Disability: Part of the Equity Equation
This month and every month, we celebrate the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce. In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) we'd like to tell you about Amy and her path to financial independence through work.
Meet Amy
Amy has a developmental disability that affects language, learning and social interactions. When she was ready to find a path to financial independence through work, Amy turned to her State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency for help. Amy's VR counselor told her about Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program.
The Ticket Program supports career development for people with disabilities who want to work. Adults ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits qualify for this free and voluntary program. Through the Ticket Program, service providers, such as VRs and ENs offer free employment support services.
To answer Amy's questions about how employment would affect her Social Security disability benefits, Amy's State VR counselor connected her with Full Circle Employment Solutions, an Employment Network (EN) with Benefits Counselors on staff who explained how working would affect her disability benefits.
Amy's Benefits Counselor told her about Work Incentives, which make it easier for adults with disabilities to enhance their job skills and gain work experience while receiving Medicaid or Medicare and benefits from Social Security.
With a better understanding of these supports, Amy was ready to explore her employment options. She pursued an internship with Project SEARCH, a training program for young adults with developmental disabilities. Through Project SEARCH, Amy landed an internship that led to a permanent position with her local government.
Amy earned her way to financial independence and no longer receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Now, she's a union member, receives benefits through her job and enjoys the security and stability that come with full-time employment. She's grateful for the support she received through the Ticket Program and looks forward to building the future she always hoped for.
"This job makes me feel needed and welcomed," she says. "I have learned about what motivates me and how to keep going, even when things get hard."
Learn More
To learn more about the Ticket Program, visit choosework.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. Ask for a list of service providers or find providers on your own using the Ticket Program Find Help tool.
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.
