Ticket to Work Program Fact Sheet

Benefits Counseling What is the Ticket to Work and the Path to program? Social Security’s Ticket program supports Employment career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security If you receive Social Security benefits disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want (SSDI/SSI) and are considering returning to work to work. The Ticket program is free and — or maybe working for the first time — chances are you’re wondering how that extra income will voluntary. It helps people with affect your benefits. For example: move toward • Will the amount of your monthly benefit financial independence change? and connects them • Will your benefit immediately stop? with the services and • Will you lose your or ? support they need to succeed in the Well, good news! There are a number of resources that can help you make an informed workforce. decision about whether working is the right choice for you. Benefits counseling is a great place to start. Through benefits counseling, you may learn about additional federal and state programs for What is benefits counseling? which you are eligible. Your counselor can then Benefits counseling is a free service offered by refer you to the right resource for assistance or many Ticket to Work (Ticket) program service help you to apply. providers to explain how working will affect your federal and state benefits, including: Your Benefits Counselor will explain how • SSDI and SSI earnings from work will affect your Social Security benefits and how Social Security • Housing assistance Work Incentives can enable you to ease the • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program transition to work without immediately losing your (SNAP)/food stamps benefits. They will also explain the importance of • Healthcare benefits, including Medicare and reporting your wages to Social Security to help Medicaid avoid benefit overpayments.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program JUNE 2020 1 Ticket to Work Program Fact Sheet

You can learn about Work Incentives on Working with a WIPA can help you: your own, but a Benefits Counselor can offer • Understand the potential benefits of you expert guidance based on your specific employment and dispel the myths about circumstances. working • Understand specific Work Incentives and how How do I find a Benefits Counselor? they apply to you The Ticket program offers you a choice of more • Understand the services provided by a State than 700 service providers. Some providers VR agency or an EN, and how they might best serve people nationwide while others work at the fit your needs regional or local levels. Many of these providers • Decide whether the Ticket program is the offer access to benefits counseling in addition to right path for you to achieve your employment other employment support services: goals and attain financial independence • State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies offer more significant and intensive services, such as training, education and medical rehabilitation along with career Who is eligible for counseling and job placement assistance. WIPA services? • Employment Networks (EN) are private or public organizations that can help with Working with a WIPA is often career counseling, job search assistance and a first step for beneficiaries who want to continued support after you get a job. go to work. You can work with a WIPA project if you: A third type of provider, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects, • Are working are organizations funded by Social Security to • Have a job offer pending provide free benefits counseling to all Social • Are actively interviewing for jobs Security beneficiaries, regardless of whether they are participating in the Ticket program. • Had an interview in the past 30 days WIPA projects are staffed by Community Work • Have a job interview scheduled in the Incentive Coordinators (CWIC). CWICs provide next 2 weeks individualized, in-depth counseling about • Are a veteran, or working, earning more money and how working may affect your Social Security, healthcare and • Are age 14 - 25, (even if you are not other public benefits. actively pursuing work)

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program JUNE 2020 2 Ticket to Work Program Fact Sheet

Learn more You can connect with the Ticket program and Meet Chris find a service provider that offers benefits We introduced you to counseling in 2 ways: Chris. As a result of • Call the Ticket to Work a car accident, Chris Help Line. Customer service experienced quadriplegia representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, and received SSDI for a decade. Then, at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Chris decided to build a different future — They can answer many of your questions one centered on employment. He hopes about disability benefits and Social Security to eventually earn enough so that he no Work Incentives and send you a list of longer depends on Social Security benefits. providers that serve your area. His story of progress toward financial • Use the Ticket to Work Find Help tool to independence through work is, like many, search for service providers on your own. If marked by occasional detours and setbacks. you’re not sure what type of service provider But, he had the support of a Benefits fits your needs, the Guided Search will take you through a series of questions to help you Counselor and his EN every step of the way. determine what types of services and supports may be best for you. Once the tool generates a list of service providers, you can use the filters to narrow results to include providers To view online and access the resources linked in based on services offered like benefits this fact sheet, please visit: https://choosework.ssa. counseling, languages spoken, disabilities gov/library/fact-sheet-benefits-counseling. served and more.

Follow the Ticket program’s Choose Work on social media!

Contact the Ticket program: Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! choosework.ssa.gov/contact @ChooseWork @ChooseWorkSSA

Produced at U.S. taxpayer expense

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program JUNE 2020 3