Ticket to Work

After Brenda was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, she spent nearly a decade learning how to manage the symptoms of her mental illness. Once she found the right combination of treatments and strategies for her, Brenda felt she was ready to work. Learn how Social Security's Ticket to Work program helped her find the path to employment.

Social Security Work Incentives can help you through the transition to work and the move toward financial independence. In this Work Incentives Series fact sheet, discover what Impairment-Related Work Expenses are and how they may be able to help you pay for the items and services you need to be able to work if you receive SSDI or SSI.

After experiencing cancer as a teen and needing her leg amputated, 15-year-old Laura was unsure about how she'd succeed returning to school and pursuing her goals. Through a combination of her family, a mentor, alternative learning school, and supports from Social Security's Ticket to Work program, Laura found the resources and services she needed to succeed.

Walter had wanted to work on the campus of Cornell University after first seeing it as a kid, but he was also unsure how his developmental disability would affect his employment opportunities. Find out how Walter’s Ticket to Work service provider helped him learn skills he needed to succeed.

When Peter was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, he balanced his work schedule and medical treatments. But after a while, Peter had to leave work and focus on his health full time. Find out how the Ticket to Work program helped Peter find a path back to employment when he was ready.

Read the latest Ticket to Work story to meet Amy, who has a developmental disability that affects her language, learning and social interactions. Find out how working with her State VR agency, an EN and Project SEARCH has helped Amy find the support and training she needed to find a job and succeed in the workplace.

The Ticket to Work video provides an easy-to-understand overview of the Ticket program for beneficiaries. In addition, the video serves as an additional resource for service providers to educate beneficiaries by explaining the key benefits of participation in Ticket to Work.

This Social Security publication provides basic background information on the Ticket program and Social Security Work Incentives for beneficiaries.

If you received services from your state VR to find work, you can then use your Ticket to receive ongoing services from an EN after you are on the job. Read this fact sheet to find out more.