In general, you can work and maintain your eligibility when your Ticket to Work is assigned and you are making timely progress towards your work goals. While working you will want to understand what is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The SGA amount changes annually and will increase over time.
It is important to know you can earn more than the SGA amount while your Ticket to Work is assigned and it will not result in your benefits to be permanetly terminated. Instead, your cash benefits will be suspended or will "stop", and you can get your benefits reinstated with EPE or EXR. The SSA offers a Ticket to Work program that can help you test your ability to reenter the workforce without putting your benefits at risk.
How the Ticket to Work Program Helps You Return to Work Without Risk of Permanently Losing Your Disability Benefits
Since qualifying for disability can be a time-consuming and frustrating process, it makes sense that you would want to ensure that you do not do anything to jeopardize your benefits. If you are worried that you might need benefits again later or have concerns about finding stable employment, Disability Services of America can provide you with a free consultation to ensure that you understand how you can use the Ticket to Work program to achieve your career goals.
The Ticket to Work Program is a resource that is available to people on SSI and SSDI. Disability Services of America offers the following Ticket to Work Services:
- Career counseling
- Benefits counseling
- Goal development
- Completing your Individualized Work Plan (IWP)
- Navigating your rights under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Labor market research
- Job placement and development
- Employment support
During the time when your Ticket to Work is assigned, you will not undergo medical reviews as long as you are making timely progress toward your plan to return to work.
Do I Qualify for Ticket to Work?
There are several criteria that you must meet, in order to be eligible for Ticket to Work:
- Desire to return to work, but need help to do so
- Receiving SSDI or SSDI and SSI payments
- Not currently appealing a medical cessation decision
- Not an adult whose disability was awarded under childhood disability standards
- Not granted expedited reinstatement of temporary benefits
- Not receiving advance payments for presumptive blindness or disability currently
While there are differences in the rules for SSI and SSDI recipients, one key thing that they share in common is that you will need to inform the Social Security Administration (SSA) when you return to work, if your work changes substantially, and if you stop working.
Is Ticket to Work a Good Fit for Me?
It is important to consider your unique circumstances when deciding if the Ticket to Work program is right for you. Let’s look at some questions you might want to ask yourself as you’re evaluating the pros and cons of reentering the workforce.
Do You Want to Work Full-Time but Worry That You Could Lose Your Benefits?
Disability Services of America’s staff is available to help you through the Ticket to Work Program and answer any questions you might have about what activities could cause your benefits to end.
Do You Need Help Ensuring All of Your Paperwork Is Submitted Accurately and on Time?
The various forms that SSA requires before a person returns to work can be confusing and difficult to keep track of, while also undergoing the major life change of returning to work. Our staff has experience completing and submitting these forms and can ensure that every detail is handled correctly.
Has It Been a While Since You Worked?
You might feel like your skills for applying for jobs, interviewing, and maintaining employment have gotten a little rusty. Disability Services of America can help you brush up in any areas where you need help.
Are You Concerned That You Could Lose Your Insurance?
Worries about losing your health insurance might also be a reason you aren’t sure about returning to work. If you have Medicare and you are able to return to work but are still disabled, you will keep free Medicare Part A for at least 93 months after the nine-month trial work period. You may be able to buy it after that for a monthly premium. Medicare Part B coverage would continue to require a premium. Our team can explain the particulars as they relate to your situation.
If you have Medicaid, you may continue to be covered even if your SSI payments stop, as long as:
- You still have a disability.
- You wouldn’t be able to keep working without Medicaid.
- You aren’t able to afford similar insurance without SSI.
- You meet the other requirements for SSI.
Are You Worried That the Work You Do Will Cause SSA to Over-Estimate Your Ability Support Yourself Financially?
During the time that your Ticket to Work is assigned, you may not be required to participate in a Continuing Disability Review (CDR), so the progress you are making while in the program will not count against your ability to keep your benefits.
What to Expect During the Trial Work Period
The SSA allows people a trial work period to test their ability to maintain employment. During this time, you will continue to have your full benefits, regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your income and continue to have a disability.
The trial period continues until you have had more than nine (9) months of trial work within 60 months. The nine (9) months do not have to be consecutive.
Entering the Period of Extended Period of Eligibility
Once you have used all nine (9) months of your trial work period, you will enter a three-year period of extended eligibility while working over SGA. During the extended period of eligibility, you will receive benefits in any month that you do not meet the substantial gainful activity threshold without needing a new application or disability decision.
How the Grace Period Affects Your Benefits
While working over SGA and your trial work period is used, you will receive a three-month grace period after the trial work period has concluded to provide you additional time to test your ability to work.
Asking for an Expedited Reinstatement
You may wonder what would happen if everything is going well, you are able to earn enough money to surpass the SGA threshold consistently, and you no longer need SSDI or SSI, but then three to five years in the future your medical conditions do not allow you keep working any longer. In the unfortunate event that this were to occur, you have up to five (5) years from the end of your trial work period to request an expedited reinstatement. This would mean that you could ask the SSA to restart your financial benefits without a long wait or a new application. Should you find yourself in this position, Disability Services of America would be able to assist with the process of restarting your benefits.