Ticket to Work Program
Are you a candidate for this program? If you are a beneficiary of the Ticket to Work program, you may be eligible for hiring. The jobs available to those with disabilities are at various skill levels including entry level positions.
A Ticket to Work holder, are those beneficiaries that were issued a ticket, who would choose to assign those tickets to an employment service of their choice. The service in return would help them to find work and maintain employment. The services can include vocational rehabilitation services or other services that will help achieve the work goal.
What is Ticket to Work? This program was initiated in 1999 by the Social Security Administration called the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. The initial regulations were published in 2001. It is a voluntary program helping beneficiaries get back into the workplace and not rely solely on Social Security benefits.
Recent regulations have been set in place to enhance the Ticket to Work program. The new proposals are to encourage the service providers, educational programs, and employers to become part of an approved Employment Network. This improvement has shown new employment networks increased from an average of five per month to an average of thirty four per month. While these new proposals are too early to access, this is an encouraging sign for to those who are disabled and wanting to return to work. This in return, will increase the chances of employment for those individual with disabilities.
How will the Ticket To Work Program help you? You are able to get free training, job referrals and other services you need to work. You can give your “ticket” to an approved Employment Network at this point you and the Network make a work plan. The goal is to help you return to the work place, and to achieve financial independence.
What do you do to participate? First steps in participating in Ticket To Work Program,
- Take your “Ticket” to an approved provider of your choice. This provider can be either an Employment Network or a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. How do I find an approved Employment Network? They are listed at the MAXIMUS, Inc. This is a company that helps Social Security manage Ticket to Work. Website at www.yourtickettowork.com or you call MAXIMUS toll free at 1-866-968-7842.
- Your participation in the Ticket to Work program begins when you sign an agreement with an employment network or state vocational rehabilitation agency. With their help, you develop an employment plan. While you are in the program, they will review your progress in achieving the goals of your employment plan every 12 months.
You can also attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE). WISE are community events held by Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA). These events are held for beneficiaries with disabilities and their families to learn more about available work incentives through accessible, informal, learning opportunities.
WIPA staff will help you understand how work affects the beneficiary payments, also help you find the right network to help you go to work and explain what other federal, state and local supports are available to help people with disabilities who work.
To see if there is an upcoming WISE in your state, please go the following link: http://www.cessi.net/WISE/
For more information about the Ticket to Work Program go to:
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10060.html
About the Author
Diana Headlee-Bell was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1978 at the age of 15 as a probable result of glomerulonephritis due to strep throat. She has received two transplants, her second in 1981, which lasted for 18 years. She currently does in-center nocturnal hemodialysis. Diana is active in her State’s ESRD Network, serving on the Rehabilitation Committee and the Board of Directors, as well as co-chairing the Patient Advisory Committee. She is currently an RSN PEPP speaker, HOPEline operator.