Yes. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a program called Ticket to Work for people who are on social security and who want to find a job. 

Ticket to Work is a free program that helps you get to your work goals. In it, you can get help with career counseling, job training, job referrals, and other employment support.

You are eligible for the Ticket to Work program if you are between the ages of 18 through 64 and get Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to your disability.

No. It is your choice if you want to do it.

The first step is to sign up for the Ticket to Work program. You can sign up by contacting any of these places: 

SSA Ticket Call Center

866-968-7842 (Voice) / 866-833-2967 (TTY)

https://choosework.ssa.gov/

Your local SSA office

https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

The Division of Rehabilitation Services

1-800-843-6154 (Voice) / 1-800-447-6404 (TTY) https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12&officetype=7

Once you sign up, you will be given a Ticket, which you can then use for help getting a job.  There is no actual ticket or paper. “Ticket” is just the name. You will get a letter saying that you are now in the Ticket to Work program, and you can use that to get help with looking for a job or going to school to get a job.

The Ticket to Work program has two places that can help you find a job or go to school to get ready to do a job:

The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS):

DRS is the vocational rehabilitation agency for the State of Illinois. DRS has people who meet with you to talk about your goals, help you find a job, or figure out what kind of school you want to go to get job training. DRS can also help pay for your school.

Employment Networks:

Employment Networks are private places that give employment support services to people with disabilities. Employment Networks might have a class or a school where you can learn a specific skill. 

You should look into DRS and ENs to see which place has a program that best meets your goals. Think about your goals and what kind of help you need.

Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)

DRS can help you figure out what kind of jobs to apply to; help with interviews; help you get reasonable accommodations; help you think about what type of school you want to go to; help pay for school or training programs; help buy the assistive technology you need for school or work; help show you how working will impact your benefits

DRS also has programs designed for different disabilities and people, like people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and Hispanic/Latinx people with disabilities 

• You can learn more about DRS and its services here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29737
• You can find the DRS office closest to your home here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12&officetype=7

Employment Networks

ENs give a lot of services. Not every Employment Network has the same services.

You can learn about different Employment Networks here: https://choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp/

The Social Security Administration also has helpful tools to help you.

• How to choose the Employment Network for you: https://choosework.ssa.gov/Assets/cw/docs-materials/TTW_Choosing_EN.pdf
• How to keep track of the options: https://choosework.ssa.gov/Assets/cw/docs-materials/BeneficiaryWsht-form6-05-2015_508.pdf

Once you decide which place you want use, you “give your Ticket” to that place. You can only give your Ticket to one place.

It depends. DRS must take all Tickets. Employment Networks can choose not to take a Ticket. 

You and your Employment Network or DRS will make a plan that outlines your job goals and the things that the agency will give you or do for you to help you reach those goals.

You have the right to change Employment Networks or change to DRS. You will need to take your Ticket away from that Employment Network and give it to another. You should first tell your current place that you would like to “unassign your Ticket.” You will also have to fill out a form. Then, you will need to give your Ticket to a new Employment Network or DRS. 

Here is the form to take back your Ticket: https://choosework.ssa.gov/library/ticket-un-assignment-form

If possible, you should give your Ticket to a new place within 90 days to keep the SSA from conducting a Continuing Disability Review (see below).

There are two ways Ticket to Work can affect your benefits:

Continuing Disability Review:

As a person who gets SSDI or SSI, the SSA will review your file from time to time to see if you are still eligible for benefits. Using the Ticket to Work program can stop this type of review. If you give a place your Ticket before you get a Continuing Disability Review notice and you make “timely progress” toward your work goal, SSA will not review your file.

Job opportunities: 

If you start working through Ticket to Work, you may get less social security benefits or no benefits.

Maybe. The SSA has a number of things you can do that will lower your countable income. Sometimes this lets you work and keep your SSI or SSDI benefits and your Medicaid and/or Medicare.

To know for sure, contact a Work Incentives Planning & Assistance agency (WIPA). For FREE, WIPAs will look at your earned income, benefits, and other things to tell you how a job will affect your benefits. They can help you figure out if there are any ways to lower your countable income.  

Contact WIPA:

Chicago: 1-312-746-5743 (voice), 1-312-746-5713 (tty), 1-312-746-5749 (fax)

This is located at the Chicago Mayors’ Office for People with Disabilities  

Outside of Chicago: 1-217-836-0061 (voice) or 1-217-522-8067 (fax)

A Trial Work Period is the first nine-months of you having a job. During this time, you can keep your social security even if you are working. The Trial Work Period can help you get a job without losing your benefits.

You can learn more about the Trial Work Period here: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/twp.html

Yes. If you get a job, you (or your representative payee) must tell the SSA. You should tell the SSA about any changes in your work. For example:

• You start or stop work
• Your work hours, duties, or pay have changed
• You start paying for expenses for work that you need because of your disability

You can report your job by:

• Giving a copy of your paystub to your local SSA office
• Mailing a copy of your paystub to your local SSA office
• Calling SSA’s automated reporting telephone system: 1-800-772-1213

Make sure to keep a copy of your paystubs and ask SSA for a receipt.

Social Security Administration: Ticket to Work website: https://choosework.ssa.gov/