What Ticket to Work is and how it connects to your trial work period

Ticket to Work is a voluntary program run by Social Security that lets you work and earn without losing your SSDI cash benefit or Medicare coverage for as long as you stay in the program. It is separate from your trial work period but picks up where that period ends — giving you a longer runway to test whether you can sustain work before your benefits stop.

During your trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check. Once that nine-month period is over, your benefit would normally start to reduce or stop based on your earnings. Ticket to Work changes that math: if you assign your ticket to an approved work incentive provider before your trial work period ends, you enter a separate protection called the extended may be able to access period, which lasts up to 36 months. During this time, you keep your full benefit and your Medicare coverage even as you earn more.

The catch is that Ticket to Work is optional — Social Security does not enroll you automatically. You have to request a ticket, choose a provider, and actively use it. If you do nothing after your trial work period ends, your benefits will reduce or stop based on standard earnings rules.

Key Takeaways

  • Ticket to Work extends your protection beyond the trial work period, letting you keep your full SSDI benefit and Medicare for up to 36 months while you work and earn.
  • You must request your ticket from Social Security and assign it to an approved provider — employment services, vocational rehabilitation, or certain other organizations — before your trial work period ends.
  • Once you assign your ticket, you enter the extended may be able to access period, during which your benefit and Medicare do not reduce based on earnings, even if you earn above the substantial gainful activity level.
  • If you stop using your ticket or your provider closes your case, you can request a new ticket, but your extended may be able to access period does not restart — it continues counting down from where it left off.
  • Ticket to Work is free, and you can change providers or stop using your ticket at any time without penalty.

When to request your ticket and how to assign it

You should request your ticket before your nine-month trial work period ends. Social Security will mail you a notice telling you when your trial work period is about to finish — usually around month seven or eight. At that point, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-866-4-TICKET (1-866-484-2253) to request a ticket.

Once you have your ticket in hand, you need to assign it to an approved provider. Social Security maintains a list of approved providers on the Ticket to Work website (choosework.ssa.gov). Providers fall into three categories: employment networks (private or nonprofit organizations that help you find and keep a job), state vocational rehabilitation agencies (funded by your state to provide training and job placement), and other approved organizations (such as certain disability organizations or community colleges). You can search by location and type of service.

Assigning your ticket is straightforward: you sign a form (the Assignment of Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Plan) with your chosen provider. The provider then notifies Social Security that you have assigned your ticket to them. This step must happen before your trial work period ends, or you lose the extended may be able to access protection.

How the extended may be able to access period protects your income and health coverage

Once you assign your ticket, you enter the extended may be able to access period. For the next 36 months (or until you stop using your ticket), your SSDI benefit does not reduce or stop based on how much you earn. This is different from the standard rule: normally, if you earn above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level — $1,550 per month in 2023 for non-blind beneficiaries — your benefit stops.

Your Medicare coverage also stays in place during the extended may be able to access period, even if your earnings would normally cause your benefit to end. This is critical because it means you can test whether you can work full-time and earn a living wage without losing health insurance. Many people with disabilities fear that working will leave them uninsured; Ticket to Work removes that fear for up to three years.

The extended may be able to access period counts down whether you are working or not. If you take a break from work for a few months, the clock keeps running. If you stop using your ticket or your provider closes your case, the extended may be able to access period does not restart — it continues counting down from where it left off. This means you should think carefully before dropping out of the program.

What happens when your extended may be able to access period ends

When your 36-month extended may be able to access period runs out, your SSDI benefit and Medicare coverage return to standard rules. If you are earning above the SGA level at that point, your benefit will stop. However, Social Security gives you a grace period called the impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) deduction and other work incentives that can lower your countable earnings.

You also become may be able to access for expedited reinstatement if your benefit stops and you later cannot work. This means you can restart your SSDI without going through the full process process again — you have 60 months (five years) from the month your benefit stops to request reinstatement. During the reinstatement request, your benefit continues while Social Security reviews your case.

If you are still working and earning above SGA when your extended may be able to access period ends, you can explore other work incentives: the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal; the Student Earned Income Exclusion, if you are under 22; or the Impairment-Related Work Expenses deduction, which subtracts disability-related costs from your countable earnings.

Choosing between employment networks and vocational rehabilitation

The type of provider you choose shapes what support you receive. Employment networks are typically for-profit or nonprofit organizations paid by Social Security to help you find and keep a job. They offer job coaching, resume help, interview prep, and ongoing support. They are paid based on your success — usually when you reach a certain earnings level or stay employed for a set period. This means they have an incentive to help you succeed, but it also means they may focus on quick job placement rather than long-term career building.

State vocational rehabilitation agencies (VR) are government-funded programs in each state designed to help people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep work. VR can pay for training, education, assistive technology, transportation, and other supports. They are free to you. The trade-off is that VR agencies often have long waitlists and may prioritize people with the most significant disabilities. If you are already working with VR, assigning your ticket to them is often the simplest path.

You can switch providers during your extended may be able to access period if your first choice is not working out. To switch, you straightforward assign your ticket to a new provider. The old provider's case closes, but your extended may be able to access period keeps counting down. You cannot restart the clock by switching providers.

What you need to know about work incentives and ticket to work together

Ticket to Work is one of several work incentives Social Security offers. It works best when combined with others. For example, you can use the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) during your extended may be able to access period to set aside income toward a specific work goal — like buying a car for commuting or paying for a certification course. The income you set aside in a PASS plan does not count toward your benefit reduction, even after your extended may be able to access period ends.

You can also use Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) to deduct costs directly related to your disability from your countable earnings. Examples include attendant care, transportation to work, medical devices, or medication. These deductions explore whether you are using Ticket to Work or not, but they become especially valuable when your extended may be able to access period ends and your benefit would otherwise stop.

Your provider should help you understand these incentives, but you are responsible for asking. Not all employment networks or VR counselors volunteer this information. If your provider does not mention PASS or IRWE, ask them directly or contact your local Social Security office.

Common reasons ticket to work does not work out and what to do

Some people assign a ticket and then find their provider is not helpful, or the job market in their area is weak, or their health changes and they cannot work as much as they hoped. If your provider is not delivering, you can switch to a different provider at any time — no penalty, no waiting period. straightforward request a new ticket and assign it to someone else.

If you realize you cannot work during your extended may be able to access period, you can stop using your ticket and return to standard SSDI rules. Your benefit will then reduce or stop based on your earnings. You can also request expedited reinstatement later if you need to. Stopping your ticket does not hurt your future options.

If your provider closes your case — because you found a job, or because the provider decided you were not a good fit — your extended may be able to access period continues. You keep your full benefit and Medicare for the remaining months. You can request a new ticket and assign it to a different provider if you want to keep working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Ticket to Work if I am already working?

Yes. You can request a ticket at any point during your trial work period, even if you are already earning. Assigning your ticket before your trial work period ends is what matters. If you are past your trial work period and already working, you can still request a ticket, but you will not get the extended may be able to access period — you will be subject to standard earnings rules instead.

What if I do not request a ticket before my trial work period ends?

Your trial work period will end, and your SSDI benefit will begin to reduce or stop based on your earnings under standard rules. You can still request a ticket after your trial work period ends, but you will not receive the extended may be able to access period protection. You will be subject to the regular work incentive rules instead.

Does using Ticket to Work affect my Medicaid?

Ticket to Work protects your Medicare coverage, not Medicaid. Medicaid rules vary by state. In some states, your Medicaid will continue during the extended may be able to access period; in others, it may reduce or stop based on your earnings. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local Social Security office to learn how your state handles this.

Can I change providers if my first provider is not helping me?

Yes, you can switch providers at any time without penalty. straightforward request a new ticket and assign it to a different provider. Your extended may be able to access period continues counting down, so you do not lose time by switching.

What happens to my ticket if I go back to the hospital or my condition gets worse?

Your ticket and extended may be able to access period remain active. If you cannot work temporarily, you can pause your job search without losing your protection. If your condition worsens and you cannot work at all, you can stop using your ticket and request expedited reinstatement of your full SSDI benefit within five years.