Ticket to Work program for SSDI

Good morning everyone. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the Ticket to Work program offered through social security? I plan to be returning to work soon and am not sure when to contact them -- before, to give them intent or after I begin a job?

Thanks in advance

I want to start working a few hours too. I talked to them a year or so ago and they said I could make $720/month without it affecting SSDI benefits. More income than that and they would deduct the difference on my benefits the next month. Not sure if that is before or after taxes though and not sure the $720 figure is still accurate.

If you are capable of working full time they will allow you a nine month grace period to make sure you can handle the work. If not then they resume your SSDI check and your insurance.

So yeah to answer your question contact them before you work to see what rules are currently in effect.

i have worked twice under the Ticket to Work program, and the SSDI 'Return to Work Incentive.

Yoda, you can earn any amount over $900 (as of last report) for 8 (eight) months, before they stop your SSDI, and if you are forced to reduce your hours so that your income falls below the $900 capitation, you get your full SSDI payment back (for up to 3 yrs after it is stopped) without having to be re-certified as disabled. AND they recalculate your SSDI payment to reflect the additional income eligibility (increase it).

beeutterfly, the Ticket to Work is intended to help you get the things you need to go back to work, so Activate it ASAP. you might get an employment case manager, or supportive equipment or training. if you also apply to the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation you might also get help with any dental or other uncovered medical expenses, like glasses, or help with transportation. if you are receiving SSI, you are a priority applicant with DVR~! you have to show that you have enough support (family and friends, or neighbors, or social services) to be able to work disabled, but not so much that you don't need any additional help... it's a fine line.

best wishes, good luck,, if you have any further questions, feel free to PM me.
Gus

This is a general SSI question:

I have not collected my medical records but I have an MRI showing my knees have a birth defect and are very poor and may need replacement. I also am seeing a psychologist but he has not finished with me and I have not been told what issues I may or may not have.

Should I apply for SSDI now? or wait until I can accumulate the paperwork and findings?

Ticket-to Work allows you to work with an agency such as Vocational Rehab to you to get back to work; they can help with education, retraining, job coaching, interviewing, and/or placements. The other advantage of Ticket to Work while working with them is that you are not subject to medical reviews during the time being with them. However, there are goals you have to meet for the program. It would be better to contact them before you get a job to find out more and if it is right for you.

The amounts you earn for work to keep your SSDI have nothing to do with Ticket to Work. Those are Social Security statutes. If you contact social security, they can refer you to a benefits specialist in your area so that you can go over what happens if you return to work, the earning amounts, and how it can affect your social security. So whether you work with Ticket to Work or not, it has no bearing on your SSDI, only whether you are subject to medical reviews but TTW can possibly be beneficial in helping you get back to work.

I found that I could not meet some of the goals of Ticket to Work in that the one year's goals as I needed to be going full time by the one benchmark year as school was my goal in getting back to work for retraining; it varies depending on your work goal. With my disability that was just not possible. I was let go from TTW. I am subject now to medical reviews but has not affected my SSDI nor my ability to work with Vocational Rehab. So in that regard, the only benefit I see I that you are not subject to medical reviews in working with them.

I would definitely look into though to see if it might be right for you before you begin working but more importantly definitely talk to a social security benefits specialist to go over the ins and outs of how earnings can affect your social security. There are procedures and policies that must be followed for reporting earnings, etc.

Just with your State SSDI/SSI program office? DHS - Ticket to Work

While we're on the subject of SSDI, I have a mental health evaluation with their person next week and I'm so nervous about it. Is it multiple choice? Those ink blot things? If I say the wrong things can they lock me up in an institution? I'm freaking out here...

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