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TICKET
TO WORK PROGRAM
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
- Ticket to Work is a Social
Security Administration incentive program (www.socialsecurity.gov/work/aboutticket.html)
to help people with disabilities find jobs if
they want to go to work.
- SSA has contracted with a
private company, MAXIMUS, to perform the
day-to- day administration of the Ticket to
Work Program.
WHAT IS THE TICKET TO WORK
PROGRAM?
- Most Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability
beneficiaries will receive a "ticket" they may
use to obtain vocational rehabilitation,
employment or other support services from an
approved provider of their choice.
- The Ticket to Work program is
voluntary.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
All SSI and SSDI disability cash
beneficiaries are eligible, except:
- Beneficiaries whose conditions
are expected to improve, and who have not had
at least one continuing disability review;
- Beneficiaries who have not
attained age 18;
- Childhood SSI beneficiaries who
have attained age 18, but who have not had a
re-determination under the adult disability
standard.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WHEN SOMEONE
GETS A TICKET?
- This is a voluntary
employment-related program.
- When an individual gets a
Ticket, they are free to choose when and
whether they want to use it.
- If they decide to "assign" it
(use it), they take it to a participating
Employment Network (EN) in their local area or
they can take it to a State Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) Agency. (Note: Individuals
will receive services from an Employment
Network for free. SSA will pay the Employment
Networks for successfully helping a
beneficiary go to work.)
- When tickets are mailed by the
Social Security Administration (SSA), a toll
free phone number
(1-866-968-7842/866-YOURTICKET) or TDD phone
number (1-866-833-2967/866-TDD2WORK) will be
mentioned in the packet of materials they
receive. Ticket-holders call this number to
find out the Employment Networks are in their
area. When this number is called, an
"Employment Network Coordinator" (ENC) will
talk with the beneficiary about their
employment needs and then give them the names
and contact information of the ENs in their
local area.
- Once this happens,
Ticket-holders may choose any EN they think
can help them the most with getting or keeping
a job and the supports they need. They can
also go to the State VR Agency for services.
REMOVAL OF BARRIERS
- Most Social Security
beneficiaries are protected by Medicare for up
to eight years and six months after they go to
work. Medicare coverage continues even if an
individual no longer receives a monetary
benefit from Social Security. Most SSI
beneficiaries are eligible for Medicaid, which
is a state health benefit. These individuals
should contact their state Medicaid office for
more information.
- SSA will not conduct a medical
review of a person receiving disability
benefits if that person is using a Ticket.
Benefits can still be terminated if earnings
are above limits.
- Starting January 1, 2002,
Social Security disability beneficiaries who
have received benefits for at least 24 months
can not be medically reviewed solely because
of work activity. However, regularly scheduled
medical reviews can still be performed and,
again, benefits terminated if earnings are
above the limits.
- If your benefits have ended
because of work, and you meet some important
conditions, you can request that that SSA
start your benefits again without having to
file a new application.
For more information, go to the
Maximus website: www.yourtickettowork.com/
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN
CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by program name: Ticket
to Work
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SOURCE: Social Security
Administration website and Maximus website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: March2012
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