Ticket to Work job program for the disabled.
The Ticket to Work program is designed to assist individuals with disabilities in securing employment, whether through remote positions, traditional companies, or self-employment opportunities. As more employers offer work-from-home options, numerous Employment Networks (ENs) have emerged that specialize in remote work. If you’re interested in exploring these avenues, please consult your service provider to ensure you receive the appropriate guidance.
Additionally, the program provides free transportation options for individuals with disabilities, including rides, Volunteer Services, and Paratransit. Employers may also offer transportation assistance, or the federal government may provide vouchers for rides to work.
It’s important to note that participating in the Ticket program will not impact your current Social Security disability payments or healthcare coverage. You can continue to receive benefits while gaining valuable work experience, as long as your income remains below the SSI or SSDI limits. Generally, SSDI recipients can earn up to $1,500 per month (or $2,500 if blind) without losing their benefits. The program includes a nine-month trial work period during which you can exceed income limits without losing assistance, spread over a five-year timeframe.
If you achieve stable employment that exceeds the income limits for more than nine months, your disability payments will eventually cease. However, Social Security allows for the resumption of benefits without the need for reapplication if your income decreases or if a medical condition arises.
Participants have the flexibility to manage their work hours to maintain their benefits, enabling a better standard of living by combining employment income with disability payments. Most SSDI recipients retain their Medicare coverage, and those who earn enough to terminate their SSDI or SSI payments remain eligible for Medicare for up to 93 months after their benefits end.
The Ticket to Work program also offers benefits counselling to help participants understand how employment may affect their benefits. Available in all 50 states, the program serves between 200,000 and 500,000 individuals annually, providing a valuable opportunity to earn additional income and gain experience while continuing to receive Social Security disability payments. Having a job with a disability
Many people eagerly look forward to their retirement day when they can leave their job behind. For others, being employed provides more than just a pay check. Working provides many with a sense of accomplishment, positive self-esteem and the opportunity to use their skills and talents.
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits but hope to earn additional income through wage-earning or self-employment, the Ticket to Work program offers you an opportunity to explore and pursue options without giving up your current financial benefits and health care coverage. To obtain more information about the Ticket to Work Program, you can call the Helpline at 1-866-968-7842 or go online to choosework.ssa.gov.
Organizations that help with job skills and job searches
Get help with job skills and learn how to search for jobs with these organizations and resources:
- CareerOneStop.org’s Workers with Disabilities section
- Your state vocational rehabilitation agency
- Your local Center for Independent Living
- The Campaign for Disability Employment’s What Can You Do? Resources for Job Seekers web page
Find job listings for people with disabilities
Job listings for anyone with a disability
- AbilityOne.gov helps people who are blind or have significant disabilities find jobs. Job openings are with nonprofit agencies nationwide.
- USAJOBS has tips for people with disabilities who want to get a job in the federal government. You can also contact an individual federal agency’s Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) for help.
- JAN, the Job Accommodation Network, answers your questions about workplace accommodations.
Job listings for veterans with a disability
The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) program offers support and services for veterans with service-related disabilities. VRE can help you:
- Get job training and counseling
- Find and keep a job
- Start a business
And learn about special hiring authorities that let federal agencies appoint vets with service-connected disabilities to jobs.