"Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down."

These are the words spoken by President Bush on July 26, 1990, when he signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In the nearly 30 years since that law was passed, the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities have been changed. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life — including jobs, schools, transportation and all public or private places that are open to the general public; and it's viewed by many as President Bush's most enduring legacy. 

For the president, the declaration of equality for people with disabilities was more than good politics; it was personal. He had lost a child to leukemia and had another child with a learning disability. He had also heard the voices of thousands of people — parents of children with disabilities, advocates, legislators and academics — who expressed the need for equal treatment.

"Together, we must remove the physical barriers we have created and the social barriers that we have accepted. For ours will never be a truly prosperous nation until all within it prosper."

Because of the ADA, our physical environment is changed significantly from that of 1990 and before. We have ramps, curb cuts, more accessible parking, elevators at train stations, accessible bathroom stalls, and wider entrances and hallways.

But it's not just people who have mobility-related disabilities that must be accommodated; it's also people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people who are blind, and people who have cognitive or intellectual disabilities. So, we also have experienced changes that may be less obvious, such as job accommodations in hiring and employment, closed captioning, specialized equipment, interpreters and accessible technology.

Some of you may remember that, at age 90, President Bush jumped out of an airplane to show how fit he was. But you may also remember that when he came back to earth in front of the cameras, he returned to his wheelchair. One story has it that as his staff rolled him up and down sidewalks and ramps, the president joked: "Those ramps and those sidewalks [curb cuts] are very convenient. Who thought of putting those there?" His signature did it.

About Ticket to Work

This Presidents Day, Social Security's Ticket to Work team recognizes the contributions of President George H.W. Bush and many others to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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.

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 in a rolling 5 year period. The 9 months do not need to be consecutive, but they may be. During your TWP, you'll receive full SSDI benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and continue to meet Social Security's rules for disability. Social Security compares your gross earnings, which is the amount of earnings you have in a month before subtracting taxes, to the TWP amount to decide if a month counts as a TWP month. 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 2019?

Social Security has adjusted the TWP amount in 2019, so that any month you earn $880 or more 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 $880 or more per month, will count toward your TWP.

For example, if you earned $1,500 in January 2019 and $700 in February 2019, only January will count toward your TWP.

Substantial Gainful Activity

Social Security uses the term "substantial gainful activity" 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. The monthly earnings amount considered as SGA may depend on the nature of your disability.

What's new in 2019?

Social Security has adjusted the SGA monthly amount to $1,220 in 2019. 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 2019 is $2,040.

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 2019 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.

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 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

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.

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for adults ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible people with disabilities can receive supports and services to help them find and maintain work as they pursue financial independence.

While everyone's path to work and financial independence is different, you may find yourself in one of 4 general phases. Find out what each phase typically includes and how a Ticket program service provider may be able to help you.

Phase 1: Ticket to Work

What you may be doing during Phase 1: Deciding if work is right for you. This includes thinking about how work and earned income will affect your benefits.

How Ticket to Work may help: Only you can choose if work is right for you, but a Ticket program service provider that offers benefits counseling may help you better understand the effects of working and earned income on your benefits. They can also show you how Social Security Work Incentives can serve as a safety net and allow you to continue receiving Medicare or Medicaid and, in some cases, cash payments as you transition to the workplace.

Resources:

• Social Security Work Incentives
• Meet Ben!

Phase 2: Ready to Work

What you may be doing during Phase 2: Identifying your goals. This is the time to start thinking about the types of jobs that interest you and matching them to the experience and skills that you have. Working with a Ticket program service provider will offer you free services to support your goals.

How the Ticket program may help: Your service provider will work with you to develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that serves as a roadmap to success in employment. They'll help you identify your work goals, as well as the specific supports and services they'll provide to help you reach them.

Resources:

• Planning Your Employment Goals with the Ticket to Work Program
• Goal Setting

Phase 3: Getting a Job

What you may be doing during Phase 3: Applying for jobs. This includes writing or editing your resume, filling out job applications and going to job interviews.

How the Ticket program may help: When you're developing your IWP with your service provider, they'll identify the services they provide, and this may include resume review and editing, interview preparation and mock interviews and even job placement. Working with your service provider may help you present your best self to potential employers by highlighting your skills and experience in your resume and helping you feel more confident during an interview.

Resources:

• Resource Roundup: Resume and Interview Tips
• Interview Dos and Don'ts: Making a Great First Impression

Phase 4: Managing your job

What you may be doing during Phase 4: Congratulations! You've found a job and have started transitioning to the workplace! During this phase, you'll need to make sure that you report your work and wages to Social Security and assess whether you need any workplace accommodations.

How the Ticket program may help: Even though you've found a job, your service provider may continue to offer you key supports and services to help you succeed. They may be able to answer your questions about wage reporting and remind you of Work Incentives that apply to you. And if you find that you need a reasonable accommodation, they may help you through the process of requesting one.

Resources:

• Wage Reporting
• How to Request Accommodations

Learn more

Keep in mind that every person's path to work is an individual journey and may include different stages. You can learn more about the Path to Work and discover even more resources to help you toward financial independence through work on our website at choosework.ssa.gov/about/your-path-to-work.

While this can offer you more detail about some of the basic phases of pursuing your work goals, you may find that your path is a little different. Working with a Ticket program service provider throughout each of the phases you experience may offer you the resources you need, like benefits counseling, when you need them, whether it's in phase 1, when you're thinking about work, or phase 3, as you're transitioning to the workplace.

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.

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 in February. 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.

Virtual Career Fairs

Many organizations list their events on CareerEco. Check out one of the virtual events listed below or find other events by looking at the full calendar. During February, there are a variety of career fairs taking place online.

• February 7: Public Health Online Career Fair
• February 7: Hire Heroes USA Veterans Virtual Career Fair

City Career Fairs (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 13: Portland, OR
• February 20: 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 in February.

• February 7: Columbus, OH
• February 14: Baltimore, MD
• February 20: Dallas, TX
• February 21: St. Louis, MO
• February 21: Fort Lauderdale, FL
• February 27: Las Vegas, NV

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 5: Boston, MA
• February 12: Nashville, TN
• February 18: Denver, CO
• February 20: Sacramento, CA

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 6: Phoenix, AZ
• February 14: Seattle, WA
• February 20: Irvine, CA

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 7: Fort Stewart, GA
• February 14: Richmond, VA
• February 28: 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: Buffalo, NY
• February 7: King of Prussia, PA
• February 12: Des Moines, IA
• February 14: Raleigh, NC
• February 19: Salt Lake City, UT
• February 26: Augusta, GA

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.

MYTH: "If I go to work, I will automatically lose my Medicare."

Many people believe that they will automatically lose their Medicare or Medicaid as soon as they start working. But did you know that as long as you're receiving a cash payment in any amount, you'll keep your Medicare or Medicaid?

But what if you've returned to work and have replaced your cash payments with earnings from your job? For that, let's talk about a Social Security Work Incentive, Continuation of Medicare Coverage, that helps people who receive SSDI continue receiving Medicare as they transition to work!

Continuation of Medicare Coverage

When transitioning to the workplace, most people who receive SSDI who work will continue to receive at least 93 consecutive months of: 

• Hospital Insurance (Part A);
• Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B), if enrolled; and
• Prescription Drug coverage (Part D), if enrolled.

This is called Continuation of Medicare Coverage or the Extended Period of Medicare Coverage.

Keep in mind that people who receive SSDI continue to receive their full benefits, including Medicare, during their Trial Work Period (TWP). So during the first 9 months that you work in a 5-year period, your benefits won't be affected. These 9 months do not need to be consecutive, but they may be. Once you finish your last month of TWP, the 93 months of Continuation of Medicare Coverage will begin. The 93 months start the month after the last month of your Trial Work Period. To qualify:

• You must already have Medicare and be working at Substantial Gainful Activity; and
• You cannot be medically improved.

Although your benefit payments may stop due to work, your Medicare will continue. 93 months is 7 years and 9 months!

Questions about Medicare?

If you have questions about Medicare, please call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-877-486-2048 (TTY) and ask to speak to a representative. You'll need to have your Medicare Number available and be prepared to tell the representative your state. Or you can visit Medicare.gov to find information online.

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.

Welcome to 2019! People typically make resolutions and set goals at the beginning of a new year. But, how many of us know how to set achievable goals that are also truly meaningful to our personal and professional lives? Below, we mention a few ways to approach goal setting. However, no matter which way you choose, working with a Ticket to Work (Ticket) program service provider can help.

Types of goals

Some goal-setting experts suggest setting "SMART" goals — goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. SMART goals help you map out a plan for reaching your goal and identify the steps you need to take to make progress. Having measurable actions to complete in a certain amount of time may also help you stay on track and stay motivated, especially when you're working toward a large goal that may take a long time.  

Even if you've established a SMART goal, you may also want to think about what your short- and long-term goals are. For this method, short-term goals should be smaller steps on the way to reaching your larger, long-term goal. If you have a long-term goal of finding work in a particular industry, consider setting short-term goals to complete any necessary training, certifications or education you may need to reach the larger goal. This way, you can focus on what you want to achieve now and build on that success as you pursue your long-term goals. 

Setting goals with Ticket to Work

Whichever method appeals to you, consider working with a Ticket program service provider. 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. This free and voluntary program actually begins with goal setting. Once you have selected a service provider (Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency) that meets your needs, you can talk with the provider about what you want to accomplish. Together, you will discuss what experience you have that relates to your work goal, what steps are necessary for you to reach your goal and how the service provider will help you.

Once you and your service provider agree that your goal is realistic, your provider will discuss with you how they will help you. For example, they may provide career counseling, job-search and job-placement assistance, resume writing, and benefits counseling. They may also help you request job accommodations. Once you begin working, they can help you focus on some of your long-term goals, like maintaining employment, finding another job or increasing your earnings.

If you agree to the services they offer, you and your service provider will both sign a document called an Individual Work Plan. This plan is an agreement that states that your service provider will invest time and resources to help you become employable, find work, keep a job and maximize your earning potential. Your part of the agreement is to follow the work plan and make timely progress toward your goal.

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.

In the past, we've written about the importance of mentoring — how having a mentor can help you reach your career goals. A good mentor guides and advises based on their own experience and learned wisdom so it's important to choose a mentor carefully. Today, we're answering some questions about how to choose the right person and ask them to be your mentor.

Why do I want a mentor?

Knowing what you're trying to accomplish by working with a mentor and what kind of help you think you need may help you find the right person. For example, are you interested in finding work in a new industry or are you already employed and looking to move up in your current company? Do you want in-depth career advice or is there a particular problem you need help solving? Only when you are clear about what you need, is it time to begin looking for a person who can help with that specific need.

Who is the right person?

Take a look at your current network, including your family, friends and people you may know from previous work or volunteer experience. Is there someone who has the type of experience or skill that matches your goal? Maybe they have the kind of position in their company that you would like to have.

 It's often easier to work with a mentor you can meet with in person rather than online, so first check your existing contacts to find a mentor in your community. However, if you don't know someone personally, try researching professional or trade associations or companies in your field of interest. Then identify a few individuals and look at their websites or LinkedIn pages to get an idea of whether their experience might be a match for you. Whether it's an acquaintance or a stranger, you won't go wrong if, when you contact them, you can speak knowledgeably about their work.

What do I say?

Once you know who you'd like to contact, keep in mind that you're asking for their time and attention. Be courteous and specific about why you think they'd be a good mentor for you and what it is you're hoping to accomplish through the mentorship. Also, let them know how often you expect to contact them or meet with them and what each meeting would include. Consider suggesting that you would create an agenda, or outline of what you'd like to discuss during each meeting.

How do I make the contact?

If possible, start with a phone call or in-person meeting. You can simply ask for some of their time to discuss an issue or to get career advice. Inviting someone to join you for coffee or a brief meeting in their office is a professional way to begin a relationship. If the meeting goes well, asking them to be your mentor can then flow naturally. If it doesn't feel comfortable, you may want to find another mentor. Remember, a good mentor will be enthusiastic about and invested in your success.

If you don't already know the person, send a brief email that asks for a short amount of time (say, 15 minutes) and includes what you'd like to discuss and why you've chosen to ask them. This initial email is not the time to ask them to be your mentor. You should have some sort of relationship before asking for that kind of commitment.

Final thoughts

There's no one-size-fits-all type of mentoring. A person may have several mentors throughout their career. Some mentoring relationships are brief coaching sessions; others last for years. However, the one constant is that you'll get the most benefit from mentoring by committing the time, energy and effort to understand your own goals and to make the most of your mentor's counsel and time.

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.

Jump start your 2019 job search and attend a job fair this January.

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 in January. 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 Fairs (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 16: Seattle, WA
• January 22: 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 in January.

• January 24: Washington, DC
• January 24: Phoenix, AZ
• January 24: Dallas, TX
• January 30: Las Vegas, NV
• January 31: Chicago, IL

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.

• January 8: Charlotte, NC
• January 15: Somerset, NJ
• January 21: Long Island, NY
• January 23: Los Angeles, CA

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 16: Phoenix, AZ
• January 23: Long Beach, CA
• January 23: Sacramento, CA

RecruitMilitary (In Person and Virtual)

RecruitMilitary seeks to tap into the extensive talent pool that veterans represent for employers.

• January 10: San Antonio Veterans Job Fair
• January 15: Central Region Virtual Career Fair for Veterans
• January 17: Joint Base Lewis-McChord Job Fair
• January 24: Raleigh Veterans Job Fair

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.

• January 15: Virginia Beach, VA
• January 16: Bowling Green, KY
• January 17: Brooklyn, NY
• January 22: Greeley, CO
• January 23: Portland, OR
• January 31: Nashville, TN

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.

To help people who receive benefits and payments 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 2019, Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will increase by 2.8%. This means that more than 67 million Americans will see a change to their cash payments.

Find out your new benefit amount

Traditionally, Social Security sends COLA notices by mail, alerting people who receive cash payments of the new amount they'll receive in the coming year. For 2019 adjustments, Social Security will continue to send paper notices; however, you can also find out about your 2019 benefit amount sooner by signing into your my Social Security account.

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.

Remember, you'll still receive your notice in the mail this month, but you can also choose to receive COLA notices online through your my Social Security account. Social Security will send a message to the Message Center inbox in your account and, if you've signed up for courtesy notifications, send you an email and/or text message to let you know you have a message waiting in your account.

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 2019 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 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

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 2019 on Social Security's website:

• ssa.gov/cola
• ssa.gov/social-security-benefits-to-increase-in-2019
• blog.ssa.gov/new-online-social-security-cola-notices

The United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 recognized the value of inclusion and equality in every aspect of a person's life. This year's theme was Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality. In recognition of this global observance, meet 3 people who found the support they needed through Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program and became empowered to make choices about work that have changed their personal and professional lives.

Amy

Amy, who has a developmental disability, always hoped to find her place in the working world. Now she has. As a member of Montgomery County's Department of Finance Treasury division team, Amy finds satisfaction in contributing to her team's work and feels a sense of accomplishment as she performs a variety of tasks, including sorting, logging and distributing mail and other responsibilities, and enjoys the community of the workplace.

When Amy finished high school, her State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency helped her find an internship opportunity with Project SEARCH, an organization that helps place young adults with developmental disabilities in competitive internships. After her internship was done, Amy had earned herself a job offer with Montgomery County, the same place where she interned.

Because her State VR case was closing, Amy connected with a Ticket program Employment Network (EN), Full Circle, and their partner provider, SEEC. SEEC is an organization that works with people with developmental disabilities to develop independent-living and work skills. Now that she's working, Full Circle staff check on Amy regularly to help her stay organized, correspond with Social Security and address any job-related issues that arise. SEEC also works with her to provide career counseling and help her continue to develop soft skills for work and independent living.

Amy's employment allows her to contribute professionally, find acceptance from her peers and become financially independent — her dreams fulfilled.

Laura

For Laura, a turning point in her life came through the supportive relationship she developed with Angela, the prosthetist who designed and fitted her prosthetic leg. As an adolescent, Laura experienced cancer, which led to her leg being amputated. She recalled seeing in Angela — someone who also had a limb loss — everything she wanted, including a family. She noted that Angela did not let her amputation distract her from achieving goals and admired her for it. Angela helped Laura navigate through multiple obstacles — mechanical, aesthetic, social and emotional. Angela also connected Laura to supportive communities that helped her grow personally and professionally.

Once she finished her associate and bachelor degrees, Laura connected with a Ticket program EN. Laura learned about Social Security Work Incentives, like the Student-Earned Income Exclusion and Plan to Achieve Self-Support, and was able to use them to reach her next goal. Realizing that she helping other young people was something she wanted to do as part of her career, Laura set out to become a Certified Orthotist and Prosthetist, just like her mentor Angela. Using her Social Security-approved PASS funds, Laura was able to set money aside to help her pay for the certification.

Just like her mentor, Laura now has a family of her own and a job that she loves, where she helps people with limb loss see their potential. Laura is financially independent and able to contribute to her family's future.

Walter

A dream job. A home of his own. Financial independence. Walter knew what he wanted and found the supports and services he needed to reach his goals.

Thanks to employment, Walter had options to create the life he has always wanted. Born with a developmental disability, Walter struggled in school and worked hard to acquire the skills that came naturally to most of his classmates. But he was determined after high school to become self-reliant. With Supplemental Security Income, however, he knew that his options were limited so he began working with Challenge Workforce Solutions, a Ticket program EN, to gain access to the workforce.

Challenge worked with Walter to create an Individual Work Plan (IWP) and provided the services and supports Walter needed to gain experience and skills. Challenge also helped Walter obtain a job at Ithaca College, where he learned the soft (non-technical) skills that are essential for long-term success.

During his 4 years working at Ithaca, Walter built up the skills and confidence to pursue his goal of working at Cornell University. Challenge helped Walter land a position as a dishwasher in Cornell's dining halls. His job coach helped with the transition and over time, Walter proved he would make a valuable addition to the team. He was hired for a full-time position on the custodial staff.

Full-time employment helped Walter realize a big dream — homeownership. He is the first person in his family to be a homeowner.

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.

Discover more stories about real people who found the supports and services they needed to pursue financial independence through work by checking out Ticket to Work success stories.

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.