What the Ticket to Work Program Does

The Ticket to Work program is a voluntary option that lets you work and earn without losing your SSDI or SSI benefits during a set period. You receive a "ticket" — a document that proves you are enrolled — and you can use it with an approved employment network or state vocational rehabilitation agency. The program gives you a window to test whether you can sustain work before your benefits stop, and it removes the usual earnings limits that would otherwise trigger a benefit reduction.

The core protection is this: if you are working and earning above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level — the income threshold that normally ends SSDI — your benefits continue as long as you are using an active ticket. This is different from the trial work period you came from. The trial work period lets you earn any amount for nine months without a benefit reduction. The Ticket to Work extends that protection for up to 36 months after your trial work period ends, but with conditions.

Key Takeaways

  • You must request a ticket from Social Security; it does not arrive automatically, and you have a limited window to ask for one after your trial work period ends.
  • Once you have a ticket, you work with an employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency, and your benefits stay on even if you earn above the SGA level.
  • The ticket protection lasts up to 36 months, but it ends when ready if you stop working or if your work provider stops supporting you.
  • If the ticket ends and you are still earning above SGA, your benefits will stop, so you need a plan for what happens after the ticket period closes.

How to Request Your Ticket

You request a ticket by contacting Social Security directly. Call 1-866-4-TICKET (1-866-484-2832) or visit your local Social Security office in person. You can also request one online through your my Social Security account. Social Security will mail you the ticket document, which lists the ticket number and the date it becomes active.

Timing matters. You can request a ticket during your trial work period or within 60 days after it ends. If you wait longer than 60 days after your trial work period closes, you lose the right to use a ticket. Social Security will tell you when your trial work period ends; if you are unsure, ask them directly before that date passes.

Once you have the ticket, it is yours to use or hold. You do not have to use it right away. You can request it now and decide later whether to set up it with a work provider. But if you want the protection while you are working, you need to have the ticket in hand and give it to your chosen provider before you start earning above SGA.

Choosing a Work Provider: Employment Networks and VR Agencies

Your ticket must be used with an approved provider. There are two types: employment networks (private or nonprofit organizations contracted with Social Security) and state vocational rehabilitation agencies (run by your state). Both are trained to work with people on SSDI or SSI and understand how the ticket program works.

Employment networks are often easier to find and faster to work with. You can search for them on the Social Security website's Ticket to Work provider directory, which lists providers by state and specialty. Some focus on specific disabilities or industries. State vocational rehabilitation agencies are free and may offer more intensive support, but they often have waiting lists and may prioritize people with more significant barriers to work.

You do not have to use the same provider throughout the ticket period. If your first provider is not helping you find work, you can switch to another one. When you switch, you give your ticket to the new provider, and the old one stops receiving updates. Your benefits stay protected the whole time as long as a provider holds your active ticket.

How Your Benefits Work While Using a Ticket

While your ticket is active and you are working with a provider, your SSDI or SSI payment continues even if you earn above the SGA level. For 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals; these amounts change each year. Normally, earning above SGA for nine consecutive months ends your benefits. With a ticket, that does not happen.

You still report your earnings to Social Security each month, just as you would during the trial work period. Social Security uses your earnings report to calculate whether you owe back any overpayment, but your benefit check does not stop. If you earn very little or stop working, your benefit continues at the full rate. If you earn a lot, Social Security may reduce your benefit using the standard work incentive formula (currently, $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above a monthly exclusion), but the ticket keeps you from losing benefits entirely.

Medicare or Medicaid continues as well. If you are on Medicare, it stays active. If you are on Medicaid, the rules vary by state, but most states let you keep Medicaid while working on a ticket. Check with your state Medicaid office or your Social Security representative to confirm what applies to you.

What Happens When Your Ticket Period Ends

The ticket protection lasts up to 36 months from the date it becomes active. Social Security will tell you when your ticket period is ending. If you are still working and earning above SGA when the ticket ends, your benefits will stop. This is not a gradual reduction — it is a full stop, the same as if you had worked above SGA without a ticket.

Before your ticket ends, you need to decide whether you can support yourself on work income alone, or whether you need to reduce your hours to stay below SGA. There is no automatic extension of the ticket, and you cannot request a new ticket once the first one has been used. Plan ahead: if you think you will still need SSDI income after 36 months, talk to your work provider about adjusting your hours or income before the ticket expires.

If you stop working before the ticket ends, your benefits continue. The ticket ends when you are no longer working with an active provider, but you can request a new ticket later if you want to try working again. You have only one ticket in your lifetime, so use it strategically.

When the Ticket Ends Early

Your ticket can end before the 36-month period is up in a few situations. If you tell your provider you no longer want their services, the ticket ends. If your provider stops working with you — because they cannot find you a job, or because you are not cooperating with their job search plan — the ticket ends. If you are no longer in contact with your provider for 12 months, Social Security may end the ticket automatically.

If the ticket ends early and you are earning above SGA, your benefits stop when ready. If you are earning below SGA, your benefits continue, and you can request a new ticket later if you want to try working again. The key is to stay in touch with your provider and let them know if your situation changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Ticket to Work program if I did not use my trial work period?

Yes. The ticket is separate from the trial work period. You can request a ticket at any time while you are receiving SSDI or SSI, not just after the trial work period ends. However, if you want to use the ticket after your trial work period closes, you must request it within 60 days of the period ending.

What if I find a job on my own without a work provider?

The ticket protection only applies if you are working with an approved provider. If you find a job and work without giving your ticket to a provider, you lose the protection, and your benefits will stop if you earn above SGA. Always give your ticket to a provider before you start working above SGA.

Can I use the Ticket to Work program while I am still in my trial work period?

You can request a ticket during your trial work period, but it does not become active until after the trial work period ends. Once it is active, the 36-month ticket period begins, and the trial work period protections end. Plan the timing carefully with your work provider.

What happens to my ticket if I move to a different state?

Your ticket stays active and follows you. You can continue working with the same employment network if they serve your new state, or you can switch to a provider in your new state. Let Social Security and your provider know about the move so they can update your file.

Do I have to pay for the employment network or vocational rehabilitation services?

No. Employment networks and state vocational rehabilitation agencies do not charge you. They are paid by Social Security or your state based on your progress toward work. If someone asks you to pay to use a ticket or to work with a provider, that is not a legitimate program.