To Work Program pay for surgery?
    Please reply yes or no. If yes, do they pay in full or a percentage ?
    Does TTW Program pay for equipment needed for on-the-job such as hearing aids or specialized phone equipment? Does TTW work with doctors to certify the equipment needed to qualify for certain positions of employment ? Does Vocational Rehab have their own doctors to order equipment needed for disabled employees?

  8. Jon

    I’m currently awaiting a decision about continuing my ssdi and just received this ticket to work letter. I’m extremely depressed and anxious that because I received this letter Social Security is planning on denying to continue my ssdi benefits. If they do I’ve already planned to appeal and to continue benefits during the appeal process. My question is “Is this letter just a precursor to getting a denial of continuing my ssdi benefits”? If it is I will contact my lawyer because there’s no way I could work.

    • R.F.

      Hi Jon, the Social Security Administration reviews disability cases from time to time, to make sure the individuals receiving checks are still eligible to get them. The time it takes to receive a decision on the review varies. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. To follow up on your medical review, you should contact your local Social Security office directly. Or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. In the other hand, if you recently received a letter from Social Security about the Ticket to Work program, that’s something different. The Ticket to Work (TTW) program is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a good job that may lead to a career, and become financially independent, all while they keep their Medicare or Medicaid. We hope this information helps.

    • A.C.

      Hi Joan, the Social Security Administration reviews disability cases from time to time, to make sure the individuals receiving checks are still eligible to get them. The time it takes to receive a decision on the review varies. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. To follow up on your medical review, you should contact your local Social Security office directly. Or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. On the other hand, if you recently received a letter from Social Security about the Ticket to Work program, that’s something different. The Ticket to Work (TTW) program is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a good job that may lead to a career, and become financially independent, all while they keep their Medicare or Medicaid. We hope this information helps.

  9. Eric

    On SSDI 10+ years, had a great help getting on my feet from extensive therapy. I am 50 now, working on the TTW program since 2013 at eh USPS p/t as a PMR using the State Voc. Rehab. to get started. My TTW evaluation said I still did not make substantial income. I deduct all of my expenses from working. My wife went full time when I got sick. Now I would like to try my field of electronics and engineering but looking at these posts I think health concerns and taking meds as I am, it may not be worth the risks and that really saddens me.

    • R.F.

      Hi Eric, it sounds as if your participation in the Ticket To Work (TTW) program is going great. Please consult with your counselor or your program-service administrator about your desire to work in a new field, they can provide you with the best information available. We wish you continuing success. Thank you for sharing!

  10. PHYLLIS H.

    WHIPA contacted me.. got some of my questions answered and created new ones.
    Now I need to sign 3 forms to give them the right to go through every inch of my back ground.

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