It's tax season! If you earned income in 2024, it's important to file your taxes. This blog post discusses a tax credit that may apply to you and free services available through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you do not owe any taxes or are not required to file. The EITC reduces the amount of taxes you owe and may qualify you for a refund.

Do I qualify for the EITC?

To qualify for the EITC you must meet some basic requirements such as:

• Have worked and earned income under a certain amount that is dependent on marital status and number of dependents. Please refer to the IRS’s guidance
• Have investment income below $11,600 in tax year 2024
• Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your return

You can determine your eligibility and file and claim your EITC for free:

• Use the IRS’s EITC Assistant to help determine if you're eligible.
• According to the IRS website, if you made $84,000 or less in 2024, you can use software products through IRS's Free File and electronically file your return to claim your EITC. Visit IRS.gov to access the software.

Will a tax refund affect my SSDI or SSI?

You may be concerned that a tax refund will affect your eligibility for public benefits, including Social Security disability benefits, Medicare or Medicaid, and food stamps (SNAP). The law, according to Social Security, is clear that, in most cases, tax refunds, including refunds from tax credits such as the EITC, are not counted as income for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits or payments. This applies to any federal program and any state or local program financed with federal funds.

For SSI recipients, income tax refunds are not counted as income and all federal tax refunds received on, or after January 2010, are not counted toward your SSI resource limit for 12 months (current allowable resource amount, according to Social Security, is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple). For more information, contact Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (1-800-325-0778 TTY).

Who can help?

The IRS works with national partners, community-based coalitions and thousands of local partners and governments. These partnerships, also known as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, provide free EITC tax return preparation and tax help  and tax education.

• VITA offers free basic tax-return preparation to people who:
• Generally, make $67,000 or less
• Have a disability
• Are limited-English-speaking taxpayers
• IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. To find your local VITA site, call 1-800-906-9887, or use the VITA Locator Tool.

How Can Ticket to Work Help

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work

The Ticket Program can support you with different forms of employment, including part time, seasonal and full time. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you understand available Social Security choosework.ssa.gov.

Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. Whether they're in person or online, job fairs let you engage with potential employers and learn about job openings. If you're aware of an upcoming job fair that our readers would find helpful, please email us at socialmedia@choosework.ssa.gov with the event name, dates and official website.

The websites listed below provide listings of career fairs that are taking place in many different locations across the country. Many also list virtual career fairs. We’ve listed a sampling of specific events, but please be sure to visit the organizations’ websites for complete listings and details.

Links to these job fairs are not affiliated with nor endorsed by Social Security and may not follow the same privacy, security and accessibility policies. To learn more about accommodations available to job seekers wanting to attend a fair, please contact each organization directly for their accommodation request process and deadlines.

Virtual Career Fairs

Below are some virtual career fairs being hosted throughout the nation this month. 

• March 18: Accounting and Business Virtual Fair
• March 20: Educational Technology Virtual Fair

RecruitMilitary

RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers. For a listing of all RecruitMilitary virtual events, visit their calendar.

• March 18: National Virtual Career Fair for Veterans
• March 27: Pittsburgh Veterans Job Fair
• March 27: Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis McChord

Need help on your career path?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program can help. The Ticket Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work.

Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work. Connect with one today to learn how the Ticket Program can help you on your path.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar. Or text TICKET to 1-571-489-5292 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.

Imagine that you are having a job interview, and the recruiter asks, “When have you shown leadership skills?” Would you know how to answer? This is a common behavioral interview question that can be hard to answer if you’ve never had a formal leadership role. However, we have some pointers to help you think about how to answer the question, even if you haven’t had a leadership title. First, let’s talk about behavioral types of questions.

What is a behavioral interview question?

Hiring managers and recruiters ask behavioral style questions to learn how you would behave in their workplace. They want you to recall your past experiences to learn how you solve problems, handle difficult situations, or engage with coworkers. Interviewers then use your answers to project how you might perform in the role they’re hiring for. Because behavioral questions are used in many industries, it’s important to be prepared for them by identifying examples and practicing your answers. Being able to quickly recall a relevant example will impress potential employers.

Why do employers ask this question?

When employers ask about leadership, they are trying to determine if you have the aptitude, skills, and experience to lead a team. They want to hear how you’ve handled difficult situations, identify your leadership style, and assess your communication and decision-making skills. Leaders often possess skills like conflict resolution, problem solving, delegation, and flexibility. How you answer this question can help hiring managers identify your strengths and weaknesses and how your approach to leadership will fit in their environment.

How do I answer this question?

The first step to answering this question is to choose an experience to share as an example. While your first thought might be leadership in the workplace, that’s not the only option. Have you coached a team, volunteered with a local scout troop, or led a school project? These are just some examples of leadership outside of the workplace you could share to answer this question.

Once you’ve decided which leadership experience to share, your next step should be to clearly explain what your responsibilities were. Use this step to give the interviewer a full picture of your experience.

Next, tell the interviewer about a specific assignment or situation you faced where you demonstrated your leadership skills. This could be how you led a team on a volunteer project. Make sure to share the outcome of the situation. Here’s an example:

• You led an effort to clean up the nearby river park. You solicited businesses to provide refreshments and supplies and recruited volunteers to do the cleanup. You assigned each volunteer a portion of the riverbank, gave them appropriate protective gear (gloves, masks, etc.), provided collection bags and guidance on how different types of litter should be handled and sorted. After the event, you asked the volunteers for feedback on suggestions for improving the project next year. Every volunteer offered to participate in next year’s cleanup. Share what you learned from the experience and how it further developed your leadership skills. If you have a thank-you note or email from the place where you volunteered, you could share it with your interviewer.

Be sure to practice your answer so you can speak with confidence to highlight your leadership skills.

How Can Ticket to Work Help

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

The Ticket Program can support you with different forms of employment, including part time, seasonal, and full time. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you practice for interviews and prepare for different questions an interviewer may ask.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. Whether they're in person or online, job fairs let you engage with potential employers and learn about job openings. If you're aware of an upcoming job fair that our readers would find helpful, please email us at socialmedia@choosework.ssa.gov with the event name, dates and official website.

The websites listed below provide listings of career fairs that are taking place in many different locations across the country. Many also list virtual career fairs. We’ve listed a sampling of specific events, but please be sure to visit the organizations’ websites for complete listings and details.

Links to these job fairs are not affiliated with nor endorsed by Social Security and may not follow the same privacy, security and accessibility policies. To learn more about accommodations available to job seekers wanting to attend a fair, please contact each organization directly for their accommodation request process and deadlines.

Virtual Career Fairs

Below are some virtual career fairs being hosted throughout the nation this month. 

• February 18: Eastern Region Virtual Career and Grad School Fair
• February 27: Higher Ed Virtual Career Fair - Early Career and Career Changers
• February 27: Cybersecurity & Technology Virtual Career Fair

RecruitMilitary

RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers. For a listing of all RecruitMilitary virtual events, visit their calendar.

• February 20: Phoenix Veterans Job Fair
• February 25: Eastern Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans
• February 27: Job Fair at Fort Bliss

Need help on your career path?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program can help. The Ticket Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work.

Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work. Connect with one today to learn how the Ticket Program can help you on your path.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar. Or text TICKET to 1-571-489-5292 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.

Internships can be key stepping stones for people entering the workforce for the first time. For students, they are a bridge between academic learning and workplace expectations. However, internships aren’t “just for kids” anymore as more adults are seeking new careers or returning to work after a prolonged absence due to health, retirement, caregiving, or other personal reasons. Some people call these types of programs “returnships.”

What is an internship?

An internship is a temporary position, but that’s where the definition stops. The type of an individual internship can vary. It can be paid or unpaid, full or part time. An internship can be in-person, hybrid or fully remote. Internships can also vary in length, ranging from several weeks to a full year. In some cases, an internship involves obtaining college credit. In all cases, the benefit of an internship for an individual is to gain relevant skills and experience in a particular field of work.

Why should I consider an internship?

No matter whether you are a first-time worker or an experienced professional, there are internships worth investigating. For people with a disability, an internship can be a way to test whether working is a viable and good fit for you, as well as to gain valuable industry knowledge and build practical skills. Internships also have the potential to lead to full-time employment. Companies often use internships as a recruitment strategy that allows them to evaluate potential candidates for future job openings. Many organizations prioritize hiring individuals who have interned with them because it is an efficient way to bring in employees who are already familiar with their work and company culture.

What is a Returnship?

A returnship is an internship for those who have taken a break from work. Returnships provide an opportunity to get reintroduced to the workforce and refresh your skills. It also provides recent experience to aide in finding a full-time job. Path Forward and iRelaunch are organizations that are working to normalize career breaks and provide job boards specific to returnships and reentering the workforce.

How do I find an internship?

Finding an internship will depend on your individual situation. For example, a student will likely turn to their high school or college career center. These centers provide resources, such as internship listings, resume workshops, and interview coaching.

Many governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies offer internships specifically for people with disabilities. Some organizations sponsor internships for people interested in learning about disability-related advocacy, policy and research. You can find many of these with a simple website search for “disability internships.”

Other techniques, such as networking can be useful by building connections with professionals in your field of interest. Networking doesn’t mean just formal events; casual conversations in coffee shops, libraries, or local events can lead to new connections.

Don’t overlook digital connections for possible leads to internships. Platforms such as Handshake (for students) and LinkedIn are great websites to find listings, and they offer the ability to connect with recruiters.

Additionally, community or library bulletin boards or specialized job websites that cater to specific industries are possible avenues to use for locating internship listings. You can explore multiple routes to find an internship that suits your interests.

Can the Ticket to Work Program help me?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and support they need to find and maintain employment, including internships, as they move toward financial independence through work.

The Ticket Program can support you throughout every step of your job search. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can assist you with your internship search. ENs can help you write your resume and cover letter, find internships to apply for, and prepare you for an interview.

How Can I Learn More?

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

Depending on where you live, winter can mean shorter days and overcast skies. For some people, this change in seasons leads to what is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. SAD is a form of depression that can result in lower energy levels and decreased motivation. If these signs sound familiar, here are five tips that you can try to avoid having SAD symptoms impact your work performance.

1. Brighten Your Workspace

Less sunlight due to shorter days is one of the leading causes of SAD. Increasing exposure to natural and synthetic light can improve your mood and minimize other symptoms of SAD. For example, if you work at a desk, try moving your desk closer to a window to take advantage of more natural light. If you can’t move your desk, there are several types of light products, such as sun boxes, light visors and sun-simulating desk lamps you can use that mimic daylight.

2. Take time to have Lunch with a Friend or Coworker

Having lunch with a coworker is a great way to break up your day, reduce feelings of isolation and brighten your mood. If you work from home, try having a virtual lunch or coffee with a coworker.

3. Use Company Resources

Many employers offer workplace options that can help with SAD symptoms. Check with your employer to see what changes you can make to your workstation or surroundings. In addition, don’t overlook benefits that your employers may offer, like mental health services, gym memberships and mental health days.

4. Adjust Your Work Schedule

Adjusting your work schedule can be a great way to increase your time outside during daylight hours. While you may not be able to completely change the hours you work, adding even a single hour more of daylight each day can make a positive impact on your health. The Americans with Disabilities Act covers SAD as a disability so a schedule change may be a reasonable accommodation. You can learn more about SAD and examples of reasonable accommodations through the Job Accommodation Network.

5. Go to a Public Workspace

For those who work from home, a coworking or shared office space may be an option. Coworking spaces often have lots of natural light and provide opportunities for social interaction. Many local libraries and community centers have study rooms you can reserve or that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also find worktables at a local café or coworking spaces that allow for one-day desk rentals at low cost.

How Can Ticket to Work Help

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

The Ticket Program can support you along your employment journey. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you identify and request accommodations to help mitigate your disability.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

Have you heard? We changed our email address to TicketToWork@ssa.gov!

For a limited time, messages sent to our old email address, Support@choosework.ssa.gov, will be forwarded to the new email address. When we reply, the response will come from TicketToWork@ssa.gov!

More Ways to Stay Connected

1. Call the Ticket to Work Help Line

You can speak with a support specialist at the Ticket to Work Help Line who will provide you with individualized assistance. You can call the Help Line at 1-866-968-7842, or for callers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). The Help Line is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

2. Attend a WISE webinar

If you have questions about the Ticket Program, Work Incentives or a specific topic, we invite you to attend one of our monthly Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinars. They are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month and are free to attend. We cover a wide variety of topics, including working from home, how work may affect your health care benefits, and federal employment initiatives.

3. Sign up for Texts from Ticket to Work

If you want to learn more about upcoming WISE webinars, new success stories and blog posts, you can opt in to receive information via text about the Ticket Program by texting the word "TICKET" to 1-571-489-5292. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.

4. Sign up for Emails from Ticket to Work

Another way to stay up to date about the latest blog posts, success stories and WISE webinars is to sign up for emails from Ticket to Work.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket Program, visit choosework.ssa.gov, email us at TicketToWork@ssa.gov or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar.

There are some questions you can expect to be asked during most job interviews. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is one of the most common questions. Preparing your answers for commonly asked questions can help you shine during the interview process.

Employers ask this question to determine if you’re a good match for a position and assess your motivation. Your answer can demonstrate how much you’ve thought about your career path and how this job fits into your plans. Whether you’ve never worked before or you’re a seasoned professional, employers want to know you’re thinking about the future.

So, where do you see yourself in five years?

Here are some tips for answering this question:

1. Connect the position to your career goals

Maybe you’re just starting out and you want to use this job to break into a certain field of work. Or maybe you have a gap in your resume, and you hope to improve some skills that may have gotten rusty while you were out of the workforce. Even if you’re unsure what you want to do, prepare an answer that demonstrates you’re thinking about your next steps.

For example, if you are interviewing for a position in Information Technology (IT), this position may give you the opportunity to receive a certification in specific software or to have developed a certain number of websites within the next five years.

2. Be realistic

Be confident but realistic in your response. Telling an interviewer that you plan to oversee the company in five years may not be realistic. It’s important to show you have initiative, but you should also keep your goals and expectations in line with what you can accomplish. For more information on setting goals, check out Setting SMART Goals for the Job Search. Setting a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goal to help answer this question is a great place to start.

3. Be honest

Many of us have no idea where we’ll be in five years, especially if we’re interviewing for entry-level positions, and that’s okay! Think about the skills the position and company can help you develop and come up with some possible outcomes that could help you on your career path.

4. Be prepared

That’s why we’re sharing this blog post! This is one of the most frequently asked interview questions, and you should prepare for it in advance. Write down your answer and practice your response. This can help with preparing for any interview question.

5. Answer each question professionally

If you joke around and say you want to be sitting on a beach or want to be a millionaire, the interviewer will know you haven’t thought about your career path if you are chosen for the position. Make sure you take the question seriously and answer professionally.

6. Respect the interviewer’s time

Sure, you may be using a position as a starting point to launch (or relaunch) your career, but there’s no need to emphasize that. Instead of saying you plan to move on quickly, answer by saying what you hope to accomplish related to the type of work you’ll be doing.

Remember our IT professional example from the first tip? You can refocus on those goals without saying that you don’t plan to be with the company long term.

How Can Ticket to Work Help?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with their employment team to receive the services and supports they need to prepare for the interview process. If you’re eligible, your employment team can help you every step of the way; from resume development to interview practice and on-the-job support.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

Subscribe to the Choose Work! Blog for more tips on how to answer interview questions and other advice for your job search.

You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar. Or text TICKET to 1-571-489-5292 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.

To help people keep up with the changing cost of living, Social Security beneficiaries often receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Each year, Social Security bases the COLA on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

For 2025, Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will increase by 2.5%. This means that more than 72.5 million Americans will see a change in their benefit payments.

Find Out Your New Benefit Amount

my Social Security accounts are secure ways to verify and manage your benefits. By creating a free, personal account, you can check your Social Security statement, change your address, report your wages and more.

If you don't have a my Social Security account, you can sign up for one today. Once you log in to your account, you can manage your notification preferences under "Message Center Preferences" to start receiving courtesy messages either in your email or as a text message. Social Security will send a message to the Message Center inbox in your account and, if you've signed up for courtesy notifications, you will receive an email and/or text message to let you know you have a message waiting in your account.

In December 2024, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the message center of their my Social Security account. Remember, you'll still receive your notice in the mail, but you can also choose to receive COLA notices online through your my Social Security account. If you do not have an account yet, you must create one by November 20, 2024, to receive the 2025 COLA notice online.

This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions. Learn more in this video.

About Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with Social Security-approved service providers to receive the supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

As you think about what the 2025 COLA means for you, you may have questions about how work would affect your benefits. Working with a Ticket Program service provider, like an Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency that has a Benefits Counselor on staff may help you find the answers and information you're looking for.

The Ticket Program shares information about Work Incentives and employment resources for people with disabilities on a regular basis. Subscribe to our emails, sign up for text messages and follow us on social media to stay updated on the program and discover resources designed to help you succeed on the path to employment or self-employment.

• Subscribe to the Choose Work! Blog to learn more about the Ticket Program and find tips for your job search.
• Subscribe to our WISE webinars email updates to find out what topics we'll discuss during our monthly webinars.
• Follow us on Facebook and X to find even more information that can help you on your path to financial independence through work!
• Opt in to receive information via text by texting the word "TICKET" to 1-571-489-5292. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, NDEAM highlights the value of workers with disabilities in the workforce. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” The Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program is joining the celebration and providing services and supports that help many Social Security disability beneficiaries succeed this year and beyond. If you’re starting your work journey, here are some ways to start looking for a job that’s the right fit for you.

Internships

An internship is a short-term work opportunity (part time or full time) that allows you to get experience in a career or career field that interests you. An internship may be paid or unpaid. Many are connected to education programs that provide academic credit and can last four weeks to a year. If you’re interested in finding an internship, here are some resources to help you.

• American Job Center - You can visit the website or visit your local American Job Center to ask about youth programs or summer jobs available. You can also meet with a career counselor.
   
• Workforce Recruitment Program - This program connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with college students and recent graduates with disabilities who want to test their skills in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
   
• Pathways Programs – This program offers specific programs for current students, recent graduates of qualifying educational institutions or programs, and people with advanced degrees. 

Apprenticeships

If you want to learn as you earn, an apprenticeship could be a great option. An apprenticeship is a program that combines work with learning and training, both on and off the job. These are jobs with paid salaries with possible opportunities to advance in your chosen career. Apprenticeship.gov is a good place to start to find an apprenticeship. It is a one-stop source to connect career seekers, employers, and education partners with apprenticeship resources. You can use it to discover apprenticeships across multiple industries. To become an apprentice, search for an opportunity using the Apprenticeship Finder and apply directly with the employer or the program sponsor.

Federal Hiring

Do you think you might be interested in working for the federal government? Federal employees and contractors serve in a variety of jobs in multiple federal agencies, including accounting, public affairs, health care, law enforcement and Information Technology (IT). Here are two programs that can lead to federal jobs.

• Schedule A – If you’re a person with a disability, you can apply and compete for any federal government job for which you are eligible and meet the qualifications. Schedule A is a special hiring authority that gives federal agencies an optional way to hire qualified people with disabilities and offers an exception to the traditional competitive hiring process. You must be eligible for Schedule A and provide “proof of disability.”
   
• Section 503 – Another option is to look for work with an organization that does work for the government, such as federal contractors and subcontractors. A program authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, called Section 503, helps create job opportunities for people with disabilities. It prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against people with disabilities and requires affirmative action in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and retaining people with disabilities.

You can find federal positions with remote and hybrid options on USAJobs.gov..

How Can Ticket to Work Help?

Social Security's Ticket to Work(Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you along your path to financial independence. Whether you’re looking for a paid internship, apprenticeship or position with the federal government, an EN can help you review if you’re qualified for a specific position or if you have transferable skills that may apply to a specific job posting. You can also use our Find a Job page to search a variety of jobs.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.