Ticket to Work connects you with free employment services to help you decide if working is right for you, prepare for work, find a job, and maintain success while you are working.  The service provider you choose will serve as an important part of your "employment team" that will help you on your journey to financial independence.

Everyone age 18 through 64 who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because of his or her disability is eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work program. Participation in the Ticket to Work program is free and voluntary.

Social Security no longer sends paper Tickets in the mail, and you don't need a paper ticket to participate! Your eligibility will be verified by the service provider with whom you choose to work. You can also find out about your eligibility status by calling the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 / 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).

The next step is deciding what service provider is right for you and of course, that is StepToWork.  

Once you and StepToWork decide to work together, you will collaboratively develop a plan to help you reach your work goals. StepToWork then helps you make progress towards those goals and, eventually, a more financially independent future.

Your road to employment through the Ticket program is a two-way street: You receive free assistance from your service provider to prepare for, find and keep a job, while you work your way towards financial independence. In return, you pledge to Social Security and StepToWork that you will take specific steps – determined by the plan you developed with StepToWork – within specific time frames set by Social Security to:

• Work at a specified earnings level or,
• Complete certain educational or training requirements.

When you participate in the Ticket program, you are working with StepToWork to reduce or eliminate your dependence on SSDI and/or SSI cash benefits.

Taking the agreed-upon steps toward employment within Social Security's timeframes is called making “timely progress” towards:

• Becoming and staying employed
• Reducing your dependence on SSDI or SSI payments
• Earning your way off cash benefits

For you, the return for making “timely progress” is that you succeed in achieving a more financially independent life.

Timely progress is documented through StepToWork.  You will meet with StepToWork on a regular basis and upon finding a job at least once a month virtually or in person.  You will provide StepToWork with pay stubs.  The meetings are documented and along with pay stubs, submitted to Social Security.  

Continuing Disability Review

Ordinarily Social Security reviews your medical condition from time to time to see whether you still have a disability through a process called the medical Continuing Disability Review, or CDR. Once you assign your Ticket to StepToWork before you receive a CDR notice and make “timely progress” following your employment plan, Social Security will not conduct a review of your medical condition. If you assign your Ticket after you receive a CDR notice, Social Security will continue with your scheduled medical review.