Hi Aviza,

If you are on disability then you qualify for Ticket To Work. This is a program that helped me get off disability and back to a full time job. I was on disability for 10 years for depression.

Ticket To Work lets you get services from Vocational Rehabilitation. You go there and they give you some tests (not like school tests - things like reaction time and spacial reasoning and dexterity etc.). I found it interesting. They use those tests to assess your strengths and weaknesses so that they can come up with a list of occupations that might be good for you. Then you choose a job to work towards (either one from their list or one that you find interesting). If you need training to be qualified for the job they will get that training for you. Your job counselor and you come up with a plan that will prepare you for that job. All of this is free under the Ticket To Work program.

While you are working on your plan, Social Security postpones your periodic reviews. This means that you will be able to complete your plan (and continue receiving benefits) even if you get better enough so that you no longer qualify for disability.

If you don't need training (or finish training that you did need), they will help you to find an appropriate job.

I was a software engineer before my disability, but couldn't return to that career because it was too stressful. My Ticket To Work plan included getting a master's degree in Library Science, and now I am a public librarian (which I love).

Maybe Ticket To Work could help you. Let me know if you have questions about it.

Falls