What to Know About SSDI and Ticket to Work

If you are a disabled adult under the age of 65 and are currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and if you want to find out about becoming financially independent again, you should learn more about the Ticket to Work Program. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Ticket to Work Program “supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work,” and it is “free and voluntary.” What should you know about SSDI and the Ticket to Work Program? Our national disability benefits lawyers can tell you more.

Learning More About the Ticket to Work Program 

What is the Ticket to Work Program, exactly, and how does it work? The Ticket to Work Program is an option for adults receiving SSDI benefits to receive training and assistance to reenter the workforce, and to be connected with employment networks that have positions and resources for people with disabilities. SSA-authorized organizations, including an employment network and state vocational rehabilitation agency, are part of being involved in the Ticket to Work Program. According to a recent article in Forbes, the “combined benefit” of SSDI and the Ticket to Work Program is “a lifeline for people with disabilities — financial support, Medicare benefits, and an opportunity to work again if they are medically up to it.”

Part of the Ticket to Work Program includes the Trial Work Period (TWP), which gives people receiving SSDI benefits a chance to earn money and to continue receiving benefits while they determine if returning to work is possible for them.

Who is a Candidate for the Ticket to Work Program? 

The SSA says that the Ticket to Work Program is “a good fit for people who currently receive Social Security disability benefits, but who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workplace.” As the SSA explains, the program “offers qualified people with disabilities access to meaningful employment with the assistance of authorized employment service providers.”

What Will Happen If You Ultimately Cannot Do the Work Due to Your Disability? 

If you try to return to work and cannot do it, you will not be penalized for trying the Ticket to Work Program. As the Forbes article underscores, one of the elements of the Ticket to Work Program is expedited reinstatement, which means that if your medical condition that qualified you for SSDI payments in the first place requires you to stop working — within five years from when you stopped receiving SSDI benefits — you will not need to go through the SSDI application process again. Instead, you may be eligible to simply resume receiving SSDI benefits.

Contact a National Disability Benefits Lawyer Today 

If you have questions about your eligibility for different types of programs while receiving SSDI payments, or if you need help having your SSDI payments reinstated after attempting to return to work, one of the experienced national SSDI benefits lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can help you. Contact us today to discuss your situation and to find out more about your options.

Sources:

ssa.gov/work/

forbes.com/sites/dianewiniarski/2024/02/19/ssdi-and-ticket-to-work-open-possibilities-for-people-with-disabilities/?sh=708b5f273943