If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and are 18 – 64 years old, you automatically qualify for the Ticket to Work program. So when you are ready to think about employment and want to figure out the best way to proceed, you can choose to participate in the Ticket program by contacting an Employment Network (EN). ENs are organizations that can give you the various employment services that the Ticket to Work program offers.

Here are some examples of the types of organizations that may serve as Employment Networks:

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Centers for Independent Living
• CareerForce locations
• Community rehabilitation programs
• Developmental disability agencies
• Mental health agencies
• Staffing and placement agencies
• Employers
• Other nonprofit organizations
• Other for-profit employment agencies

You can only get services from one Employment Network at a time. That means you have to choose which EN you want to serve you — that’s called “assigning your Ticket” to an EN. After you assign your Ticket, you can get services from the EN.

Choosing an Employment Network and Assigning Your Ticket

You can find ENs in your area by searching the Employment Network Directory. If you need additional help choosing an EN, you can:

• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
• Email the Ticket to Work customer service office at support@choosework.ssa.gov
• Download and use the Finding an EN and Assigning Your Ticket Worksheet

Once you’ve found an EN that interests you, contact it to see if the services and supports it offers are right for you. ENs offer different services based on their specialties. Make sure to talk to a few ENs, because it’s important to find one that will be a good match for you.

Here are some things to think about and ask the ENs you are considering:

• Tell the EN about your concerns related to working and ask for their advice.
• Ask if they have any specialties, such as working with specific disabilities, job referrals, job placement help, skills training, or anything else.
• Tell them about your goals, education, and experience. How would they approach helping you get and keep a job based on that information?
• How will they help you keep your job once you start working? For how long will they offer services?
• What do they require you to do as a partner in the process?
• If an EN says that they cannot work with you, ask them to recommend a different EN or other resources to help you meet your work goals.

When you talk to an EN, try using this worksheet offered by the Ticket to Work program. The worksheet will help you remember what questions to ask and what the EN's answers were.

You are free to talk with as many ENs as you like, and you don’t have to work with an EN simply because you have talked with them. If you find one you like, you can ask them to be your Ticket to Work Employment Network. They have the option to say no if they want to, in which case you’ll have to find a different EN.

When you and an EN have agreed to work together, you will create an Individual Work Plan (IWP) with your EN. IWPs are explained later in this article.

Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) is a Ticket to Work Employment Network. You may consider the services the agency offers and compare them to those offered by other ENs. If you assign your Ticket to Vocational Rehabilitation Services, you generally can’t get services from any other EN, because you can only get services from 1 Employment Network at a time.

If you have a disability and don’t qualify for the Ticket to Work program, because you don’t get SSI or SSDI benefits, you may still qualify to get employment services through Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Those services are explained in more detail in the DB101 article on Programs That Support Work.

Changing Employment Networks

If at any point you are not happy with the services you get from your EN, you can find a different EN. To change ENs, ask your EN to have your Ticket “unassigned.”

For more detailed information about unassigning your Ticket:

• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
• Email the Ticket to Work customer service office at support@choosework.ssa.gov

After you unassign your Ticket, you will have the option to assign it to another EN. If you are concerned about keeping the medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection, you have 3 months to find another EN and create a new work plan that better meets your needs. If you don’t find an EN within 3 months, Social Security may have you do medical CDRs again.

When you and an Employment Network (EN) have agreed to work together, you both will develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that clearly states the responsibilities you and your EN have to help you achieve your work goals.

Your plan should contain at least the following:

• Your employment goals (the type of work you want to do)
• All services your EN agrees to give you and how they will be delivered to you
• Your responsibilities to meet your work goals and continue to get services
• What you can do if you are not satisfied with your EN or your plan
• How you can change your plan if you need to do so

Once you and your EN sign the plan, your EN will send your ticket to the Ticket program manager for it to be assigned.

Timely Progress

After you and your EN sign the plan, you want to make timely progress towards reaching your employment goals, because as long as you do so, you will not be subject to a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Are you making timely progress?

To find out if you are making timely progress, the Ticket to Work program will review your progress at the end of each 12-month period. If you have fulfilled specific requirements (described below) during the last 12 months, you can continue doing the Ticket program and don’t have to do a medical CDR.

If you haven’t met those requirements, you can keep doing the Ticket program, but you may be subject to a medical CDR until you start meeting the timely progress requirements. If you disagree with the decision about your timely progress, you can request an SSA review of the decision within 30 days. While waiting for the SSA review, you will be exempt from medical CDRs.

Note: If you have not made timely progress, that doesn’t mean Social Security will automatically do a medical CDR. Social Security decides when to do a medical CDR based on a number of factors.

Year 1

During your first year in the Ticket to Work program, timely progress means you must do at least one of the following:

• Complete 3 months of work with gross earnings of at least $1,160 per month
• Complete your high school diploma or the equivalent
• Complete 60% of a full-time course load for an academic year in a college or technical/trade/vocational training program
• Complete some combination of these work and education goals

Year 2

The requirements for timely progress go up each year. During your second year, you must do at least one of the following:

• Work 6 months with gross earnings over $1,160 each month
• Complete 75% of a full-time course load in a college, trade school, or vocational training program

Year 3

During your 3^rd year, you must do at least one of the following:

• Work 9 months with gross earnings over $1,620 each month ($2,700 if you’re blind)
• Complete a full year of college, trade school, or vocational school

After Year 3

To see the complete timely progress requirements for each additional year in the Ticket to Work program, read Social Security's guidelines.

Inactive Status

If you temporarily cannot meet the goals in your Individual Work Plan because of health difficulties, you can contact the Ticket to Work program and ask to be placed in “inactive status.” The months when you are in inactive status do not count toward the 12-month period for calculating your timely progress. When you are able to resume working or attending school, contact the Ticket to Work program to reactivate your status (switch back to “in-use status”).

When your status is reactivated, you can start again where you left off in the 12-month period without penalty. In other words, you will not lose credit for previous work you did to accomplish your work goals.

While you are in inactive status, Social Security may conduct a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR). However, Social Security will not do a medical CDR once your status has been reactivated.

Manny’s Story

Manny is a bright 23-year-old who has had several health problems in recent years that have made it difficult for him to work or go to school regularly. He would like to work as a computer programmer but needs training. He’s never really done a job search and is a bit intimidated by the idea of it. Where should he look for jobs? What should he include on his resume? How can he discuss his health issues in an interview?

He goes to lunch with his friend Jessica and they begin talking about his concerns. Jessica is a few years older than Manny. She also has a physical disability. She knows what Manny is going through because she remembers how overwhelmed she felt when she began looking for a job. She suggests Manny look into the Ticket to Work program.

Jessica explains to Manny that the Ticket to Work program is designed to help people with disabilities reach their employment goals. It offers all sorts of employment services, such as training, job counseling, and job referrals.

Manny asks Jessica about eligibility, and she refers him to the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842.

Jessica explains that the program is for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities who are 18 – 64 years old. Manny gets a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment every month, so he will probably qualify. He decides to call the Help Line, just to be sure.

Manny asks Jessica about what the program will do for him.

“Well, the Ticket to Work program addresses the kind of things you say you’re worried about — getting job training, finding work, even writing a resume,” says Jessica. “After you find out if you qualify, the next step is to get hooked up with an Employment Network or Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services.”

Manny isn’t clear about the difference between them and asks Jessica to clarify.

“Employment Networks are agencies recognized by the Ticket to Work program that help people with disabilities become employed,” Jessica tells Manny. “Vocational Rehabilitation Services is a state agency that is an Employment Network. Other organizations like job placement agencies, Centers for Independent Living, and employers can also be Employment Networks. I worked with a private Employment Network myself, but I know others who have worked with Vocational Rehabilitation. Who you work with kind of depends on the services you need.”

Jessica explains to Manny how the Employment Network helped her with her career. “They helped with everything. They directed me to get the basic computer training I needed. They sent me job listings via email. They helped me write my resume and posted it on their website,” says Jessica. “I’ve heard the services vary from Network to Network, so you should be sure to research your options carefully. In your case, it would be important to find one that can help you get training in computer programming.”

“Once you’ve chosen your Employment Network, you’ll work with them to draft an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that outlines your employment goals and the services they will offer. To be ‘active’ in the program, you have to make sufficient timely progress towards your employment goal,” says Jessica. “One of the main benefits of the Ticket program is that as long as you’re making timely progress, Social Security will suspend medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs).”

Manny is curious about why that is so important.

“Well, when Social Security does a medical CDR, they decide whether or not you still qualify as medically disabled by their definition. If they decide you are no longer disabled, you will lose all your Social Security benefits. So the fact that medical CDRs are not done when you’re making timely progress under your Ticket plan is a real perk,” says Jessica.

“How do they decide if you’re making adequate timely progress?” Manny asks.

“Well, your progress is reviewed every 12 months. You need to work for a certain number of months earning a certain amount each year. Or, if you’re in school, you need to complete enough courses in the year,” says Jessica.

“That sounds a little scary,” says Manny.

“It’s not too hard,” Jessica tells him. “In the first year, you only need to work 3 months out of the year and make over $1,160 in those months. You can work more if you want to. Or you can be in school 60% of the time. I was able to do it – by the 3^rd year, I was working full-time. It was so nice to be earning my own money and supporting myself.”

“Sounds fantastic,” says Manny. “I want to get involved right now. I’m going to call the Help Line to make sure I qualify.”

“That’s a good idea,” says Jessica. “I hope the program works as well for you as it did for me. Good luck!”