Ticket to Work Program

The Ticket to Work (TTW) is a voluntary employment program designed for people who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work. It offers them expanded opportunities to obtain services and support to work and achieve their employment goals.

The TTW program was created by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 – legislation intended to remove many barriers, such as losing health care coverage, which influence people’s decisions about trying to work. The goal of the ticket program is to increase self-sufficiency for beneficiaries with disabilities and increase their opportunities and choices through employment, vocational rehabilitation, and other support services.

REQUIREMENTS

The basic eligibility requirements to participate in the TTW program are:

• Current beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) age 18 through 64;
• Current beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits age 18 through 64

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM

Employment – Social Security issues beneficiaries a ticket that may be used to obtain employment support services from an expanded pool of employment providers called Employment Networks (ENs). An EN is an organization (State or local, public or private) that enters into a contract with Social Security with the intention of coordinating and delivering employment services, VR services, and/or other support services under the Ticket to Work Program. These services are provided by the EN to Social Security beneficiaries who have assigned their Tickets to the EN which has accepted the Ticket. An EN may not charge a person for services provided. Beneficiaries who choose to work with an EN, including a state VR agency, may be exempt from initiation of a medical continuing disability review, if they are meeting certain goals toward becoming economically self-sufficient.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) – Social Security provides funding to State VR agencies to support them in their efforts to help prepare people with disabilities for jobs and teach job skills. In their partnership with Social Security, the services State VR’s provide must result in the individual’s return to work for at least nine continuous months at a substantial earnings level as determined by Social Security.

Private and Public Support Service Providers – The TTW program is meant to encourage partnerships and opportunities for meaningful cooperation between agencies which assist people with disabilities to work. A person with a Ticket may choose between being served by a provider approved by SSA to function as an EN or being served by the State VR agency.

WORK INCENTIVES

Work incentives help beneficiaries remove barriers to work by offering support services and providing a safety net to assist beneficiaries in finding meaningful employment and succeeding in the workplace.

Examples of work incentives are the delay of Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) while using a Ticket, extended Medicare while working, and expedited reinstatement of benefits for those who may not be able to continue their work efforts.

BENEFICIARIES BENEFIT FROM THE TICKET

• Beneficiaries can choose to use their Ticket because the TTW program is free and voluntary
• No need to worry if a Ticket is lost since the actual Ticket is not required to participate in the program
• The TTW program helps people to access vocational rehabilitation, training, and placement services
• A combination of work incentives can be used to explore work options and still receive benefits
• If a work attempt is unsuccessful, beneficiaries can get back on Social Security benefits

For more detailed information, please see the About Ticket to Work page.

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