The combined benefit of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Ticket to Work Program (TTW) offers a pathway to meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities. Together, they provide valuable incentives and expert resources to assist former workers as they navigate their way back to employment or self-employment after becoming medically stable.
Navigating Social Security’s stringent requirements can be challenging, but beneficiaries have access to compassionate, skilled vocational experts who provide free guidance and connect them to valuable resources along the way. These experts are affiliated with Social Security-approved Employment Networks (EN) and state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (VR). They offer numerous services such as career planning, job search guidance, benefits counseling and assisting TTW participants adhere to Social Security’s wage reporting rules.
In my experience, many SSDI beneficiaries are eager to return to meaningful work and financial self-sufficiency. Despite TTW’s 25-year history helping SSDI beneficiaries, the program can be complex. Here are five common questions beneficiaries ask about it:
1. What is the Ticket to Work Program?
Individuals with disabilities are generally aware of the federal SSDI program, but many may not know that the TTW component offers professional resources to help achieve personal fulfillment through meaningful employment. The voluntary program allows SSDI recipients (ages 18 – 64) to work with assurances that while you try out a new job, you can earn wages for nine non-consecutive months and retain your full financial and Medicare benefits. This allows Ticket holders to focus on the job and their health without fear of losing benefits during this period. Another highly valuable aspect of TTW is the support and encouragement you receive from ENs and VRs. As you evaluate your skills and interests, explore jobs and begin the interview process with a vocational expert by your side, the process can feel less daunting. Vocational experts are well-versed in the TTW Program and provide useful tips to guide your employment journey with confidence.
2. Will I lose my SSDI benefits if I work?
This is one of the first concerns vocational experts address when they begin working with new Ticket holders. After having waited many months or even years for SSDI benefits, you may be worried that if you go back to work, you will lose your income and Medicare benefits. The good news is that Social Security provides a valuable incentive, the Trial Work Period (TWP), that allows Ticket holders to earn wages for nine non-consecutive months and keep their benefits. After the TWP ends, you begin the next phase — the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) — where you get a 36-month safety net. During this time, Social Security looks at what you earn in a month to decide if your work is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If it is at the SGA level (2025 levels are $1620 and $2700 for blind individuals), in any month during this three-year period, your SSDI benefits will cease for that month, but you will receive benefits for that month and two additional months (grace period). If at any other time during the EPE’s 36-month window, your monthly earnings go below SGA, you will once again resume SSDI benefits.
3. How do I find a job through Ticket to Work?
While some Ticket participants may return to their previous jobs or companies, others may need support services such as career counseling, vocational training and job placement. Employment Networks and VRs provide these types of services and much more to help you get started. Vocational experts can help identify job search websites and resume-writing resources and help beneficiaries prepare for job interviews. They can also help you explore employment options that offer hybrid work experiences or provide special accommodations such as assistive devices or workspace modifications. These professionals understand the job search and placement process and can be supportive allies as you prepare to head back to work.
4. What if I have to stop working?
Going back to work after an extended absence can be stressful enough especially as you deal with new job duties and your well-being. A common fear is, “What happens if I can no longer work and earn income because of my health issues?” Built into the TTW Program are important SSDI protections that provide a safety net should you need to stop working. The Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) allows you to request your SSDI benefits be reinstated without having to complete a new application. While Social Security evaluates your reinstatement request, you are eligible to receive temporary benefits for up to six months.
5. What support do vocational experts provide?
Experienced professionals from ENs and VRs offer ongoing, compassionate support for SSDI beneficiaries in the TTW Program. They recognize that work can be an important aspect of living a full life for so many individuals with disabilities. Their extensive knowledge about the program’s benefits and requirements helps you navigate the ins and outs. From helping explore job possibilities, optimizing your resume and preparing for interviews, vocational experts are ready to help. Requesting special accommodations can also be stressful especially when interviewing for a new job. In this situation, June, a Ticket holder, was very concerned that she would not have flexibility to continue her treatments during working hours and that she could be penalized for the time away. She shared this concern with her vocational expert, and together they came up with the best approach to make this request. She was selected for the job and given the necessary flexibility for her healthcare needs.
The Ticket to Work (TTW) Program offers significant advantages to help SSDI beneficiaries make a confident return to work, though it can feel complex. Thankfully, support is available to guide you every step of the way. Vocational experts from Social Security-authorized ENs and VRs are available to address your questions, alleviate concerns, connect you to valuable resources and support you as you prepare for this next chapter.