What the Ticket to Work Program Does

The Ticket to Work program is a voluntary work incentive run by Social Security that lets you work and earn without triggering the automatic benefit suspension that normally happens when your earnings exceed the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. You receive a "ticket" — a document that proves your participation — which you can give to an approved employment provider (called a "ticket holder"). That provider helps you find and keep a job while Social Security suspends the medical review process that would otherwise end your benefits.

The program exists because many people on SSDI want to work but fear losing their benefits if they earn too much. Ticket to Work creates a protected window: you can work, earn above SGA, and keep your benefits running while you're in the program. If work doesn't work out, you can exit the program and return to regular SSDI rules without penalty.

You do not have to use Ticket to Work. It is one option among several work incentives Social Security offers. But it is the only one that suspends the medical review process and gives you the longest runway to test whether you can sustain employment.

Key Takeaways

  • Ticket to Work suspends the medical review that would normally end your SSDI when you work and earn above SGA, protecting your benefits for up to 60 months of work activity.
  • You must assign your ticket to an approved employment provider (vocational rehabilitation agency, employment network, or other ticket holder) within 60 days of receiving it, or it expires.
  • If your work attempt fails or you decide to stop working, you can exit the program and return to regular SSDI rules without losing your benefits or facing a waiting period.
  • You continue to pay Medicare premiums and remain enrolled in Medicare Part A while in the program, even if your earnings would normally cause you to lose coverage.
  • The program does not change how work incentives like the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) work; you can use those alongside Ticket to Work.

Who Can Use Ticket to Work

You are may be able to access for Ticket to Work if you receive SSDI (not SSI) and are between age 18 and 64. Social Security mails tickets automatically to most beneficiaries in that age range, though you do not have to use it. If you are already working or have recently returned to work, you may still receive a ticket and can assign it at any time.

You cannot use Ticket to Work if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead of SSDI, or if you are age 65 or older. Some beneficiaries with certain medical conditions may be excluded, but Social Security will tell you in writing if that applies to you.

If you never received a ticket in the mail, you can request one from Social Security by calling 1-866-4-TICKET (1-866-484-2255) or visiting your local Social Security office. There is no cost to receive or use a ticket.

How to Assign Your Ticket and Find a Provider

Once you receive your ticket, you have 60 days to assign it to an approved ticket holder. If you do not assign it within that window, it expires and you lose the protection. You can request a new ticket, but the clock starts over.

Ticket holders fall into three categories: state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, employment networks (ENs), and other approved providers. State VR agencies are free and funded by your state; they provide vocational counseling, job training, and placement services. Employment networks are private or nonprofit organizations that contract with Social Security to provide employment support. Both types are listed on the Ticket to Work website at choosework.ssa.gov, searchable by state and service type.

To assign your ticket, contact the provider you choose and tell them you want to assign your ticket to them. They will complete the assignment paperwork and submit it to Social Security on your behalf. Once Social Security receives and processes the assignment, your ticket is active and the medical review suspension begins. You should receive written confirmation from Social Security within a few weeks.

What Happens to Your Benefits While You Work

While your ticket is active, you continue to receive your full SSDI payment each month, regardless of how much you earn. Social Security does not count your work earnings against your benefit amount the way it does for beneficiaries not using Ticket to Work. This is the core protection: you can earn above SGA without losing your check.

Your Medicare coverage continues unchanged. You remain enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) at no cost, and you continue to pay any Part B (medical insurance) premiums you owe. If you have not yet enrolled in Medicare, you will be enrolled automatically at age 65 even while your ticket is active.

The ticket protection lasts for up to 60 months of work activity. "Work activity" means any month in which you earn $1 or more. Once you have used 60 months of work activity, the ticket expires and you return to regular SSDI rules. At that point, your earnings will be counted against your benefit using the standard SGA and trial work period rules.

What Happens If You Stop Working or Want to Exit

If your work attempt does not succeed, or if you decide you want to stop working, you can exit Ticket to Work at any time without penalty. You do not lose your benefits, you do not face a waiting period, and you do not have to reapply for SSDI. You straightforward notify your ticket holder or Social Security that you want to end your participation.

Once you exit, your ticket expires. If you want to try working again later, you can request a new ticket from Social Security. The new ticket will give you another 60 months of work activity protection, though the rules and your circumstances may have changed.

If you reach the end of your 60-month work activity window while still working and earning above SGA, your ticket expires automatically. At that point, your earnings will be subject to the standard trial work period and SGA rules. If you have already used your trial work period, your benefits will stop. This is why it is important to track how many months of work activity you have used and plan accordingly with your provider or a work incentives planning counselor.

How Ticket to Work Differs From Other Work Incentives

Social Security offers several work incentives, and Ticket to Work is not the only one. The trial work period (which you came from) lets you work and earn without losing benefits for 9 months within a rolling 60-month window, but it does not suspend the medical review. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal without affecting your benefits. Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) let you deduct certain disability-related costs from your earnings when Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded SGA.

Ticket to Work is unique because it suspends the medical review process entirely. That means Social Security will not review your medical condition to decide whether you still have a disability while your ticket is active. For beneficiaries who are concerned about losing benefits due to medical improvement, this is the strongest protection available.

You can use Ticket to Work alongside PASS or IRWE. For example, you might use IRWE to reduce your countable earnings while your ticket is active, or you might use PASS to set aside income toward a specific work goal. Your employment provider or a work incentives planning counselor can help you combine these tools.

Finding Help With Ticket to Work

If you are unsure whether Ticket to Work is right for you, or if you need help understanding how it interacts with your other benefits, you can speak with a work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project counselor for free. WIPA counselors are trained to explain work incentives and help you plan. You can find your local WIPA project at vcu-ntdc.org or by calling 1-866-968-WIPA (1-866-968-9472).

Your state vocational rehabilitation agency can also answer questions about Ticket to Work and whether their services are a good fit for your situation. You can find your state VR agency at askjan.org or through your state's disability services office.

Social Security's Ticket to Work website, choosework.ssa.gov, has a searchable directory of employment networks and state VR agencies, along with fact sheets and frequently asked questions. You can also call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask about your ticket or request a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Ticket to Work if I am already working?

Yes. If you are already working when you receive your ticket, you can assign it to a provider at any time. Your work activity clock will start counting from the month you assign your ticket, not from when you started working. This means you can protect future work activity even if you have already been working for several months.

What if my ticket holder goes out of business or I want to switch providers?

You can reassign your ticket to a different approved provider at any time. Contact the new provider, tell them you want to reassign your ticket, and they will handle the paperwork. Your work activity months continue to count toward your 60-month limit regardless of how many times you switch providers.

Do I have to tell my employer I am using Ticket to Work?

No. Ticket to Work is between you and Social Security. Your employer does not need to know about it, and it does not affect your employment status or job performance reviews. Your ticket holder may need to know you are working, but they will keep that information confidential.

What happens to my Medicaid if I use Ticket to Work?

Ticket to Work does not change your Medicaid status. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, you remain enrolled while your ticket is active. However, Medicaid rules vary by state, and your earnings might eventually make you ineligible for Medicaid even though your SSDI continues. Contact your state Medicaid office or a WIPA counselor to understand how your specific earnings will affect your Medicaid coverage.

Can I get a new ticket if my first one expires unused?

Yes. If your ticket expires because you did not assign it within 60 days, or if your 60-month work activity window closes, you can request a new ticket from Social Security. There is no limit to how many times you can request a new ticket, though each one gives you a fresh 60-month window of work activity protection.