Congratulations on your participation in the Ticket to Work program. We hope this publication is informative and helps you to be successful in the program.

Will you review my disability while I am in the program?

We will not review your disability as long as you make progress in the Ticket to Work program. (If we started a disability review before you began participating, we will finish the review.) If you have any questions about the Ticket to Work program, call the Ticket Call Center, toll-free at 1-866-968-7842, or TTY 1-866-833-2967.

How does Social Security determine my progress?

Your participation in the Ticket to Work program began when you signed an agreement with an employment network or state vocational rehabilitation agency. With their help, you developed an employment plan. While you are in the program, we will review your progress in achieving the goals of your employment plan every 12 months.

We will review your progress. The following table explains how we determine whether you are making timely progress. In addition to the items in this chart, earning a high school diploma/GED will satisfy the educational requirement for the first 12-month review.

12-month review period
Work requirement
Degree or certification program
Technical, trade or vocational program
First year 3 out of 12 months with trial work period level earnings. Completed 60 percent of full time course load for 1 year. Completed 60
percent of full time course load for 1 year.
Second year 6 out of 12 months with trial work period level earnings. Completed 75 percent of full time course load for 1 year. Completed 75 percent of full time course load for 1 year.
Third year 9 out of 12 months with substantial gainful activity level earnings.* Completed a 2-year program or, for a 4-year program, completed an additional academic year of full time study. Completed the
program.
Fourth year 9 out of 12 months with substantial gainful activity level earnings.* Completed an additional academic year of full time study.  
Fifth year 6 out of 12 months at substantial gainful activity level with no Social Security disability or SSI benefits. Completed an additional academic year of full time study or completed 4-year degree program.  
Sixth year Work criteria are same for 5th and subsequent 12-month periods Completed 4-year degree
program.
 

*In 2012, earnings over $1,010 (over $1,690 if you are blind) are considered substantial.

What happens if I am not making progress?

If we find you are not making progress in the Ticket to Work program, we will no longer suspend future medical reviews. You may continue in the Ticket program even if we find that you are not making progress.

What if I start making progress again?

Whenever you think you are making progress again, you should contact the Ticket Call Center.

We will make a decision about your progress. As long as you meet the disability rules, qualify to participate in the Ticket to Work program and start making progress as expected, we will not begin a medical review.

What if I disagree with the decision?

If you disagree, you can ask Social Security to review the decision. You have to ask for a review of the decision within 30 days after the date we send you the decision. Once we make our decision, we will send you a letter explaining it.

Working and your benefits

How do my earnings affect my benefits?

If you have completed your trial work period, are working and have substantial earnings, we may stop your Social Security disability benefits. We can quickly start your benefits again if your income drops or you stop work and are still disabled.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are reduced until your earnings have reached a high enough level that you no longer receive your benefit payment. We count less than one-half of your earnings when figuring your SSI payment amount.

For a complete explanation of how earnings affect your benefits, get a copy of Working While Disabled—How We Can Help (Publication No. 05-10095). You can get a copy by visiting Social Security Publications or calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

What happens to my health benefits?

Your Medicare may continue for at least 8½ years after you start to work if you are still disabled. Your Medicaid may also continue, depending on the state where you live and the amount of your earnings.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about the Ticket to Work program, call the Ticket Call Center, toll-free at 1-866-968-7842, or TTY 1-866-833-2967. Or, you can visit The Work Site.

Contacting Social Security

Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online.

In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.