Ticket to Work Program

Ticket to Work is a federal program that helps adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job. To qualify, you must:

• Be 18 to 64 years old, and
• Currently be getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits based on your disability.

Note: If you have a disability but don’t qualify for Ticket to Work because you don’t get SSI or SSDI, you may still qualify for vocational rehabilitation services through the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), or any of its specialized sensory services.

Ticket to Work, often called the “Ticket program,” connects people to services like:

• Vocational rehabilitation
• Training
• Referrals
• Job coaching
• Job counseling
• Placement services

While you are in the Ticket program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will not do medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) as long as you make timely progress in meeting your employment goals. That means you won’t lose eligibility for SSI or SSDI for medical reasons.

Signing Up

If you get SSI or SSDI and are 18 – 64 years old, you automatically qualify for the Ticket program. When you are ready to think about work and want to figure out how to get started, you can start the Ticket program by contacting a Ticket to Work Employment Network (EN) or by contacting GVRA, or any of its specialized sensory services.

Employment Networks are organizations that can provide the Ticket program's various employment services. ENs can be public or private agencies, and may offer slightly different services depending on their specialty or focus. Here are some examples of types of ENs:

• Community rehabilitation programs
• Developmental disability agencies
• Mental health agencies

GVRA and its specialized support programs also offer Ticket to Work services that can help you get and keep a job.

You can only get Ticket to Work services from one agency at a time. That means you have to choose to get your services from one EN (or from GVRA or its specialized programs). This is called “assigning your ticket.”

Choosing an EN

You can use the Employment Network Directory to find Employment Networks in your area. Social Security explains how to choose the right Employment Network for you.

For more help choosing an EN:

• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).
• Email the Ticket to Work customer service office at support@choosework.ssa.gov.
• Learn more about the different types of Ticket to Work service providers.

Once you’ve found an EN that interests you, contact it to see if the services and supports it offers are right for you. ENs offer different services based on their specialties. Talk to a few, so that you find one that is a good match for you.

If you think you might want to assign your ticket to GVRA or its specialized programs, learn more about the services offered by GVRA or its specialized sensory services.

Changing Employment Networks

You can change your Employment Network at any time. To change ENs, ask your Employment Network to have your ticket “unassigned.” For more detailed information:

• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), or
• Email the Ticket to Work customer service office at support@choosework.ssa.gov.

Individual Work Plans

When you and an Employment Network (or GVRA or its specialized programs) have agreed to work together, you create an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that clearly shows the responsibilities you and your EN have in order to help you achieve your work goals.

Your plan should include at least the following:

• 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 receive 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

Timely Progress

While you are in the Ticket program you want to make “timely progress” towards reaching your employment goals. As long as you do so, you will not be subject to a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) by Social Security. That means you won’t lose your eligibility for SSI or SSDI for medical reasons.

Your case will be reviewed every 12 months to see if you have met your education and training requirements or your work and earnings requirements, or a combination of both. If you have made progress toward your goals, you won't have to go through a medical CDR.

Get more information from Social Security about timely progress.