The Ticket To Employment

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is the centerpiece of new legislation signed by Former President Clinton on December 17, 1999 under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. It is a nationwide initiative designed to bring major positive change to the lives of individuals with disabilities.

This national initiative is also designed to assist people with the training and support they need to go to work by increasing their choices. SSA beneficiaries with disabilities can find employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other support services from public and private providers.

The Ticket To Work Program began in 2001 and has been implemented in various states since then. By 2004, each state in the US will have begun to implement this program, thus allowing all US residents with disabilities the opportunity to return to the workforce.

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To qualify for this program, you must be age 18 or older and have not reached age 65 to be eligible for a Ticket.

However, those receiving the Ticket To Work often have important questions concerning their disability benefits and the impact returning to work will have on their benefits. Below are some frequently asked questions concerning the Ticket To Work Program.

Does the new law include changes in health care coverage?
Yes. Starting October 1, 2000, the law extends Medicare Part A (Hospital) premium-free coverage for four and one-half years beyond the current limit for disability beneficiaries who work.

What about Medicaid?
The law includes several important changes to Medicaid. For example, it gives States the option of providing Medicaid coverage to more people ages 16-64 with disabilities who work. To find out if this coverage is available in your State, call the State Medicaid office in your area.

Will you still review my medical condition?
SSA will not conduct a medical review of a person receiving disability benefits if that person is using a Ticket. Benefits can still be terminated if earnings are above the limits.

Starting January 1, 2002, Social Security disability beneficiaries who have received benefits for at least 24 months will not be medically reviewed solely because of work activity. However, regularly scheduled medical reviews can still be performed and, again, benefits terminated if earnings are above the limits.

If I go back to work, will I automatically lose my disability benefits?
No, the new law has not changed our work incentives rules.
For more information about Social Security's work incentives you should:
call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213;
contact your local Social Security office; or
visit our special "Worksite" at www.ssa.gov/work

If my disability benefits stop because I go back to work, will I have to file a new application if I can't work anymore?
Starting January 1, 2001, if your benefits have ended because of work, you can request that we start your benefits again without having to file a new application. There are some important conditions:

• You have to be unable to work because of your medical condition.
  
• The medical condition must be the same as or related to the condition you had when we first decided that you should receive disability benefits.
  
• You have to file your request to start your benefits again within 60 months of the date you were last entitled to benefits.