Searching for a job can be overwhelming. There are so many places online to look for job postings that it's hard to know where to begin. To help you get started, we've added a new tool to our website.

Our new Find a Job page lists a number of organizations that have job search resources that can help you pursue your employment. This webpage includes a chart that you can use to compare the features that the various organizations provide, such as job boards, resume services and social networking opportunities. Some of the organizations also offer an employer directory and access to recruiters.

Receive the support you need!

In addition to the resources listed on the Find a Job page, you can receive more comprehensive support by using the Find Help tool to find a service provider that offers personalized assistance as you pursue the goal of achieving financial independence through work.

By participating in the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program, you'll have access to a wide variety of services from Ticket program service providers that offer free short-term and long-term supports to help you find and maintain employment.

Each type of service provider offers different services. To make an informed choice among them, it's important to understand what each provider does. Read Meet Your Employment Team to learn more.

Get connected

There's a lot to consider when job searching and it can be tough trying to do everything on your own. Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program is designed to support people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. The Ticket program is not a direct hiring program. However, it can connect job seekers with disabilities to job search resources and other employment services and information.

Ready to move towards financial independence and find a fulfilling career? The Ticket to Work Help Line can help you choose the service provider that's right for you. To learn more, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Ever wish there was more time to plan for the next step in your employment journey? Instead of gaining an hour of daylight or an extra hour of sleep, this year we have an extra day!

Take advantage of this extra day to create a job search strategy to make a leap with your employment goals!

Here are some tips that can help you get started and make the most of your day:

1. Check out our new Find a Job resource. Looking for work can be hard. There's a lot of information online to help you with your job search, and it can be overwhelming. We're here to help. Our new Find A Job webpage lists multiple organizations that host job boards, as well as those that provide services such as career resources, job fair information and resume services. The web page also suggests connecting with a Ticket to Work service provider for comprehensive support as you search for work.  
2. Update your professional social media profiles. To connect with employers and recruiters, use social networking platforms as a professional tool to build your personal brand through creating a virtual resume that shows your experience and skills. Creating or updating a work resume on LinkedIn can be done in minutes, allowing more time for tackling other tasks on your to-do list.
3. Use social media to your benefit. Consider sharing your work goals on social media. Publicizing your goals can be motivator, especially when you receive support from family and friends. And you never know who might be hiring!
4. Visit the Choose Work Website. We have lots of resources available to help you on the path to financial independence. Check out our redesigned library or visit our WISE On Demand page to catch up on things you might have missed.
5. Check in with yourself next month. Mark your calendar for March 29 and revisit your ideas and your progress. Making time to evaluate what's working and what's not can help you to regroup. Remember, the journey to employment is a process; it's okay to reassess and create new goals.

Find your path to success!

As you think about how to advance your career this leap year, also consider how Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program and other Social Security Work Incentives can help you on your path to financial independence!

The Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

This year, we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program. Join us, as we recognize the achievements of people featured in our success stories in this blog series!

Meet Peter!

"I turned a hobby into a career," Peter reflects. "As a kid I liked to tinker, build circuits and figure out how mechanical things work. Now I get paid to help people solve their tech problems. I feel lucky that I was able to get a transplant and move forward. My work gives me [a sense of] purpose. It is a privilege to do well while doing good."

Peter was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and started receiving Social Security disability benefits because he was unable to work. Peter ultimately received a kidney transplant. As his health improved, he began to grow restless.

Peter connected with a Ticket to Work service provider, called an Employment Network (EN). That EN, A Ticket to Success, helped Peter understand the Ticket program and other Social Security Work Incentives.

"I'm someone who doesn't quit," he continues. "But re-entering the workforce is tough and you need someone there to help you do it. It's good to know that there are supports we can rely on when the going gets tough…"

Together Peter and his EN developed an Individual Work Plan (IWP), a roadmap that would help him reach his employment goals. An IWP includes long- and short-term career goals and supports like resume writing, benefits counseling and practice interviews. Peter and his EN took a fresh look at the job market in the field of information technology (IT) and revamped his resume.

Peter found work helping a local organization with their IT systems administration. He describes this tentative return to IT as challenging and exhilarating at once. "It was a struggle at first," he recalls. "But sooner than I expected, I realized, 'I can do this' and… that felt great!"

Peter is now a full-time employee, doing what he loves and using his IT skills again. He has achieved a career doing work he loves and gained financial independence with help from Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) program. Start on your path to success today.

Read Peter's full story and find other success stories!

Find your path to success!

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Does looking for a job make you feel like you're stuck in the movie Groundhog Day where every day was the same as the day before? Do you keep submitting applications without making any progress? Do you go to interviews but never receive a call back?

We all know that searching and applying for jobs can be frustrating if you're not getting the results you want. To keep working towards your goal without getting discouraged, think about whether you need to take a fresh approach. Try some of these tips if you think you're in a rut:

1. Get creative. Have an ideal job in mind? Try researching updates or advancements in your field of interest. For example, want to work in human resources? Maybe there is a new class you can take. Employers are impressed with applicants who stay up to date on industry advances. Or create a vision board of everything that inspires you about your dream job and refer to it frequently.
2. Set your intention. Whether you're looking for your first job or want to go back to work, take some time to figure out what you want to do and what steps to take to get you there. Unsure about what you want to do? A Ticket to Work service provider can help you identify your skills and explore what jobs may be right for you! Focusing on the kind of work you want to do will also help you when you network.
3. Network and use your relationships. Are you spending most of your time applying through job boards online? As we've noted before, statistics show that as many as 85% of jobs are filled through networking. Are you using your networks? Think about attending a networking event or job fair. Tap into your network for an information interview to learn more about your desired career. An information interview may even be a stepping stone to employment. Depending on the impression you leave, the person you meet with may think of you the next time they hear of a job opening! Or consider finding a mentor who can offer guidance based on their experience to help you figure out your next steps.
4. Take care of yourself. Managing your health while job searching is key. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you feeling stressed? Understanding your needs and reaching out or using resources can provide the support you need to succeed in both your personal life and your career. Build self-care routines into your schedule to help keep you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your job search.

Find your path to success!

Remember, looking for a job takes both time and effort. We're here to help. Connecting with Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program could be just the spark you need to re-energize your job search! Additional Social Security Work Incentives can also help you on your path to financial independence.

The Ticket program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Get out of your Groundhog Day cycle and 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. They give you the chance to meet potential employers and learn about different job opportunities. The career fairs listed in this post are just a few of the offerings this month. Visit the organizers' websites for a full list of career fairs to see if there's one near you.

If you're aware of an upcoming job fair that our readers would find helpful, email us at socialmedia@choosework.ssa.gov with the event name, dates and official website.

City Career Fair (In Person)

City Career Fair's Diversity Employment Day (DED) career fairs provide the chance for local and national employers to meet and interview qualified candidates from diverse communities.

• February 12: Portland, OR
• February 19: Denver, CO

Choice Career Fairs (In Person)

Choice Career Fairs organizes job and career fairs throughout the United States. Check out their website for a full list of career fairs happening this month.

• February 6: Columbus, OH
• February 13: Houston, TX
• February 20: Phoenix, AZ
• February 27: St. Louis, MO

Coast to Coast Career Fairs (In Person)

Coast to Coast Career Fairs holds numerous in-person career fairs across the country each month. To find a full list of career fairs by region, check out their calendar.

• February 4: Boston, MA
• February 10: Sacramento, CA
• February 24: Louisville, KY

Diversity Career Group (In Person)

Diversity Career group focuses their career and job fairs on connecting employers and jobseekers through sit-down conversations and even first-round job interviews. Check out the full calendar.

• February 13: Pasadena, CA
• February 19: Portland, OR

RecruitMilitary (In Person and Virtual)

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

• February 6: Atlanta, GA
• February 20: Baltimore, MD
• February 27: Jacksonville, FL

National Career Fairs (In Person)

National Career Fairs holds free career fairs in over 130 cities each year. Check out the full calendar to discover a career fair near you.

• February 5: Kansas City, MO
• February 11: Salt Lake City, UT
• February 18: Baton Rouge, LA

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 (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Working from home? There's a lot to think about! Each year, the second full week of January is designated as Home Office Safety and Security Week. If you work from home or are looking for that type of job, today we're using this observance to draw your attention to some factors you might want to consider implementing in your own home.

Securing your home office

Working from home is different than working in a corporate environment where you have information technology and security departments that work in the background to secure the work environment.

Some safety and security measures are obvious and relevant for any home, even if you don't have a home office. For example, having an emergency/ fire escape plan, working smoke detectors and properly grounded electrical outlets make sense for every home. However, some safety measures are more specific to those who run their own business from home or work remotely for an employer.

If you work with sensitive data or information (either paper or digital), think about whether some of these situations apply to your work now or in the future:

• Is your computer's firewall software and anti-virus software up to date and active?
• Have you changed the default password on your router? Default passwords are vulnerable and can usually be found with a quick online search.
• Is your data backed up? If you regularly work with files local to your computer that are not on a server or manually transferred to a server at the end of each day, you risk losing all your work at any time.
• Are there other devices in your home connected to the internet? It's important that computers, smart phones, smart devices like internet- connected cameras, thermostats and routers are all up to date with the latest security patches.
• How good are your passwords and how often do you change them? If you don't want to continually change passwords, consider a password manager. Input all your passwords into one program and then change the master password easily whenever needed.
• Working with paper copies? If the information or data is sensitive, be sure to store paper files in a locked drawer or cabinet.
• Finally, what would you do in a worse-case scenario, such as a loss of data or equipment? Consider whether you need insurance protection. Residential policies may not cover home office losses.

As you can see, there's a lot to consider to make sure that you and your office space are protected when you work from home. If you'd like more information on this topic, we encourage you to visit the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's pages on online security.

Reaching Your Goals with Ticket to Work

While there are many factors to consider when working remotely, if you work from home or are searching for work-from-home jobs, you can get help reaching your employment goals. 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 supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through employment.

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

This year, we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program. Join us, as we recognize the achievements of people featured in our success stories in this new blog series!

Meet Cherie!

Vulnerability and resilience are opposite traits. But Cherie's story serves as a reminder that when people find resilience after suffering, they learn what they are made of.

Cherie had already been diagnosed with a treatment-resistant mood disorder. After a series of traumatic events, including an attempt to take her own life, she was also diagnosed with clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. She began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits while she sought treatment.

Cherie wanted to work but was concerned that she'd been out of the workforce too long to be employable. When she thought she was ready, she decided to try working part-time. She began by helping a friend in an office setting. As she started gaining confidence and taking on more responsibilities, Cherie quickly rediscovered her organizational skills and began working full-time.

Cherie was afraid to lose her SSDI and Medicare benefits. However, working with a Benefits Counselor helped her learn more about how working and earning income would affect her benefits. Her Benefits Counselor helped her understand that she would not lose her benefits as soon as she started working. She would have time to test her ability to work and determine whether full-time employment was right for her.

In addition to benefits counseling, Cherie worked with a Ticket program service provider to receive career counseling, computer skills training and advice on job accommodations. Cherie's Benefits Counselor worked with her to develop an Individual Work Plan that served as a roadmap to help Cherie reach her employment goals.

Cherie is now assistant to the executive director, the top administrative role at her workplace.  She runs the office, and coordinates many aspects of the 15 programs that help people with disabilities thrive in their communities. She traded her SSDI benefits for a bigger paycheck, and acknowledged the important role employment has played in her long-term recovery.

Read Cherie's full story and find other success stories!

Find your path to success!

Ticket to Work and other Work Incentives helped Cherie find her path to a better future. Find yours!

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

If you're working with a Social Security Ticket to Work service provider as you pursue work, you may have heard of Trial Work Period, Trial Work Period amounts, and Substantial Gainful Activity. Today, we take a look at these 3 topics and share the latest updates to them.

Trial Work Period

If you receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), the Trial Work Period (TWP) is a Social Security Work Incentive that allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During your TWP, you'll receive full SSDI benefit payments, no matter how much you earn — as long as you report your work activity and continue to meet Social Security's rules for disability. The TWP continues until you accumulate 9 TWP service months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month period.

Once you finish your TWP, other Work Incentives, like Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), may help you as you pursue financial independence through work.

What's new in 2020?

Social Security has adjusted the TWP amount in 2020, so that any month you earn more than $910 will count toward your TWP. If you are self-employed, any month that you work 80 or more hours in your business, or have net earnings from self-employment (NESE) of more than $910 per month, will count toward your TWP.

For example, if you earn $1,500 in January 2020 and $700 in February 2020, only January will count toward your TWP.

Substantial Gainful Activity

Social Security uses the term "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) to describe a level of work activity and earnings. If you receive SSDI, Social Security uses SGA to decide if your eligibility for benefits continues after you return to work and complete your TWP. Social Security generally compares your monthly earnings to set amounts, known as earnings thresholds, to evaluate if your work activity is SGA.

What's new in 2020?

Social Security has adjusted the SGA monthly threshold to $1,260 in 2020. The Social Security Act specifies a higher SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals, so for people who are blind and receive SSDI, the SGA monthly amount in 2020 is $2,110.

Stay up to date!

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 supports and services they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

As you think about what these 2020 updates mean for you, you may have questions. 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.

We share information about Work Incentives and employment resources for people with disabilities on a regular basis. Subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media to stay up to date on the program and discover resources designed to help you on the path to work.

• Subscribe to the Choose Work! Blog to learn more about the Ticket to Work program and find tips for your job search.
• Subscribe to our WISE webinars email updates to find out what topics we'll discuss in our monthly webinars.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find even more information that may help you on your path to financial independence!

Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about these changes, please visit https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/sga.html.

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

The New Year brings new opportunities to reach your work goals! Career fairs are an excellent way to start or advance your job search. They give you the chance to meet potential employers and learn about job openings. The career fairs listed in this post are just a few of the offerings this month. Visit the organizers' websites for a full list of career fairs to see if there's one near you.

If you're aware of an upcoming job fair that our readers would find helpful, email us at socialmedia@choosework.ssa.gov with the event name, dates and official website.

City Career Fair (In Person)

City Career Fair's Diversity Employment Day (DED) career fairs provide the chance for local and national employers to meet and interview qualified candidates from diverse communities.

• January 22: Seattle, WA
• January 29: Oakland, CA

Choice Career Fairs (In Person)

Choice Career Fairs organizes job and career fairs throughout the United States. Check out their website for a full list of career fairs happening this month.  

• January 22: Denver, CO
• January 23: Albuquerque, NM
• January 30: Washington, DC

Diversity Career Group (In Person)

Diversity Career group focuses their career and job fairs on connecting employers and jobseekers through sit-down conversations and even first-round job interviews. Check out the full calendar.  

• January 21: Walnut Creek, CA
• January 23: Dallas, TX

RecruitMilitary (In Person and Virtual)

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

• January 15: Military Spouse Virtual Career Expo
• January 23: Raleigh, NC
• January 30: Oklahoma City, OK

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 (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Choose Work Shares a Message from Social Security

In October, we announced an increase in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For 2020, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.6% COLA increase.

We mail COLA notices throughout the entire month of December. If you have not received yours, we ask that you wait until January before contacting us about your mailed notice. However, you may not need to wait for your mailed notice to learn your new benefit amount for 2020.

COLA notices are available online to most beneficiaries through the Message Center of their personal my Social Security account if they created their account by November 22, 2019. my Social Security is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later. You can also opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online.

Sign up for your personal my Social Security account and get an email or text message the next time your COLA notice is available online for you. You can also use your account to manage your benefits and much 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 by going to "Message Center Preferences."

Stay up to date!

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 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 2020 COLA means for you, you may have questions. 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 and follow us on social media to stay updated on the program and discover resources designed to help you succeed on the path toward financial independence.

• Subscribe to the Choose Work! blog to learn more about the Ticket to Work program and find tips for your job search.
• Subscribe to our WISE webinars email updates to find out what topics we'll discuss in our monthly webinars.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find even more information that may help you on your path to financial independence!

Learn more

To learn more about the Ticket program, 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 a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

Find more COLA information for 2020 on Social Security's website:

• ssa.gov/cola
• ssa.gov/social-security-benefits-to-increase-in-2020
• Social Security 2020 COLA Fact Sheet