Ticket To Work
Overview of the Ticket to Work Program
Ticket to Work and Working
Other Ticket to Work Programs and Benefit Planning Resources
Contact Information
Timely Progress Requirements
Overview of the Ticket to Work Program
“Ticket to Work” is a voluntary program of the Social Security Administration
for people who receive SSI or SSDI and want assistance to go to work or earn
more money. You can assign your Ticket to a service provider in return for
vocational services they provide to help you go to work or earn more money.
What is SSI?
SSI is Supplemental Security Income. SSI is a cash assistance payment for
people with disabilities who have limited income and resources. The money
comes from the general funds of the federal government.
What is SSDI?
SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance. The money comes from all workers’
federal salary deductions. In addition to being a disabled worker, some people
receive SSDI through programs called Social Security Disabled Adult Child (SSDAC),
Social Security Childhood Disability Benefit (SSCDB), and /or Social Security
Disabled Widows Benefit (SSDWB).
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DVR offers services based on your individual needs and circumstances. They
may include: counseling and guidance; job placement services; job coaching;
job training; and other specific services required to achieve an employment
goal.
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Anyone with a disability on SSI or SSDI, 18 to 64 years of age, who receives a
cash benefit from SSA will eligible for a Ticket to Work.
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No, the Ticket does not provide cash payments for vocational services.
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The Ticket does not cost anything to use.
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You can use your ticket with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
or you can choose another provider approved by Maximus as an Employment
Network (EN).
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An Employment Network (EN) is a public or private organization that has agreed
to provide employment services to people with disabilities on Social Security
benefits. An EN can provide the services you need to work or to earn more
wages, at no cost to you. The Ticket Program gives you the opportunity to
choose from a variety of ENs.
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ENs are listed at the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work
Employment Network Directory.
You can call 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (tty) to request a list of
ENs.
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No. You can use your Ticket with one entity at a time, either DVR or another EN. Choosing to pursue an Individual Plan to Employment
with DVR is choosing to use your Ticket.
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A Ticket is considered “in use” once you sign an Individual Plan for Employment
(IPE) with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or an Individualized
Work Plan (IWP) with an Employment Network (EN). You cannot work with DVR and another EN at the same time. If you
choose to work with DVR, you can assign your Ticket to another EN when your DVR case is closed.
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As long as your ticket is “in use” with DVR or assigned to an Employment
Network, Social Security will not conduct a medical Continuing Disability
Review (CDR) to determine whether you meet the medical requirements to
continue to receive Social Security benefits.
You will be exempt from CDRs as long as you are making timely progress on your
plan to work. Each year, you will need to complete educational or work goals
to a certain level to maintain your CDR exemption.
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See the end of this document for the
current definition.
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If you are already a DVR customer and have a signed Individual Plan for
Employment (IPE) with DVR your ticket is considered “in use” by Social Security
as long as you are making
“timely progress”.
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After your case is closed, you can “assign” your Ticket to an EN (Employment
Network). DVR can help you become employed and the EN can provide longer term
support to help you maintain employment.
You will need to assign your ticket to an EN within 90 days after your DVR
case is closed to maintain your protection from a CDR. Your timely progress
timelines still apply.
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You will need to think about what employment services are most important to
you and then talk with different ENs to find which ENs provide the services
you need. ENs have the right to choose you, just as you have the right to
choose them.
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Ticket to Work and Working
No, there is no guarantee. Both DVR and ENs will partner with you when you
are ready to go to work and find employment.
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Yes. A Ticket is for anyone who is receiving Social Security Benefits, either
SSI or SSDI, even if they are already working as long as they are still receiving a cash payment.
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Depending on where you are with your timely progress, you may still be able to
use the Ticket. You will need to talk about your specific details with someone
from the
Ticket to Work Program.
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Disability Rights Washington can provide advocacy, legal and other services you
may need in using the Ticket.
In Washington, contact:
Disability Rights Washington
315 - Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850
Seattle, WA 98104
*Phone: (206) 324-1521 or in Washington State: (800) 562-2702
TTY: (206) 957-0728 or in Washington State: (800) 905-0209
Fax: (206) 957-0729
*Interpreters Available in over 200 languages via AT&T Language Line
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Other Ticket to Work Programs and Benefit Planning Resources
It is one part of the Federal Ticket to Work legislation. It allows States to
create a medical program so people with disabilities who are working can buy into
Medicaid for their health care coverage. Washington State implemented its
Medicaid Buy-In program in January of 2002. In Washington State, it is called
Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HWD). This program allows you to pay
a monthly premium to purchase Medicaid coverage. If you are a Washington
State resident with a disability who is working, you could be eligible for
this program
regardless of Ticket status.
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Call (206) 272-2169 or 1 (800) 871-9275 to leave a message with the specialized medical
team that completes HWD applications. HWD staff check their direct message line twice a
day. You can find more information online at
HWD.
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Benefit planning helps you understand the impact of work on your benefits, such as cash,
medical, housing, personal care services, and food benefits. A benefit specialist
can help you explore work incentives and develop a plan to transition
to work.
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There are two options.
-
DVR has benefits planning services as part of receiving services from DVR.
- Work Incentive Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Projects are approved by SSA
to help you learn about Social Security work incentives, other employment support
programs, provide benefits planning services and evaluate what would be helpful
for you. The the WIPA in Washington State is:
-
Plan to Work (serves every county except King and Kitsap)
Statewide: toll-free at 1-866-497-9443 or TTY 1-877-846-0775
Some County Developmental Disabilities programs also offer benefit planning.
Check with your Case Manager at the
Division of Developmental Disabilities
to find out if these services are available in your area.
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For general information
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What are the changes to the Timely Progress Requirements?
SSA conducts timely progress reviews to assure that SSA beneficiaries are
making progress toward greater self-sufficiency. If it is determined that a
beneficiary is not making timely progress, the Continuing Disability Review
protection is removed. No loss of benefits or other negative consequence is imposed.
Timely progress requirements can be met in several different ways at different
periods: work activity, completion of high school diploma or GED, participation
in a degree or certificate program and participation in a technical, trade or
vocational program (see table below).
It is also possible to meet the timely
progress goals through partial completion of the work requirement with partial
completion of post-secondary education requirement or vocational or technical
training requirement. SSA will determine what percentage of the work requirement
and education/training requirement have been met. If those percentages are equal
to or greater than 100%, timely progress requirements have been met.
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| 12 Month Review Period |
Work Requirement |
Degree or Certification Program |
Technical, Trade or Vocational Program |
Year 1
(after 12 months of ticket use) |
3 out of 12 months, Trial Work Period (TWP) earnings |
Obtain high school diploma or GED
or 60% of full time course load for 1 year |
60% of full time course load for 1 year |
Year 2
(13th – 24th month of ticket use) |
6 out of 12 months, TWP earnings |
75% of full time course load for 1 year |
75% of full time course load for 1 year |
Year 3
(25th – 36th month of ticket use) |
9 out of 12 months with Substantial Gainful Activity (“SGA”) earnings |
Completed a 2 year program, or, for 4 year program, completed additional academic year of full time study |
Completed the program |
Year 4
(37th – 48th month of ticket use) |
9 out of 12 months at SGA |
Completed additional academic year of full time study |
|
Year 5
(49th -60th month of ticket use) |
6 out of 12 months at SGA level with no SSI and/or SSDI cash benefits in months worked |
Completed an additional academic year of full time study or completed 4 year degree program |
|
Year 6
(61st – 72nd month of ticket use) |
6 out of 12 months at SGA level with no SSI and/or SSDI cash benefits in months worked |
Completed 4 year degree program |
|
Year 7
[every remaining 12 months of ticket use] |
6 out of 12 months at SGA level with no SSI and/or SSDI cash benefits in months worked |
|
|
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