| If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance | | | | The trial work period continues until you accumulate |
| benefits, but would like to try to work again, the Ticket | | | | nine months of work within a 60-month rolling period. |
| to Work program administered by the Social Security | | | | These months do not have to be consecutive. Also, |
| Administration (SSA) is your ticket to getting there. | | | | while participating in the Ticket to Work program, you |
| More Job Resources for Disability Beneficiaries | | | | will not have to undergo a medical review of your |
| The Ticket to Work program is a free program. It is | | | | disability. |
| not mandatory to participate in it. Its purpose is to | | | | When the trial work period has ended, and you are |
| provide a resource of employment services and | | | | working, you will no longer receive disability benefits for |
| training opportunities to help ease you back into the | | | | any month in which you earned more than substantial |
| workforce and test your ability to continue working | | | | gainful allowance (SGA). For 2010 that amount is |
| during a trial work period (TWP). | | | | $1,000. Your benefits will kick in again, however, if your |
| The Ticket to Work program is available in every | | | | income drops below SGA or if your disability causes |
| state and the services it provides are from state | | | | you to stop working within five years after your |
| vocational rehabilitation agencies or, what SSA calls | | | | benefits stopped. After five years, you will have to |
| "Employment Networks." These networks include | | | | reapply for benefits, but you may get temporary |
| private organizations or government agencies that | | | | disability and Medicare benefits, up to six months, while |
| provide employment services to persons with | | | | your case is being reviewed. You also get to keep |
| disabilities. | | | | your Medicare benefits for at least eight and one-half |
| SSA will give you a "ticket" that you give to an | | | | years after returning to work. |
| SSA-approved provider of vocational services. The | | | | Try Work While Keeping Benefits |
| provider will give you free training, job referrals and | | | | The Ticket to Work Program is part of the "Ticket to |
| other support services to help you get back to work. | | | | Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999." |
| When you participate in the Ticket to Work program | | | | It is a work incentive program that removes barriers |
| you gain access to more employment opportunities, | | | | for people who want to try to get back to work but |
| and you retain your SSDI disability benefits and your | | | | are resistant because of concerns that they may lose |
| Medicare benefits during your trial work period. | | | | their monthly disability benefit and Medicare coverage. |
| Trial to Work | | | | If you want to try getting back into gainful employment, |
| If you earn $720 (2010 earnings amount), or more, in | | | | the Ticket to Work Program provides all the support |
| one month, that month is considered a TWP month. | | | | you need to give it a try. |