Why You Need Ticket to Work Even If You Are Working?

If you are already working, you may wonder if assigning your Ticket to Work is still necessary. Assigning your Ticket to an approved Employment Network can give you access to employment services, benefits counseling, and a formal work plan. When you meet program requirements, it can also provide protection from a Medical Continuing Disability Review. 

Why Would You Need Ticket to Work If You Already Have a Job? 

The program is not only for people who are looking to return to the workforce. It can also support eligible participants who are already working and want to continue moving toward their employment goals.

Working while receiving disability benefits can bring questions about earnings, reporting, work incentives, and how changes in employment may affect your benefits.

You may be working part-time today but thinking about increasing your hours. You may have recently started a new job, received a raise, or decided that you want to work toward a full-time position. 

Ticket to Work can give you a structured way to work toward those goals with support from an approved Employment Network. 

The program is voluntary. You do not have to participate simply because you are eligible. However, if you choose to participate, assigning your Ticket can connect you with employment services and create a formal Individual Work Plan based on your goals.

Can You Use Ticket to Work If You Are Already Working? 

Yes. If you are eligible for Ticket to Work, being employed does not automatically prevent you from participating. 

You may be interested in Ticket to Work if you: 

• Already have a part-time job 
• Recently returned to work 
• Are working full time 
• Want to increase your hours 
• Want to change careers 
• Want to look for a different job 
• Want to explore remote work 
• Want to explore self-employment 
• Want help understanding work incentives 
• Want support as you continue working 

The Ticket Program is designed to support eligible participants as they work toward employment and their career goals. Your Employment Network can help you create an employment plan based on your goals and provide services throughout your participation. 

How Can Ticket to Work Help If You Are Already Working? 

Depending on your needs and the services offered by the provider, this may include: 

• Career planning 
• Resume preparation 
• Interview preparation 
• Job search support 
• Benefits counseling 
• Employment goal planning 
• Work incentive information 

Social Security recommends considering whether an Employment Network understands your career goals and can provide the support you need. 

Does Ticket to Work Protect Your Disability Benefits? 

Ticket to Work does not guarantee that you will keep your SSI or SSDI benefits. 

However, the program can provide an important protection related to medical Continuing Disability Reviews, also called medical CDRs. 

If you assign your Ticket to an approved service provider before Social Security schedules a medical CDR and you meet the applicable timely progress requirements, the Ticket Program can provide protection from the medical review while that protection applies.

There is an important exception. If Social Security has already scheduled a medical CDR before you assign your Ticket, the scheduled review will continue. 

This is why the timing of Ticket assignment can matter when you are considering working.

What Happens When You Assign Your Ticket? 

Assigning your Ticket is part of a process. 

First, you choose an Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency that fits your needs. You and the provider discuss your employment history, skills, goals, and the support you may need. 

If you and the Employment Network agree to work together, you develop an Individual Work Plan. 

The IWP identifies your employment goal and the services the Employment Network will provide. Both you and the Employment Network acknowledge the plan, and the Ticket can then be assigned through the Ticket Program process. 

This means assigning your Ticket is more than simply signing up for a program. It creates a structured relationship between you and your Employment Network around your employment goals. 

What If Your Work Situation Changes? 

Your employment situation may change after you assign your Ticket. 

You might: 

• Get a new job 
• Increase your hours 
• Reduce your hours 
• Receive a promotion 
• Change careers 
• Start working remotely 
• Begin self-employment 
• Need additional employment support 
• Decide that your current career goal is no longer right for you 

Your Individual Work Plan can be updated when your needs or employment goals change. SSA's Employment Network guidance specifically states that an IWP can be reassessed and amended as a Ticketholder's employment or financial goals change. 

This is one reason an Employment Network can continue to be useful after you have started working.

Is Ticket to Work Free? 

Yes. Ticket to Work services are free for eligible participants. 

The program is also voluntary. You can choose whether to participate and which approved service provider you want to work with. 

Because Employment Networks offer different services, it is a good idea to ask questions before assigning your Ticket. 

You may want to ask: 

• What services do you provide? 
• Do you offer benefits counseling? 
• Can you work with me remotely? 
• Do you understand my employment goals? 
• What will my Individual Work Plan include? 
• How will we communicate? 
• What support will I receive after I start working? 

What If You Have Not Assigned Your Ticket Yet? 

If you are already working and have not assigned your Ticket, you have not necessarily missed your opportunity. 

You can learn about Ticket to Work, review your options, and speak with an Employment Network about your employment goals. 

If you decide that the program fits your situation, you can work with the Employment Network to develop an Individual Work Plan and move forward with Ticket assignment. 

If you are concerned about a possible medical CDR, understanding the timing of Ticket assignment can be especially important.