Ticket to Work
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The Basics
The Ticket to Work program is a federal program that helps Social Security beneficiaries with a disability achieve their employment goals. The program offers beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) services to help them become employed. These services can include: vocational rehabilitation, training, referrals, job coaching, counseling and placement services. The Ticket to Work program pays for services to help you find paid work - it is not linked to special jobs for Social Security beneficiaries. The services provided through the Ticket to Work program help you to find and apply for jobs that already exist in the marketplace.
The Ticket to Work program is completely voluntary; there is no penalty if you decide not to participate. It is important to know that Social Security will suspend medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) while you are using your Ticket. This is a significant benefit if your disability or condition may change. Under normal circumstances, if Social Security conducts a medical CDR and determines that you are no longer disabled, you lose all your Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Administration made major improvements to the Ticket to Work program in 2008. The new Ticket to Work program rules have been in effect since July 21, 2008. Most adult SSI and SSDI beneficiaries can now use the Ticket to Work program. The new Ticket to Work program rules also give beneficiaries more choices in the organizations that can assist them with their employment goals.
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Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
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Overview
In 2008, the Social Security Administration made major improvements to the Ticket to Work program. The new Ticket to Work rules have been in effect since July 21, 2008. In addition to the information on this page, you can find more information on the new Ticket to Work program at The Work Site on Social Security’s website.
The Ticket to Work program provides services to help Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities become employed. These services can include vocational rehabilitation, job training, job coaching, counseling, placement and referrals. For example, you might get help from a job counselor with finding jobs to apply for, advice on improving your resume, or instruction on how to successfully interview for a job. The Ticket to Work program can also coordinate resources to help you get training, education, and assistive technology.
In addition to providing employment services, a primary benefit of the Ticket to Work program is that Social Security will suspend medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) while you are enrolled, as long as you are making enough progress towards your employment goals.
Important: The New Ticket to Work program is not linked to specific jobs and does not guarantee that you will find a job. This program provides services to help you become employed.
Eligibility for the Program
Under the New Ticket to Work Program regulations, all adult beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 who receive SSI or SSDI cash benefits are eligible for the Ticket to Work program. You can participate in the Ticket to Work program immediately if you meet these qualifications or you wait until a later time when you feel ready to work. The Ticket does not have an expiration date.
To check if you are eligible for the Ticket to Work program, contact it at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TDD).
How the Program works
By using the Ticket to Work program, you can access employment services provided by Ticket service providers called Employment Networks or by the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). ENs can be employment agencies, employers, schools, or other types of organizations. DOR is a California state agency that helps individuals with disabilities to become employed.
If you want to work with an EN instead of DOR, you can work with any EN that you choose so long as they agree to work with you. You can change your EN at any time if you are not satisfied with the services they provide. It is also possible to receive services first from DOR, and then switch to an EN to provide support once you start working.
You and your EN will determine which services you need to reach your employment goals. Your EN will use these decisions to create an Individual Work Plan (IWP) for you. If you work with DOR, this document will be called an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). The two types of plans are very similar documents and serve the same purpose – they map out the steps you’ll need to take to become employed.
As long as you are following your plan and making timely progress, Social Security will not subject you to a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR).
This is a very important benefit of the Ticket to Work program because if Social Security conducts a CDR and determines that you are no longer disabled, you will lose your Social Security benefits. As long as your Ticket is active (that is, "in use"), you are exempt from these reviews.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
- The Basics
- Overview
- Employment Networks
- Work Plan and Progress
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Resources
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Employment Networks (ENs)
Who They Are
A variety of organizations can serve as Employment Networks, including:
- Employers
- Employment Agencies
- Chambers of Commerce
- Nonprofit Organizations
- America's Job Centers of California (formerly known as One-Stops)
- Schools and Other Educational Institutions
- Staffing and Placement Agencies
- Development Disabilities Agencies
- Mental Health Agencies
- Centers for Independent Living
Choosing the EN that Is Right for You
Services vary from EN to EN. Be sure to contact the ENs in your area and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for a description of the services they provide. For a listing of the ENs in your area, search on their webpage. A benefits planner may also be able to recommend ENs near you.
Ask the Employment Networks about languages spoken and the types of disabilities they have experience working with. Some ENs may be strong in certain areas (for example, job skill training) but not as strong in others (for example, job referrals or job placement). Some ENs may assign you a counselor or caseworker; others may not. If you are having trouble deciding which EN to work with, contact a benefits planner.
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. And if you start working with an EN and are not satisfied with their services, you can change ENs. Another alternative: You can work with the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) instead.
Using a Different EN
If you decide you want to work with a different EN, you can send a letter asking the Ticket to Work program to un-assign your Ticket from your current EN. You will then have three months to assign your Ticket with a new EN or vocational rehabilitation agency. Your Ticket will stay in “in use” status during these three months. Your Ticket is considered to be assigned with the new EN when you sign your Individual Work Plan (IWP) with the new EN.
Becoming an Employment Network (EN)
There is no cost to become an Employment Network. SSA's Employment Network Contract Team (ENCT) can answer questions about the EN Request for Proposals, walk you through the EN contract award process, and help you complete your application. Call 1-866-584-5180 (voice), 1-866-584-5181 (TTY), or e-mail them for assistance.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
- The Basics
- Overview
- Employment Networks
- Work Plan and Progress
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Resources
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Work Plan and Progress
The Roadmap to Employment
You and your EN will work together to develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP). Your IWP will contain the following information:
- 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. If you choose to work with the the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), you will have an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) instead of an IWP. Both serve the same purpose – they outline your employment goals and provide a plan of action for reaching these goals.
Timely Progress
You Must Stay On Track and On Time
If you participate in the Ticket program, you must make timely progress towards reaching your employment goals—that is, you must follow your work plan and meet deadlines specified by the program. As long as you follow your work plan, you will not be subject to a medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) by Social Security.
The Ticket program defines “timely progress” as either working and earning a certain amount for a certain number of months in a year, or completing education or training goals. For each 12-month period after you begin to use your Ticket there are different goals you must meet to show you are meeting timely progress requirements. For example, during your first 12 months in the Ticket to Work program, you must earn a minimum of $1,110 in at least three months out of the 12 months to make timely progress. There are two other ways to meet this requirement. One, you can also meet the first year’s timely progress requirements by completing 60% of a full-time course load in a college, trade school, or vocational training program. Two, you can earn a GED or high school diploma.
Reviewing Your Progress
At the end of each 12-month period that you are working with your EN and using your Ticket, the Ticket to Work Program will do a timely progress review. The review will check if you have fulfilled the timely progress requirements of the last 12 months. If so, then you are fine and can continue to use your Ticket. If not, then your Ticket will remain active and you can continue with your plan, but you will lose the CDR protections until you meet the timely progress requirements. Not meeting timely progress status does not automatically trigger a medical CDR. Social Security decides when to do a medical CDR based on a number of factors. 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 CDRs. While you continue to work on your employment goals, if you make timely progress, your CDR protections will be reinstated.
The requirements for timely progress go up each year. In the second year you must:
- Work 6 months with gross monthly earnings over $1,110 each month, or
- Complete 75% of a full-time course load in a college, trade school, or vocational training program.
In the 3rd year, you must:
- Work and earn more than $1,550 in at least 9 months of the 12, or
- Complete a full year of college, trade school, or vocational school.
To see the complete timely progress requirements for each year in the Ticket to Work Program, see Social Security’s guidelines.
“In Use” Tickets and Inactive Status
Putting Your Ticket On Hold
If you are temporarily unable to work toward the employment goals in your Ticket to Work work plan because of health difficulties, or if you have an approved IPE with the Department of Rehabilitation, you can contact the Ticket to Work program and ask them to put your Ticket on hold by placing it in “inactive status”.
When you are able to resume working or attending school, contact the Ticket program to reactivate your Ticket (switch it back to “in use” status).
While your Ticket is in inactive status, you do not have to meet the timely progress requirements. Also, any months in which your Ticket is in inactive status do not count toward the 12-month period for assessing your timely progress. When you reactivate your Ticket, 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 achieve your work goals.
In the first 12-month period of using his Ticket, Tyler was doing great. There were 2 months in which he earned at least $1,110 per month. After this work effort, he asked to place his Ticket in inactive status because his health was starting to decline.
After his health got better, Tyler asked to reactivate his Ticket several months later because he started to work again. The Ticket to Work Program considered the next month, when Tyler had at least $1,110 in earnings, as his 3rd month of work in his first 12 months of using the Ticket to Work Program.
After this 3rdmonth of paid work, Tyler meets the timely progress requirement of working at least 3 months and earning at least $1,110 per month.
Important: Social Security will not conduct medical CDRs only when your Ticket is active (in use); that is, when you are working on your employment goals with the assistance of your assigned EN (or with DOR). When you reactivate your Ticket, your protection from CDRs will resume.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
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Example
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 in his resume? How can he discuss his health issues in an interview?
He goes to lunch with his friend Jessica and the two 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—she remembers how overwhelmed she felt when she began looking for a job. She suggests Manny look into the Ticket to Work program.
“Ticket to Work. I’ve heard of that,” says Manny. “I think I got something in the mail from them a year or two ago. What’s the program all about?”
“Well, the Ticket to Work Program is designed to help people with disabilities achieve employment goals,” says Jessica. “It provides all sorts of employment services like training, job counseling, and job referrals.”
“No kidding,” says Manny. “How do I find out if I’m eligible for it?”
“You should call it,” says Jessica. “And it’s your lucky day, Manny. I happen to have a business card with their phone number right here. It is 1-866-968-7842.”
“Very cool,” says Manny. “Do you think I’ll qualify?”
“Probably. The program is for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities, aged 18 to 64. Do you receive SSI or SSDI?”
“Yeah, I receive an SSI payment every month,” says Manny.
“Sounds like you’ll qualify,” says Jessica. “You should call the Ticket to Work program just to be sure.”
“Okay, I will,” says Manny. “So tell me about this program. What will it do for me?”
“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, you have to get hooked up with an Employment Network or the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).”
“What’s the difference between those two?”
“They both serve the same basic purpose under the Ticket program: they provide services to help you find work. Organizations like job placement agencies, independent living centers, and employers can be Employment Networks, or ENs. DOR is a state agency that helps people with disabilities become employed. I worked with an EN myself, but I know others who have worked with the Department of Rehabilitation. Who you work with kind of depends on the services you need.”
“Okay,” says Manny. “So how did the EN help you with your career?”
“They helped with everything. They provided some of 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 EN to EN, so you should be sure to research your options carefully. In your case it would be important to find one that can help you to get training in computer programming. I think the Department of Rehabilitation can also help with training.”
“That would be great,” says Manny.
“If you work with an EN, you and your EN will draft an Individual Work Plan that outlines your employment goals and the services the EN is going to provide. If you work with the Department of Rehabilitation, you’ll draft something similar called an Individual Plan for Employment. In order to keep your Ticket ‘active,’ 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 adequate timely progress, Social Security will suspend medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs).”
“Why is that so important?”
“Well, when Social Security conducts a medical CDR, they determine whether or not you still qualify as medically disabled by their definition. If they determine you are no longer disabled, you will lose all your Social Security benefits.”
“Really?” says Manny.
“Yeah. So the fact that CDRs are suspended if you’re making progress under your Ticket plan is a real perk,” says Jessica.
“How do they determine if you’re making adequate timely progress?” Manny asks.
“Well, the Ticket to Work program reviews your progress 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. In the first year you only need to work three months out of the year and make over $1,110 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 third 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 Ticket to Work program 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!”
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ticket to Work Program?
The Ticket to Work Program is a program of the federal Social Security Administration (SSA) designed to expand access to employment for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities.
How can the Ticket to Work Program help me?
As a Ticket To Work participant, you choose a service provider authorized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) who will assist you with job readiness training, vocational rehabilitation, job coaches, and transportation as part of a plan for reaching your personal employment goals.
While you are using a Ticket and making timely progress towards your goals, SSA will not review your medical disability status.
Who is eligible for the Ticket to Work Program?
The Ticket program is for people who have already been awarded Social Security disability benefits under the adult rules and are receiving cash benefits. Under the new 2008 Ticket to Work Program regulations, all adult beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 who receive SSI or SSDI cash benefits are eligible for the Ticket to Work program. You can participate in the Ticket to Work program immediately if you meet these qualifications.
To check if you are eligible for the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at at 1-866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY).
How do I use my Ticket?
After you have confirmed that you are eligible to begin the Ticket to Work Program, you may look for an Employment Network (EN). To locate and choose an EN, click here. You may use only 1 Employment Network at a time. You and the EN discuss what services are needed to help reach your employment goal. This is a key step in the Ticket program. When you come to an agreement, you and the EN develop a written Individual Work Plan (IWP).
After you and the EN agree to work together, you both sign the IWP and the EN will send it to the Ticket to Work program manager to complete the assignment process. If you are not happy with the services you are getting from the EN and want to get services from another EN, you can change your EN.
What is an Employment Network (EN)?
An Employment Network is an entity approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide employment-related services under the Ticket Program.
Employment Networks may offer a variety of services such as job readiness services, placement services, vocational rehabilitation, training, job coaches, transportation or other supports.
A few examples of ENs are employers, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and One Stop Career Centers.
How do I find an Employment Network (EN) in my area?
To find Employment Networks in California, click here.
Is an Employment Network the same as a job placement service? Will they find a job for me?
Some Employment Networks (ENs) are staffing or placement agencies, but others provide other employment-related services, such as training or transportation, or an array of services. When choosing an EN, you should carefully consider which services will be most useful to you in achieving your own employment goals.
Even when an EN provides staffing or placement services, your active participation is needed in actually landing a job.
What is an Individual Work Plan (IWP)?
Your Individual Work Plan is your formal agreement with your Employment Network detailing exactly how you will use their services in order to achieve your employment goals. The Plan includes specific steps and time frames and may span many years.
How do I stay enrolled in the program and eligible for my Ticket?
Once you and your Employment Network (EN) have created and signed an Individual Work Plan (IWP), you must make timely progress towards reaching your employment goals. To make timely progress, you must fulfill specific requirements for each 12 months you are in the Ticket to Work Program. The exact requirements depend on how long you’ve been in the program, but they are always related to how much you have worked and earned money or how much you have gone to school. The longer you have been in the program, the higher the requirements are.
As long as you make timely progress, you will not be subject to a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) by Social Security. If you don’t make timely progress, you can keep doing the Ticket program, but may be subject to a medical CDR until you start meeting the timely progress requirements.
To see the complete timely progress requirements for each additional year in the Ticket to Work program, read Social Security's guidelines.
What is a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR)?
All Social Security disability beneficiaries normally undergo periodic medical reviews, called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). Social Security uses the CDR to determine if there has been medical improvement in your condition, or to determine whether you are still eligible for benefits.
So long as you are making timely progress on your Individual Work Plan (IWP), Social Security will not initiate a medical CDR.
Things aren't working out with my Employment Network (EN). Can I go elsewhere?
Yes. If delays or problems continue with the work plan or between you and the Employment Network (EN), you or the EN can end the relationship. You can then go to another EN with no questions asked. To do that, you have to unassign your Ticket with the current EN and then go through the necessary steps to assign it to a new EN. Disability Rights California can provide mediation services in these cases, if needed.
Do my wages affect my eligibility for the Ticket to Work Program?
Earnings (wages) have the same affect on benefit eligibility whether you participate in the Ticket Program or not. The SSI work rules and SSDI work rules describe how wages affect these benefits.
I'm eligible but I haven't received a Ticket. How do I get one?
Social Security doesn’t mail out a paper ticket; it is all electronic. To verify that you can begin the program and to get a list of Employment Networks (ENs), call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). You can also contact them using the Ticket to Work website.
What's in it for the Employment Network (EN)? How do they get paid?
Employment Networks are not paid on a traditional fee-for-service basis. The Employment Network gets paid when you succeed - that is, as your income increases and you stop receiving Social Security cash payments.
How much does the Ticket cost?
The Ticket is free to all eligible individuals.
Are there rules for immigrants?
The Ticket Program uses the same rules that determine eligibility for Social Security disability programs. You must be a legal United States resident. The Social Security Administration provides an explanation of the rules.
Another source of information for immigrants and Social Security is the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness' "People's Guide".
What happens if I cannot make timely progress in the Ticket to Work Program due to illness or disability?
If you are unable to make timely progress on your Individual Work Plan (IWP) due to illness or disability, you may ask for a temporary suspension of your participation in the Ticket to Work program. This means that the program will freeze your status on the timely progress review schedule. During this time, you will be in “inactive status.” During inactive status, Social Security can require you to have a medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs).
If your health gets better and you can work again, you can reactivate your status and pick up where you left off, meaning that you will be back on your original schedule to fulfill the requirements of making timely progress.
What happens if my medical condition improves while I'm using the Ticket?
Because Social Security suspends your periodic medical Continuing Disability Reviews while your Ticket is in use, your eligibility for the Ticket program and Social Security disability benefits will continue if there is an improvement in your medical condition.
Can I be self-employed and still participate in the Ticket Program?
Full time, part time and self-employment goals can work in the Ticket Program. As with current work incentive rules, the amount of earnings Social Security considers is what affects the benefit rules, not whether the job is full time, part time or self-employment.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
Try It
Common Pitfalls
Skipping the Ticket Program
Many people miss or ignore the Ticket Program altogether because it adds complexity to their lives. But if you're eligible, and want to start working or increase earnings, you should take the time to evaluate the free services offered by Employment Networks in your area.
Not Sticking to the Plan
Beneficiaries may think that not making timely progress towards education and employment goals while using the Ticket means they will lose eligibility for Employment Network services.
Social Security cannot perform a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to decide if you continue to have a disability when you are using the Ticket to Work Program and progressing towards your employment goal. Social Security will check on this with a Timely Progress Review every 12 months.
Even if you are not making timely progress according to the Social Security’s guidelines, you still are enrolled in the Ticket to Work Program with your selected Employment Network (EN). However, in this case, Social Security can again do a medical CDR until you return to meeting the guidelines.
False Loyalty to the Employment Network
Under the Ticket Program, you are allowed to end your relationship with your Employment Network (EN) at any time and reassign your ticket to another EN, no questions asked. So if things aren't working out with your EN, or if your situation changes and you would benefit more from another type of service, you may consider switching.
Choosing the Wrong Employment Network
Not all Employment Networks (EN) are the same. In fact, part of the strength of the Ticket program is the variety of services offered by ENs. So, it's particularly important to think through your situation carefully and ask: What is the single biggest barrier to fulfilling my employment goals? Then find an EN whose services best address that problem.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
Ticket to Work
Try It
Resources
Ticket to Work Resources
The Ticket to Work program website provides basic information on the program including eligibility requirements and a directory of Employment Networks (EN). If you have questions regarding eligibility or other Ticket issues, you can contact the Ticket Call Center at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a variety of information on the Ticket to Work Program. You can also contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (voice) or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).
The website of the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) has links to local DOR offices, as well as brochures and other information on the program. You can contact DOR at 1-866-449-2730 (voice) or 1-866-359-7705 (TTY).
Protection and Advocacy is a federally funded program in all states, providing representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. In California, Disability Rights California administers the SSA funded Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS). The PABSS can assist you at no cost with problems you have with your Individual Work Plan under the Ticket to Work program and resolving disputes with an Employment Network. They also provide information on vocational rehabilitation, employment services and work incentives.
The National Employment Network Association (NENA) serves Employment Networks (ENs) who operate under the Ticket to Work Program. Among other services, NENA provides Ticket news and EN best practices via email, national teleconferences, and its website.
California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
A lot of information is on the website of the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).
DOR has a toll-free Ticket to Work Help Line for beneficiaries regarding the Ticket to Work program and California DOR services: Toll Free 1-866-449-2730 voice, 1-866-359-7705 TTY.
Social Security Disability Programs
The official website of the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides comprehensive information on SSA, including frequently asked questions, contact information, service and benefit descriptions, news articles, and legislative information.
Find your local local Social Security office.
SSA provides a thorough reference to Social Security program rules.
SSA has an online Benefits Planner Service that assists individuals with planning their financial future by providing estimates of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
The Social Security Administration's Red Book is a complete overview of Social Security's disability programs and work incentives.
Getting Help with Your Benefits
If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday.
View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.
Community-Based Organizations
Various community-based organizations guide people through state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with people with any type of disability. Here are a few examples
Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some Goodwill Industries centers also do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. Find locations at www.Goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-466-3945.
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists centers serving people with all disabilities. Many of these centers do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. If they don't offer benefits planning themselves, Independent Living Centers can refer you to local benefits planners. Find the list of independent living centers at www.CFILC.org, or by calling (voice) 1-916-325-1690 or (TTY) 1-916-325-1695.
The California Department of Public Health's Office of AIDS lists 1,300 organizations offering HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations provide case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include help with public and private benefits programs. You can search the list online, or call (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).
Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In-Home Supportive Services.
Learn more
Programs That Support Work
Learn about programs that can help you prepare for and find work.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.