What the Ticket to Work Program Does

The Ticket to Work program is a voluntary work incentive run by Social Security that lets you test employment for up to 36 months without losing your SSDI or SSI benefits, even if your earnings would normally end them. You receive a "ticket" — a document that proves your participation — and you can assign it to an approved employment provider (called a ticket holder) who helps you find and keep a job. During the ticket period, Social Security suspends the medical continuing disability reviews that would otherwise check whether you still may have access to for benefits.

The program exists because many people on SSDI fear that working will when ready cut off their checks and their Medicare coverage. Ticket to Work removes that fear for a defined window. You keep your full benefit amount while you work, regardless of how much you earn. If the job does not work out or you decide to stop working, your benefits continue without a new process process.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be on SSDI or SSI, between ages 18 and 64, and have received benefits for at least nine months before you can request a ticket.
  • The ticket itself costs nothing and does not require you to use an employment provider — you can work on your own and still keep the protections.
  • During the 36-month ticket period, your benefits continue even if you earn above the substantial gainful activity level, and Social Security will not review your medical condition.
  • If you stop working or the ticket expires, your benefits restart automatically without a new medical review, as long as you report your work status to Social Security.
  • You can assign your ticket to a vocational rehabilitation agency, an employment network, or a one-stop career center, but you are not required to use any of them.

Who Can Request a Ticket

You must meet three conditions. First, you must be receiving SSDI or SSI benefits at the time you request the ticket. Second, you must be between 18 and 64 years old. Third, you must have been on benefits for at least nine months before the month you request the ticket.

If you are on both SSDI and SSI, you receive only one ticket, but it covers both programs. If you are under 18 or over 64, you cannot request a ticket. If you have been on benefits for fewer than nine months, you must wait until the nine-month mark has passed.

How to Request Your Ticket

Contact your local Social Security office by phone, in person, or through your online my Social Security account. Tell them you want to request a Ticket to Work. You do not need to fill out a special form — a straightforward request is enough. Social Security will mail you the ticket document, which lists your name, your Social Security number, and the date the ticket becomes valid.

The ticket becomes valid on the first day of the month after Social Security approves your request. You do not have to use it right away. You can hold the ticket and use it whenever you are ready to work. Once you have the ticket, you can assign it to an employment provider or keep it and work on your own.

What Happens to Your Benefits During the Ticket Period

Your SSDI or SSI payment continues in full, no matter how much you earn, for the entire 36-month ticket period. This is the core protection. Normally, SSDI stops when your earnings reach the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level — roughly $1,550 per month in 2024, though this amount changes yearly. During the ticket period, that rule does not explore.

Your Medicare coverage (if you are on SSDI) also continues without interruption. You keep your Medicaid (if you are on SSI) as long as you meet the income and resource limits for SSI, which are separate from the ticket protections. You must still report your work and earnings to Social Security each month, as you normally would, but the earnings do not reduce your benefit amount.

Social Security also pauses the continuing disability reviews (CDRs) that would otherwise happen every few years. This means Social Security will not send you for a medical exam or ask you to prove you are still disabled during the ticket period. The pause protects you from losing benefits due to a medical review while you are trying to work.

Using an Employment Provider or Working on Your Own

You can assign your ticket to an approved employment provider — a vocational rehabilitation agency, an employment network, or a one-stop career center — and they will help you find and keep a job. The provider is paid by Social Security only if you reach a work goal and stay employed for a set period. You do not pay the provider directly.

You are not required to use a provider. You can work on your own, keep your ticket, and still have all the protections. If you work on your own, you must still report your earnings to Social Security each month. Some people use a provider for a few months, then work independently. You can change providers or stop using one at any time.

To find an approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency in your state, visit the Ticket to Work website (choosework.ssa.gov) or call 1-866-4-TICKET. The site lists providers by state and specialty.

What Happens When the Ticket Expires or You Stop Working

The ticket lasts 36 months from the date it becomes valid. At the end of that period, your ticket expires. If you are still working and earning above the SGA level, your SSDI benefits will stop at that point — the same way they would if you had never used a ticket. However, you can request a new ticket if you meet the conditions again, though there are limits on how many times you can do this.

If you stop working before the ticket expires, your benefits continue automatically. You do not have to do anything except tell Social Security that you are no longer working. Your benefits restart at their full amount, and you do not need a new medical review. The ticket remains valid for the full 36 months, so you can return to work later if you want.

If the ticket expires while you are not working, your benefits continue as they were. You have not lost anything. If you want to work again after the ticket expires, you can request a new ticket, but you must have been off the ticket for at least 60 days first.

How the Ticket Connects to the Trial Work Period

The Trial Work Period and the Ticket to Work program are two separate work incentives that work together. During your Trial Work Period (nine months of any earnings, spread over 60 months), you keep your full SSDI benefit no matter how much you earn. The Trial Work Period is automatic — you do not request it.

The Ticket to Work extends that protection. Once your Trial Work Period ends, the ticket lets you continue working without losing benefits for up to 36 more months. Many people use the Trial Work Period first to test a job, then request a ticket to continue working longer. You can also request a ticket before your Trial Work Period ends, and the ticket will cover the remaining months of the Trial Work Period plus 36 additional months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use a ticket if I want to work?

No. You can work without a ticket and still use the Trial Work Period and other work incentives. The ticket is optional. It is most useful if you want to work for longer than nine months or if you want to earn above the SGA level for more than a few months.

What if I earn above the SGA level without a ticket?

Your SSDI benefits will stop after your Trial Work Period ends and you have earned above SGA for nine months in a row. With a ticket, you can earn above SGA for the full 36-month period without losing benefits.

Can I request a new ticket after the first one expires?

Yes, but only if you have been off the ticket for at least 60 days and you still meet the basic conditions (you are on SSDI or SSI, between 18 and 64, and have been on benefits for at least nine months). You can request multiple tickets over your lifetime, though there are limits set by Social Security policy.

Will using a ticket affect my Medicaid or Medicare?

Medicare continues without interruption during the ticket period. Medicaid continues as long as you meet SSI income and resource limits. Your work and earnings do not change these rules during the ticket period.

What if I am assigned a ticket but never use it?

Nothing happens. The ticket remains valid for 36 months. You can use it whenever you are ready. If it expires without being used, you can request a new one if you still meet the conditions.