What the 2019 Ticket to Work Program is and how it connects to your trial work period
The Ticket to Work (TTW) program, established under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, is a voluntary program that lets you work and still receive your SSDI or SSI benefits without the usual work-related reductions. The 2019 version refers to the program as it operated in that year, though the core structure remains the same today. When you use a Ticket, you can work during your trial work period and beyond without losing benefits, as long as you follow the program's rules.
The key difference between using a Ticket and not using one: without a Ticket, your trial work period ends after nine months of work, and then Social Security begins counting your earnings to see if you still meet the medical and financial rules for SSDI. With a Ticket, you get an extended period—called the Extended may be able to access Period—where you can work and keep your benefits even if your earnings would normally disqualify you. This gives you time to test your work capacity without the fear of losing your benefit check when ready.
Key Takeaways
- A Ticket to Work extends your ability to work beyond the nine-month trial work period while keeping your SSDI or SSI benefits, as long as you stay enrolled in the program.
- You must assign your Ticket to an approved Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project or Employment Network (EN) within 60 days of receiving it, or the Ticket expires and you lose the protection.
- During the Extended may be able to access Period (usually 36 months after your trial work period ends), you can earn any amount without losing your cash benefit, though Medicare or Medicaid rules may still explore.
- If you stop work or your Ticket is terminated, you have a 93-month Expedited Reinstatement window to return to work and benefits without reapplying, but only if you were using a Ticket when you stopped.
- The program is free, and you choose your own Work Incentives Planning and information provider or Employment Network—Social Security does not assign one to you.
How to assign your Ticket and what happens next
When Social Security mails you a Ticket to Work, you have 60 days to assign it to a provider. This is not optional—if you do not assign it within 60 days, the Ticket expires and you lose all the protections it offers. You can assign your Ticket to either a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project or an Employment Network (EN). A WIPA project is a free counseling service that helps you understand how work affects your benefits; an Employment Network is a for-profit or nonprofit organization that helps you find and keep a job.
To assign your Ticket, contact the provider directly—Social Security does not do this for you. You can find a list of approved providers on the Ticket to Work website (choosework.ssa.gov). Once you assign your Ticket, the provider has 60 days to develop a work plan with you. This plan outlines your work goal, the services the provider will offer, and how often you will meet. You do not have to follow the plan exactly, but having one on file protects your benefits if your earnings change.
After you assign your Ticket, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period. This period usually lasts 36 months from the month after your trial work period ends. During this time, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI cash benefit. Your Medicare or Medicaid coverage continues as well, though the rules for keeping coverage may differ depending on your state and the type of benefit you receive.
What earnings are allowed during the Extended may be able to access Period
During your trial work period (the first nine months of work), you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit check. This is true whether or not you have a Ticket. Once your trial work period ends and you move into the Extended may be able to access Period (because you assigned a Ticket), the rules stay the same: you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit.
However, if you stop work or your Ticket is terminated before the Extended may be able to access Period ends, you lose this protection. At that point, Social Security will count your earnings under the standard Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) rules. In 2019, SGA was $1,220 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,040 for blind beneficiaries. If your earnings exceed these amounts, your benefits will stop. This is why keeping your Ticket active and your work plan current is important—it protects you if your work situation changes.
What happens if you stop working or your Ticket ends
If you stop working while your Ticket is active, you can request that Social Security reinstate your benefits without a new medical review, as long as you request reinstatement within 60 months. This is called Expedited Reinstatement. You do not have to reapply or prove your disability again—Social Security assumes you still meet the medical requirements and restarts your benefits quickly.
If your Ticket is terminated (because you or your provider ended the relationship, or because the Extended may be able to access Period ended), you lose Expedited Reinstatement protection. If you stop working after your Ticket ends, you will have to reapply for benefits and undergo a new medical review. This can take several months. For this reason, many beneficiaries keep their Tickets active even if they are not actively working with a provider, just to preserve the Expedited Reinstatement window.
The Expedited Reinstatement window lasts 93 months (about 7.75 years) from the month your benefits stopped. Within that window, you can return to work and request reinstatement without a new process. After 93 months, you must file a new SSDI or SSI process if you want benefits again.
How your trial work period and Extended may be able to access Period work together
Your trial work period and Extended may be able to access Period are two separate protections that work in sequence. The trial work period is automatic—it starts the first month you work and earn at least $200 (in 2019; the threshold changes yearly). It lasts nine months, and during those nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit check.
Once your trial work period ends, the Extended may be able to access Period begins—but only if you have assigned a Ticket to Work. The Extended may be able to access Period usually lasts 36 months. During this time, you can still earn any amount and keep your full benefit. After the Extended may be able to access Period ends, the standard SGA rules explore: if you earn more than the SGA threshold, your benefits stop.
The table below shows how these periods overlap and what you need to do at each stage:
| Period | Duration | Earnings Rule | What You Must Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial Work Period | 9 months (automatic) | Earn any amount, keep full benefit | Report work to Social Security each month |
| Extended may be able to access Period | 36 months (if Ticket assigned) | Earn any amount, keep full benefit | Keep Ticket active and work plan current |
| After Extended may be able to access Period | Ongoing | SGA rules explore (earnings over threshold stop benefits) | Report earnings; benefits stop if over SGA |
Common mistakes to avoid when using a Ticket
The most common mistake is not assigning your Ticket within 60 days. If you receive a Ticket in the mail and do not contact a WIPA project or Employment Network within 60 days, the Ticket expires. You can request a new Ticket, but there is no may provide Social Security will issue one. Do not wait—assign your Ticket as soon as you receive it, even if you are not ready to work yet.
Another mistake is not reporting your work to Social Security. Even though you can earn any amount during your trial work period and Extended may be able to access Period, you must still report your work each month. Social Security uses these reports to track which month your trial work period ends and when your Extended may be able to access Period begins. If you do not report, Social Security may miscalculate your benefits or terminate them by mistake.
A third mistake is letting your work plan lapse. If you assign a Ticket but do not meet with your provider or update your work plan, your provider may close your case. If your case is closed, your Ticket may be terminated. Once your Ticket is terminated, you lose the Extended may be able to access Period protection and Expedited Reinstatement. Keep in touch with your provider, even if it is just a brief check-in every few months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assign my Ticket to more than one provider?
No. You can only have one active Ticket at a time, assigned to one provider. However, you can switch providers if you are unhappy with the first one. To switch, you must formally end the relationship with your current provider and then assign your Ticket to a new one. The new assignment must happen within 60 days of ending the old one, or your Ticket expires.
What if I work part-time during my trial work period—does it still count as a month of work?
Yes. A month counts toward your nine-month trial work period if you earn at least $200 in that month, regardless of how many hours you work or how many days you work. Once you have nine months of earnings at or above $200, your trial work period ends and your Extended may be able to access Period begins (if you have a Ticket).
Do I lose my Ticket if I take a break from work?
No. Your Ticket remains active as long as you keep your work plan current with your provider. You can take breaks from work without losing your Ticket. However, if you stop meeting with your provider or your provider closes your case, your Ticket may be terminated. If you plan to take a long break, tell your provider in advance so they do not close your case.
What happens to my Medicare or Medicaid during the Extended may be able to access Period?
Your coverage continues, but the rules vary by state and benefit type. If you receive SSDI, your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after your benefits stop, even if you are working. If you receive SSI, your Medicaid rules depend on your state. Contact your state Medicaid office or your Social Security representative to confirm your coverage during the Extended may be able to access Period.
Can I request a Ticket if Social Security did not send me one?
Yes. You can contact Social Security and request a Ticket to Work. Social Security will review your case and decide whether to issue one. There is no may provide they will approve your request, but you can ask. Call 1-866-4-TICKET (1-866-484-2253) or visit choosework.ssa.gov to learn more about requesting a Ticket.