(NAPSI)—As you may have discovered, looking for work is not a
one-size-fits-all journey. That’s why the Ticket to Work (Ticket)
program, Social Security’s national employment-related program, uses a
customized approach to help people with disabilities find meaningful work
that leads to financial independence.
How It Works
The Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through
64 who get Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to
work. The individualization begins when a beneficiary and a service provider
agree to work together. The service provider and beneficiary work one on one
to develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP), a detailed road map that identifies
employment goals based on where the individual is on the path to work. This
process, as well as other services, can be done either in person or
virtually. The IWP also includes services that the participants will need to
prepare for jobs tailored to their capabilities and strengths.
Services Available
Different types of service providers focus on different types of services:
Employment Networks (EN) are
private or public organizations that can help with career counseling and
assistance with job placement, including advising about how benefits will be
affected by work. Some ENs provide services only to their local community,
while others work across one or more states or even nationwide.
State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
agencies provide training to help people develop a variety of new skills or
strengthen current ones to help people with disabilities return to work,
enter a new line of work or enter the workforce for the first time.
Work Incentives Planning &
Assistance (WIPA) organizations provide free benefits counseling to help
beneficiaries make informed choices about work. These groups provide in-depth
counseling about working and the effect that earning money will have on
benefits.
The Protection and Advocacy for
Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program provides legal support,
advocacy and information to help beneficiaries resolve disability- and
employment-related concerns.
Learn More
To get started and find further information about the Ticket program, call
the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1 (866) 968-7842 or 1 (866) 833-2967 (TTY)
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or visit the Choose Work website
at https://choosework.ssa.gov.
“The Ticket to Work program,
Social Security’s national employment-related program, uses a customized
approach to help people with disabilities find meaningful work that leads to
financial independence. @chooseworkSSA http://bit.ly/2La3a4u”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)