The Ticket to Work program celebrates the achievements of adults with disabilities who have found their path to a better future with help from the Ticket to Work program. This month we meet Robert Escalera and Marty Davis. Both men successfully rebuilt careers after limb amputations caused them to leave the workforce.
Robert Escalera began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) after being hospitalized many times due to advanced kidney disease. After four years of treatment including dialysis and amputation of his left leg, Robert regained his health and wanted to return to work.
Before his illness, Robert worked as a part of the sales team at a car dealership. As he recovered, Robert worried he would not be able to return to the job he loved.
"After I lost my leg, I couldn't stand for more than three minutes at a time... and dealership work is on your feet. You're moving around everywhere and you need to be able to lift heavy objects. I knew I couldn't do that." Robert was also worried about losing the benefits his family had relied on while he was unable to work.
Marty Davis was a general contractor who owned his own construction company when he diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Marty's life was saved by the amputation of his left arm. Like Robert, due to his illness and the amputation, Marty left the workforce and received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
As they recovered, Robert and Marty wanted to head back to work. Both participated in the Ticket to Work program by assigning their tickets to service providers known as Employment Networks. Both needed help building their résumés, preparing for interviews and finding job leads. These free employment support services enabled them to re-enter the workforce and leave cash benefits from Social Security behind. Special rules, known as Work Incentives, helped them make the transition from benefits to earnings with confidence.
To learn more find Robert's story here, or find Marty's story here.
Visit our website for more inspiring stories, and learn how Social Security's Ticket to Work program can help you or someone you know achieve self-sufficiency.
For more information about the program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY), or visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work.
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