What is the Ticket to Work Program?
Ticket to Work is a program that offers SSA disability beneficiaries greater choice in obtaining the support and services they need to help them go to work and achieve their employment goals. If you receive SSDI or SSI benefits based on disability or blindness and would like to work or increase your current earnings, this program can help you get vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other ongoing support and services.
How can I get more information about the Ticket program?
SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Operations Support Manager for the Ticket Program. You can get information about the Ticket to Work Program by visiting their web page at www.yourtickettowork.com, or by calling MAXIMUS, Inc. at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK).
If I get a Ticket, do I have to use it?
No. The Ticket to Work Program is voluntary. If you would like to work or increase your current earnings, this program can help you get vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other ongoing support and services to do so.
Where would I take my Ticket to get services?
You would take your Ticket to an Employment Network or to the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). You can choose an agency that offers the services you believe will best help you to meet your rehabilitation and employment goals. The Employment Networks are private organizations or public agencies, that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide services under this program.
For information about Employment Networks, you may contact MAXIMUS, Inc. at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD 2 WORK). If you are a ticket holder, upon request MAXIMUS will send a list of the Employment Networks that serve the area where you live. You can find this information on www.socialsecurity.gov/work, and on MAXIMUS's web site, www.yourtickettowork.com.
Will my medical condition still be reviewed?
SSA will not conduct a medical review of a person receiving disability benefits if that person is using a Ticket. Benefits can still be terminated if earnings are above the limits. Effective January 1, 2002, Social Security disability beneficiaries who have received benefits for at least 24 months will not be medically reviewed solely because of work activity. However, regularly scheduled medical reviews can still be performed and, again, benefits terminated if earnings are above the limits.
If I go back to work, will I automatically lose my disability benefits?
No, the new law has not changed our work incentives rules. While participating in the Ticket Program, you may be able to use a combination of work incentives to help protect you from loss of income until you begin to earn enough to support yourself. For more information about Social Security's work incentives you may visit SSA's "Worksite" at www.socialsecurity.gov/work
If my disability benefits stop because I go back to work, will I have to file a new application if I can't work anymore?
Effective January 1, 2001, if your benefits have ended because of work, you can request that we start your benefits again without having to file a new application. This is referred to as "Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)". There are some important conditions:
- You have to be unable to work because of your medical condition.
- The medical condition must be the same as or related to the condition you had when we first decided that you should receive disability benefits.
- You have to file your request to start your benefits again within 60 months of the date you were last entitled to benefits.
- While we determine whether you can receive benefits again, you can receive up to six months of temporary benefits as well as Medicare or Medicaid. If we deny your request, we will not ask you to repay the temporary benefits.
Resources:
- Official Ticket to Work Website: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/
- Find a provider: employment network provider directory.
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