Employment Networks Are Ready to Serve You

There's a lot to consider when job searching and it can be tough trying to do everything on your own.

We get it.

Here's how 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 (SSI/SSDI) and want to work. This free and voluntary Program helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence by connecting them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Across the country, in physical or virtual locations, more than 500 organizations known as Employment Networks (EN) are ready to serve you.

What is an Employment Network?

An EN is an organization approved to serve Social Security disability beneficiaries through the Ticket Program. They may be private or public organizations. Some ENs, called Workforce ENs, are also part of a state's public workforce system.

Will I sign an agreement with my EN?

Once you and an EN decide to work together, you'll discuss your work experience and your skills and career goals to create an Individual Work Plan (IWP). Your IWP is a road map that includes what you want to accomplish, i.e., your specific goals and identifies the supports and services that the EN will provide to you. Once you and an EN decide to work together, you will have "assigned your Ticket" to this EN.

Is an EN required to serve you?

No, an EN is not required to work with you, and you are not required to work with any particular EN. The EN will assess your skills, abilities and interests, along with your educational and employment history. They may determine that they are not a good match for you.

You are free to contact as many ENs as you like while you look for the one that you believe will be a good fit. Use the Finding an EN and Assigning Your Ticket Worksheet to keep track of the ENs you've contacted as you search for the right one.

Again, you and an EN must choose to work together. If you decide later that you no longer want to work with your EN, you may reassign your Ticket to another EN.

What services does an EN provide?

At a minimum, an EN must provide, or arrange for core services to be provided to Social Security disability beneficiaries. These include:

• Career planning services, such as goal setting, job coaching, job development and training. Some ENs also offer benefits counseling.
• Job placement assistance services, such as active job search services; assistance completing job applications, developing resumes, improving interview skills, making employer contacts, analyzing job tasks, suggesting job restructuring and reasonable accommodations; and job retention counseling
• Ongoing post-employment support, such as regularly scheduled follow-ups and career advancement services

Because ENs all have different capabilities, some may specialize based on the strengths of their organization. They may deliver all of the services you need or coordinate with partner organizations to provide them to you.

An EN will design specific services to meet your needs based on your employment goal. Your employment goal should ultimately be to work at a level where your earnings replace or reduce your disability benefits.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us!

Receive Ticket Program Texts