Frequently Asked Questions

The Ticket To Work Program is a free program for persons 18-64 who are currently receiving social security benefits. Established in 1999, the TTW program allows you to keep your benefits while you explore employment, receive vocational rehabilitation and gain work experience. Your cash benefits along with Medicaid and Medicare often continue throughout your transition to work. There are protections in place to help you return to benefits if you find you are unable to continue working due to your disability.You can visit the choosework.ssa.gov  website for more information.

First, you should know that if you go back to work, you would NOT automatically lose your disability benefits. The Ticket to Work “work incentives” allows you to keep your cash benefits and Medicare or Medicaid (Medi-Cal) while you test your ability to work.

‍For beneficiaries in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, there is a Trial Work Period (TWP) during which you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and income and continue to have a disabling condition.The Trial Work Period continues until you accumulate nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you earn more than the Trial Work Level amount of $940 a month in gross wages in 2021. If necessary, you can have up to 60 months to complete the Trial Work Period.After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility during which your benefits will stop for the months your earnings are at a level the Social Security Administration considers Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), currently $1,310 in 2021. (SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2021 is $2,190)During the 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility, your benefits start again if your earnings fall below the SGA level and you continue to have a disabling impairment. For more information about work incentives, we recommend that you read the SSA pamphlet, Working While Disabled-How We can Help.

You can begin to work and continue to receive SSI benefits as long as your wages and other resources do not exceed the  SSA’s income limit for SSI: however, your monthly benefit amount will be reduced in proportion to your income.

Here's how the SSA reduces your income. Both the federal benefit amount and the SSI income limit is $794 (in 2021). The SSA will reduce your benefit by the amount of your countable income. If your only income is from your job, the SSA does not include the first $85 you earn toward your countable income.After taking the $85 adjustment off of your income, the SSA will deduct, from your monthly benefits, 50 cents for every dollar you earn. Here is an example of a person who earns $1,000 a month from working: $1,000 - $85 = $915 ÷ 2 = $457.50. The individual’s monthly SSI benefit amount would be reduced by $457.50. (You can make up to about $1,650 a month, if you have no other income, before your SSI benefit would be reduced to zero.) 

You may still qualify for other work incentives, such as Ticket to Work, and continue to receive Medicaid (Medi-Cal).

As long as you keep receiving a benefit check of any amount, you will keep your health insurance. If you earn enough that your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks stop, Medicare can continue for up to 93 months. If you currently receive Medicaid (Medi-Cal), you should be eligible to continue to receive Medi-Cal even after you stop receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to work. To be eligible you need to meet certain requirements, which include earnings below a threshold amount set by your state. Even if your earnings exceed the state threshold, you may still be eligible and should talk to your state Medicaid office.

For more information about Keeping Your Medical Benefits after cash benefits stop, visit https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/ and https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/1619b.htm.

No. The Ticket Program is flexible and voluntary. Beneficiaries receiving Tickets can contact one or more ENs to discuss services. Once an agreement is made between you and the EN, you and the EN work together to develop a work plan to assist you in reaching your employment goal.

Not really. During your trial work period you can earn or work as much as you are able. Once you have finished this period, then your cash benefits can be affected by your monthly earnings if you earn over $1000.00 a month. (2011 SGA)

We help you find the type of job that fits your skills and abilities. Before starting your job search, you will be professionally evaluated to make sure that we are looking in the right direction

There is no penalty for trying to return to work. If you try working and then find out that returning to work is not right for you, your cash benefits can be reinstated without any difficulty or questions during the expedited reinstatement period. (36 months after completing the nine month trial work period). Ticket-holders can also retain their Medicare benefits for 8 ½ years after starting back to work, and do not have to worry about changing healthcare providers or obtaining healthcare coverage through their employer.