In his bestselling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Steven Covey told readers to "begin with the end in mind." Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, said, "A goal is a dream with a deadline."

Goals are the path we want to travel in life, and goal setting is the roadmap to take us there. Goals fuel our dreams and move us toward success.

The Power of SMART Goals

For goals to be powerful, they should be SMART. Many people have heard of SMART goals, but how do they work? SMART can mean many things, but SMART goals should be:

• Specific: Goals must be clear and well defined. If the goal is too general, it will not be helpful because it doesn’t provide enough direction. A clearly defined goal will tell you exactly where you want to end up. Define the goal as much as possible using clear language. Maybe you want to enroll in a computer class, find an internship or improve your interview skills. Knowing exactly what you want will help you set well-defined goals.
• Measurable: Include exact amounts, dates and other information in your goals. Using concrete numbers will make it easier to track your progress and measure your success. A good measurable job search goal could be, “I will contact at least five employers each week, apply for at least two open positions, and follow up with my Employment Network or Vocational Rehabilitation counselor every month.”
• Achievable: It is important to make sure you can actually achieve your goals. Setting a goal that has little chance of success can make you less confident. The best balance is to set challenging yet realistic goals. Contacting five companies per week to ask about job openings is an achievable goal. To make this goal even easier to achieve, for example, you can post your resume on job-search websites and set up electronic alerts for job openings that match your skills. These strategies can help you find several job leads each week.
• Relevant: Motivation is key to achieving your goals. Lining up your goals with your personal values will help you stay on track. If your goal is to earn enough money to buy a car to get to and from work so that you don’t have to depend on public transportation, find a picture of the car you want and post it where you’ll see it often. This will remind you of your goal and the benefits of earning a paycheck.
• Time-Bound: Goals need a deadline so you know you’ve reached your target. When you set a deadline for yourself, you feel especially driven to reach it. Breaking longer-term goals down into several short-term goals can be a great way to achieve success. Like checking a task off your to-do list, it will also encourage you to set the deadline for meeting your next short-term goal. If you continue to meet short-term goals, you’ll eventually be able to achieve your long-term goal. You Can Do It!

You Can Do It!

Setting SMART goals is just the first step in pursuing your dreams. After creating your goals:

1. Put them in writing. This makes them feel real.
2. Make an action plan. Include all steps needed along the way.
3. Stick with it. Commitment is the key to success!

What will you decide to accomplish today?

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program team was busy promoting the Ticket program to beneficiaries, family members, employment professionals and other partners at conferences nationwide in 2016.

	In April, we attended the spring Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) conference in Bethesda, MD. We presented on Partnership Plus, a model for ongoing employment support for Ticket program participants after their cases are closed with their State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies.
	Our next stop was the June Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) conference in Cincinnati, OH. Through advocacy and education, APSE promotes employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. We distributed 350 informational pieces during the 3-day conference attended by approximately 1,100 people.
	In September, we attended the National Employment Network Association (NENA) training conference in New Orleans, LA. NENA supports Employment Networks and other partners that work with the Ticket program. Approximately 150 people attended. We presented on outreach to Social Security disability beneficiaries and participated in several panel discussions.
	We also attended the September National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) conference in Richmond, VA and presented on the Partnership Plus model. NRA members, who are rehabilitation professionals, work to eliminate barriers and increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
	October brought us to Columbus, OH for the annual conference of the National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists (NABWIS). NABWIS members provide benefits counseling to individuals who receive disability benefits. More than 170 conference participants represented 35 states and Washington D.C. We distributed materials and answered questions about the Ticket program.
	Also in October, we attended the joint conference of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) and International Symposium on Life Care Planning (ISLCP) in Pittsburgh, PA. At our exhibit booth, we described the Ticket program to about 100 of the 450 professional attendees representing a variety of service providers.
	Our final 2016 stop was the Annual TASH Conference in November in St. Louis, MO. TASH is an international advocacy association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and people who work in the disability field. More than 850 people attended. In addition to hosting an exhibitor booth, we presented "Debunking the Three Biggest Myths about Disability Benefits and Work."

For the past 15 years, by Presidential Proclamation, January has been designated National Mentoring Month. You may have seen #MentorIRL across social media in recognition of this year's theme, Mentor In Real Life.

National Mentoring Month encourages mentors and mentees to reflect on the relationships they have formed and continue to nurture. A mentor is someone who shares his or her work or life experience with someone else, who is known as a mentee. Mentoring relationships positively influence individuals and their communities.

Mentors offer guidance, support, and encouragement to the mentee. They are usually available to help the mentee with academic, career or personal decisions. Some mentors and mentees become friends. My personal story, which follows, highlights this experience.

Mentoring Benefits Youth

Having a mentor can be a critical part of young people's lives. It can help them make decisions that lead to improved opportunities and connections, especially with respect to employment. We know that students with mentors tend to have a better understanding of the connection between school and work. Having a mentor offers them first-hand exposure to the workplace and the ability to see themselves as employees at some point in the future.

Young people with mentors also tend to perform better in school. Mentorship improves their attitudes, attendance, behavior and grades. Young people who have mentors also tend to have better relationships with their parents, teachers and peers. They have higher self-esteem and more often plan to continue their education after high school.

Mentoring relationships provide valuable support to young people, especially those with disabilities. In addition to academic and career guidance, mentors can be excellent role models for leadership, interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills.

My Mentoring Story

I have taken part in many activities on Disability Mentoring Day, a national effort coordinated by the American Association of People with Disabilities. Last year, I decided to step up my involvement and joined the Rising Leaders Mentoring Program. This program is a six-month career-mentoring program run by the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN). The program connects college students and recent graduates with disabilities with business professionals from USBLN partner companies. Mentees have access to mentors with expertise in their fields of study or areas of interest.

During the program, my mentee, a graduate student pursuing his MBA, and I spoke every week. Our conversations followed an action plan that included such topics as:

• Developing soft skills for the workplace
• Disability disclosure and job accommodations
• Writing resumes and cover letters
• Finding internship opportunities
• Searching for a job
• Job interviews
• Understanding disability etiquette

We also conducted mock interviews and met after real ones to identify areas for improvement.

It's been a rewarding experience for me. Though his formal mentorship experience has ended, my mentee and I are continuing our mentoring relationship. I have also applied to mentor a new Rising Leader participant in the coming year.

After a lifetime of struggling with anxiety and depression, and having received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for five years, Lori decided she was ready to work again. As an SSDI beneficiary, she learned she was eligible for Social Security's Ticket to Work program, which supports career development for adults with disabilities who want to work.

"Even though I had not worked full time in a long time, I believed I still had plenty to offer," said Lori. "I just had no idea how to go about getting a job, or whether I could handle the 'working world' again. If I'm being honest, I was really afraid. As much as I needed more money, I just could not afford to lose my monthly cash or health benefits."

Lori learned about the Ticket to Work program from a friend who saw an online posting. She began working with Employment Options, a Ticket to Work Employment Network (EN), in 2010. Lori now manages marketing and communications for the same EN that helped her transition from receiving benefits to working.

"Getting this job through Ticket to Work made all the difference in the world," said Lori. "Having their help on the technical benefits side, that I had trouble understanding, freed me up to just be able to work and do my job well. I wouldn't have been able to stay focused if I hadn't had them to reach out to. My anxiety would've taken over, and I'd be right back where I started: scared and unable to work.

"Being able to work has helped me manage my anxiety in many ways. It's kept me focused each day. And being able to help others like me gives me a great reason to get out of bed in the morning and do something I love." 

For more on how Lori found work, read her full story.

Visit our website for more inspiring stories about people who reached their employment goals through the Ticket to Work program.

Make it Happen: The Ticket to Financial Freedom
Goal Setting, Work Incentives and Financial Independence
Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 3:00 – 4:30 PM, ET

If you are age 18 through 64, receive Social Security Disability benefits, and want to make more money through work, Ticket to Work can provide the support that you need!

Join us January 25, 2017 to learn from experts about financial independence. You will learn how Ticket to Work and other work incentives can help you reach your financial goals. Presenters will share tips, tools, and resources that can help you:

• Gain basic financial knowledge such as budgeting and expense tracking
• Understand tax benefits that may apply to you
• Learn about asset building and how it can help you

Register online at www.choosework.net/wise or call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).

You will receive a registration confirmation message with instructions on how to log in to the webinar. Please be sure to check your spam folder. Registration information will also be available online the day of the webinar.

Are you blind and receiving Social Security disability benefits? Do you have questions about employment supports to help you prepare for work and understand what may happen to your benefits while you work? Look no further for answers! 

A Useful New Resource

In recognition of National Glaucoma Awareness Month and Braille Literacy Month, both in January, the Ticket to Work program is pleased to share a new resource about working and blindness. The resource, made up of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), explains available employment supports, including Social Security rules called "Work Incentives," that help people go to work without immediately losing their benefits. For people who meet the Social Security definition for blindness, the rules are more generous. For example:

• For people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Blind Work Expense (BWE) deduction allows you to subtract the cost of any reasonable expense you need for work from your earnings.
• For people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the amount of earnings Social Security uses to determine eligibility for disability cash payments (Substantial Gainful Activity) is significantly higher for people who are blind.

Other Key Resources

Along with this new resource, check out other resources related to blindness and Social Security:

• If You’re Blind Or Have Low Vision — How We Can Help (2016) 
• 2016 Social Security Red Book — Special Rules for Persons Who Are Blind

For more general information about Work Incentives, visit:

• 2016 Social Security Red Book — A Guide to Work Incentives
• Links to SSI Spotlights — 2016 Edition

If you are blind, receiving benefits, and ready to explore employment, connect with the Ticket to Work program today. We’ll be glad to help!

Many people receiving Social Security disability benefits would rather work in a job that brings financial independence and the choices that go with it. You can explore work with little risk, and you don’t have to do it alone. Providers known as Employment Networks (ENs) can help you prepare for, find and keep a job.

Part 1 of What Every Job Seeker Should Know introduced the Individual Work Plan (IWP). An IWP is an agreement between you and your EN, written to help you reach your employment goals. You and your EN share responsibility for your IWP. Part 2 of What Every Job Seeker Should Know looks at your side of this agreement and the benefits of investing in your future!

Your End of the Bargain

If you choose to work with an EN, they agree to invest time and resources to help you become employable, find work, and keep your job. A good EN will support you throughout your journey to financial independence. The IWP is part of their promise to get you there.

Your side of the agreement involves meeting responsibilities that the EN will explain to you and help you meet. These are a little different for everyone based on your benefits, and what is in your IWP. They fall into three categories:

• Training, education and work benchmarks
• Wage reporting
• Status reporting

To learn about your Ticket to Work Employment Team, check out Meet Your Employment Team.

Training and Work Benchmarks

Making timely progress in the Ticket program means you are expected to meet benchmarks related to finding and keeping employment:

• You may be responsible for completing a specified course load in a college, technical, trade or vocational training program; or
• Once you find work, you will be responsible for meeting specific levels of employment, defined by an earning benchmark known as substantial gainful activity (SGA); or
• You may be responsible for meeting a combination of these training, education and work benchmarks.

Wage Reporting

It’s critical that you report your wages to Social Security in a timely manner. This includes when you start or stop working and when you change your hours or rate of pay. When you begin working, let Social Security know as soon as possible and continue to report your wages by the 10th day of each month. The National Disability Institute (NDI) offers easy-to-follow tips for properly reporting wages in their Wage Reporting Fact Sheet for SSA Disability Beneficiaries.

A good EN should help you:

• Know your reporting responsibilities (see Status Reporting below)
• Submit your paystubs to Social Security on a regular basis
• Understand and know how to respond to correspondence from Social Security
• Resolve any problems that arise

Status Reporting

It’s also critical that you report all other events and changes that could affect your Social Security benefits. Every benefit Social Security pays has a list of events you're required to report. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you should also report changes to resources such as bank accounts, changes to property other than the house you live in, and any changes in living arrangements or marital status. Any month in which an SSI recipient has countable resources over the limit (in 2016, $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples), they will not be eligible for an SSI payment. Your EN or Social Security field office can give you an easy-to-follow list of your reporting responsibilities. A good EN can actively help you organize your wage and status reporting.

If you need to change your address or direct deposit, you can do so by simply creating a My Social Security Account.

Not all resources are counted when Social Security determines SSI eligibility. Read SAMHSA’s article SSA-8000, Part III: Resources for details.

For Good Measure

Social Security keeps track of millions of records. There will be a lag time between when you report the information noted above and when this information is recorded. You could receive more money in a month than you should if there is a delay in updating your record or if there is an error in recording the wages you report. Any money mistakenly sent to you that is more then what you are eligible to receive in a given month is called an overpayment. If you receive an overpayment, Social Security will send you a notice in the mail explaining what happened and the amount you were overpaid. Your EN can help you resolve it.

Here are steps you can take to stay organized and avoid benefit overpayments:

• Open a separate bank account for your Social Security disability benefits. While this is not required, many people find that having a separate bank account for their SSDI and SSI payments makes it easier to track funds, keep accurate records, and correspond with Social Security.
• Keep copies of everything. This includes copies of paystubs, Social Security receipts, official notices, and all other correspondence with Social Security. Careful record keeping is important.
• Follow up to make sure the wage or status changes you reported were received and recorded by Social Security. You want Social Security records to accurately reflect your actual income and assets.

Real Results

Ticket program participants like Renate will tell you that the benefits of meaningful employment and financial independence are the payoff for your investment.

To learn about others who weighed the risks and rewards of job hunting and have stories to share, read or watch Ticket to Work Success Stories.

For many people receiving Social Security disability benefits, working offers financial independence, more options, a sense of achievement and well-being. But it can be daunting to think about entering or re-entering the workforce. Don’t let the fear of having to immediately give up your benefits or anxiety about work hold you back! You don’t have to do it alone. There are people who can help and point you to important resources.

Everyone can benefit from guidance that helps them make informed decisions about their future. If you are age 18 through 64 and receive Social Security disability benefits, you can get free counseling, advice about what work would mean for your disability benefits, and many other employment support services through Social Security’s Ticket to Work program. The program is free and voluntary, and you have nothing to lose by learning about what is possible!

Your Team

Ticket to Work connects you to a variety of service providers ready to support you on your journey to financial independence. Some, like state vocational rehabilitation agencies, help you prepare for the workforce by linking you to specialized training. Others provide counseling and advice about how working affects Social Security and other public benefits. Many offer career counseling, résumé development, interview skills and job leads.

This feature focuses on some of the supports offered through providers known as Employment Networks (ENs). ENs offer a variety of services and help you stay employed or advance your career even after you’ve landed a job. A good EN will be your partner, problem-solver and champion. They will maintain a professional relationship with you for years. Because not all ENs offer the same services, it’s important to talk with as many as possible before you agree to work together. Our fact sheet, Choosing the Right Employment Network for You, will guide you through this decision. 

To learn about your Ticket to Work Employment Team, check out Meet Your Employment Team.

The Agreement

Once you've found the right EN and decide to work together, you will both sign an agreement known as an Individual Work Plan (IWP). “Individual” means this plan is developed just for you. The IWP is like a roadmap that leads you where you want to go. It’s designed to help you reach milestones in achieving your employment goals.

The IWP is also a contract. When you and your EN agree to work toward common objectives, you both have responsibilities to meet. Your EN agrees to invest time and resources to help you become employable, find work, and keep a job.  If your EN doesn’t hold up their end of the agreement or you’re not satisfied with their support, you can switch to another EN.

While you make timely progress in the Ticket program, Social Security will not do a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to determine if you continue to qualify for disability benefits. Social Security rules called Work Incentives can allow you to focus on determining how employment will work for you, so you don’t need to worry about the immediate loss of benefits. Because of certain "safety net" Work Incentives, your Social Security disability benefits and Medicare or Medicaid don’t suddenly disappear when you go to work. An EN or other provider qualified to offer benefits counseling can give you free advice about your situation and the potential risks and rewards of employment.

Your End of the Bargain

Your side of the agreement involves meeting responsibilities that the EN will explain to you and help you to meet. These are a little different for everyone based on your benefits and what is in your IWP. They fall into three categories:

• Making timely progress in the program through a combination of education, training, and earnings.
• Reporting wages to Social Security  
• Reporting any change in status (employment, marital, living arrangements) to Social Security

Real Results

Ticket program participants like Cherie will tell you the benefits of financial independence are worth all the time and effort you’ll invest.

"When I learned that the risk was not as big as I thought, that made it easier to start working, and to keep going from there. When I found out I wasn’t going to lose my benefits right away… it alleviated all of the biggest fears I had about going back full time."
 – Cherie, Ticket to Work participant

Read Part 2 of What Every Job Seeker Should Know to understand your responsibilities in more detail.

If you have questions about finding help through Ticket to Work, visit SocialSecurity.gov/work and contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (Voice) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket to Work Find Help tool.

Many see the New Year as a time of change and an opportunity to get a jump-start on accomplishing personal goals. If you are thinking about returning to work, there is no better time than the present - and no better way to do so -  than with the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program.

The Ticket program is a federally-funded, national employment program that provides Social Security disability beneficiaries ages 18 through 64 with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce and become more financially independent. The Ticket program is free and voluntary.

Participants in the Ticket program work with service providers to develop the skills to find work or stay employed. If you qualify for Ticket to Work, you may choose to work with an Employment Network (EN) or a State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency.

• EN service providers may be private or public organizations that provide career counseling and assistance with job placement. ENs may also offer Work Incentives counseling, career planning/counseling, job search and placement services, ongoing employment support and, in some cases, help with job accommodations.
• State VR agencies generally serve individuals who need significant support, usually offering a wider array of services, including training and rehabilitation, than ENs.

If you’re interested in reaping the benefits of work including greater financial independence, increased social activity with peers and coworkers, and the opportunity to contribute to a team or organization, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work and contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (Voice) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket to Work Find Help tool.

Several years ago, the Choosework blog featured a post on this theme in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We’re running an update of that post in part because of the timeless nature of its message.

Disaster can strike at any time. Having a plan for emergencies and disasters may save your life.  For people with specific access or functional needs, having a plan is especially important.

Does your employer have a disaster preparedness plan? Does it accommodate people with disabilities? If your employer has a disaster or emergency plan, talk to your supervisor or human resources department to ensure that employees with disabilities are included in the plan.

Your Personal Emergency Plan

Even if your employer has an emergency preparedness plan, you should also have a personal emergency plan that meets your needs at work. If you have special needs because of a disability, it’s particularly important that you take responsibility for your safety by planning in advance. 

Below are a few steps you can take to create your personal plan for responding to an emergency at work:

1. Start creating your plan by reviewing the American Red Cross guide, Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs.
2. Assess your need for help during an evacuation. It may vary for people with different disabilities such as respiratory conditions, hearing or vision impairments, or mobility issues.
3. Be familiar with emergency evacuation options (stairwells, ramps, evacuation chairs, etc.).
4. Establish a personal support network, like a “buddy system,” with co-workers, friends and family.
5. Practice giving instructions on how to help you.
6. Communicate with your employer about accommodations for emergency situations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains a website dedicated to emergency preparedness, Ready.gov. There, you’ll find an excellent planning resource for individuals with disabilities to use both on and off the job.