What Ticket to Work Is and How It Connects to Your Trial Work Period

Ticket to Work is a voluntary program run by Social Security that lets you work and keep your SSDI or SSI benefits while you test whether you can sustain employment. You receive a ticket — an actual document — that you can give to an approved employment provider (called an Employment Network or Ticket holder) who then helps you find and keep a job. The program exists specifically to remove the fear that working will when ready end your benefits.

Your Trial Work Period and Ticket to Work operate on overlapping but separate timelines. During your Trial Work Period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check — Social Security does not count those earnings. Ticket to Work extends that protection further: once your Trial Work Period ends, you can continue working under Ticket rules and still receive benefits, as long as your earnings stay below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. The ticket gives you a longer runway to prove you can work without losing your safety net.

Key Takeaways

  • Ticket to Work is optional — you request it from Social Security, and you can stop using it at any time without penalty.
  • You can use your ticket with any Social Security-approved Employment Network, which includes nonprofits, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and private job placement firms.
  • Once you assign your ticket to an Employment Network, you enter a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or work plan that outlines your job goal and the support you will receive.
  • If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold while using your ticket, your benefits stop, but you have a grace period to report the change before overpayment occurs.
  • You can return to SSDI or SSI without reapplying if your work attempt does not succeed, as long as you request reinstatement within five years of when your benefits stopped.

How to Request Your Ticket From Social Security

To get a Ticket to Work, you contact Social Security directly — either by phone, in person at your local office, or online through your my Social Security account. You do not need to be working yet. You can request your ticket while you are still receiving full benefits and have not started a job. Social Security will mail you a physical ticket document that shows you are enrolled in the program and lists approved Employment Networks in your area.

The request itself takes minutes, but Social Security may take one to two weeks to process and mail your ticket. You do not have to use the ticket when ready. Many people request it early as insurance — you hold it in case you want to work later, and it costs you nothing. If you never use it, there is no penalty. The ticket remains valid for as long as you are receiving SSDI or SSI, unless you formally withdraw from the program.

Choosing and Working With an Employment Network

Once you have your ticket, you choose an Employment Network — the organization that will help you find and keep work. Social Security maintains a searchable list of approved networks on its Ticket to Work website. Networks include state vocational rehabilitation agencies (which are free), nonprofit job training organizations, and for-profit employment services. Some specialize in specific disabilities or industries.

When you contact an Employment Network and assign your ticket to them, you sign a work plan or Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). This document states your job goal, the services the network will provide (job coaching, resume help, interview prep, ongoing support), and how long the relationship will last. The plan is not a contract you cannot change — you can switch to a different Employment Network at any time, and the new network straightforward takes over your ticket. If an Employment Network is not helping you or you find a job on your own, you can unassign your ticket and keep it for later use.

How Earnings Work During Ticket to Work

During your Trial Work Period, earnings do not affect your SSDI check at all — you keep your full benefit no matter how much you earn. Once your Trial Work Period ends, Ticket to Work rules take over. You can continue working and receiving benefits as long as your monthly earnings stay below the Substantial Gainful Activity threshold. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries, but these amounts change yearly — check with Social Security for the current year's figure.

If your earnings go above SGA while you are using your ticket, your SSDI or SSI stops, but you do not lose the ticket itself. You have a grace period to report the change: Social Security does not count it as an overpayment if you report it within the month it happens. After that grace period, if you continue earning above SGA, you will owe back benefits. The key protection is that you can request reinstatement of your benefits within five years if your work does not work out — you do not have to reapply or go through the approval process again.

The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability that allow you to work — things like a personal attendant, specialized transportation, medical equipment, or therapy sessions. If you have IRWE, Social Security subtracts those costs from your earnings before calculating whether you have exceeded SGA. This can let you earn more and still stay under the threshold.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a separate tool that lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — usually education or training that will lead to a job. While you are following a PASS, Social Security does not count the money you set aside toward your income limit, which can help you stay under SGA longer. Your Employment Network can help you set up a PASS, or you can work with a Social Security representative to create one. Both IRWE and PASS require documentation and approval, but they are powerful tools if your situation qualifies.

What Happens If You Stop Working or Your Work Attempt Fails

If you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA, your SSDI or SSI benefits resume automatically — you do not have to reapply. Social Security will restart your check in the month after your earnings fall below the threshold. There is no penalty for trying work and deciding it is not right for you, and there is no time limit on how long you can use your ticket.

If you work above SGA and your benefits stop, you have five years to request reinstatement if you want to go back on benefits. Reinstatement is faster than a new process: Social Security reviews your current medical condition and work history but does not require you to go through the full approval process again. You must request reinstatement in writing, and Social Security has 60 days to decide. After five years, reinstatement is no longer an option, and you would have to file a new process if you want benefits again.

Withdrawing From Ticket to Work or Switching Back to Regular SSDI

You can leave the Ticket to Work program at any time, for any reason, without penalty. If you withdraw, your ticket is returned to Social Security and you go back to regular SSDI or SSI rules — meaning your benefits will be affected by earnings the same way they would be if you had never requested a ticket. Withdrawing does not end your benefits; it just means you lose the extended protections the ticket provides.

Some people use their ticket for a few months while an Employment Network helps them find a job, then withdraw once they are working and confident. Others hold their ticket for years as a safety net and never formally use it. The choice is yours. If you withdraw and later want back in, you can request a new ticket at any time — there is no limit on how many times you can request one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Ticket to Work if I am still in my Trial Work Period?

Yes. You can request your ticket and assign it to an Employment Network while you are still in your Trial Work Period. The ticket does not change how your Trial Work Period works — you still earn without affecting your benefits. The ticket becomes more valuable once your Trial Work Period ends, because it protects you from losing benefits as long as you stay under SGA.

Do I have to use an Employment Network, or can I find a job on my own?

You can find a job on your own and still use your ticket. If you do, you can assign your ticket to an Employment Network after you are hired, and they can provide ongoing support like job coaching or help with workplace issues. Some people use the ticket only for support, not for the initial job search.

What if my Employment Network is not helping me?

You can unassign your ticket from that network and either assign it to a different one or hold it without using it. There is no waiting period or penalty. You can switch networks as many times as you need to find one that works for you.

Will using Ticket to Work affect my Medicare or Medicaid?

No. Ticket to Work does not change your Medicare or Medicaid coverage. Your health insurance continues regardless of whether you use the ticket, how much you earn, or whether your benefits stop. This is one of the major protections the program offers.

Can I request a new ticket if I already used one and it did not work out?

Yes. You can request as many tickets as you want over your lifetime. If your first work attempt failed and you went back on benefits, you can request a new ticket and try again with a different Employment Network or job goal.