As an SSDI recipient, what do I get out of the Ticket to Work Program and ERS?

By Robert, Ticket Counselor 

As we try to educate people about the Ticket to Work Program (TTW) one question keeps coming up and understandably so; “What’s in it for me?”

This week, we will focus on SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits, and next week on SSI (Supplemental Security Income), as the two benefits are treated differently in the program.

What happens if you don’t enroll in TTW?

1. Income needs to be reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) monthly.
2. Trial Work Period (TWP) - is a 9 month period where no matter your earnings, you will continue to receive your disability check.  To use one of these months your earnings need to exceed $720 gross.  If not, then you will not use up one of the TWP months.
3. After the TWP has been completed, if your reported earnings exceed $1000 a month your benefits may be reduced or stopped.
4. Reinstatement of benefits may require a new application for disability.
5. Continuing Disability Reviews will be scheduled as normal.

If you chose to enroll in TTW with an employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency:

1. Income still needs to be reported to the SSA monthly.
2. Participation in the Trial Work Period (see above)
3. 36 month Extended Period Eligibility (EPE) - after your 9 month TWP has been exhausted, instead of your benefits being stopped completely if you earn over $1000 gross a month, you will receive your SSDI check for the months where your income drops back below the $1000 threshold.
4. 60 month Expedited Reinstatement - for 5 years after you stop receiving you benefits because of your income you are able to have your benefits reinstated without a new application, temporary benefits are awarded for 6 months while determination of eligibility is assessed.  This 5 year period runs concurrently with the EPE.
5. Continuation of Medical Coverage - Medicare/Medicaid benefits are protected and stay in place for at least 7 years 9 months after you stop receiving your SSDI check because of your income.  In many cases it can continue longer depending on your income.
6. Suspension of Continuing Disability Reviews – reviews are suspended while enrolled in the program and making timely progress towards your goals. 
7. To maintain your enrollment in TTW you need to be making “Timely progress” please see our earlier article for an explanation of this:  Timely Progress Guidelines.

Why should I choose ERS as my employment network?

Choosing to assign your ticket to ERS gives you access to our team of dedicated career counselors who are available to assist you, Monday through Friday 8-6 (EST).

We are available to assist you with a variety of services including:

Employment Assistance:  Are you out of Work or looking for something better? Let us know what you are looking for and we can help locate opportunities for you.

Education Planning Assistance:  Would you like to go back to school and improve your skills?  We can help research the schools in your area to find the classes you are looking for.

Transportation Assistance:  Having trouble getting to and from places, we will look for information for you for Public transportation systems in your area that can get you where you need to go.

Housing Assistance:  Need to move?  Having trouble paying your mortgage or rent? We can research alternatives for you finding information on local housing authorities, HUD, low income or affordable housing near you.

Resume Assistance:  Worried that your resume is making a bad impression?  Let us review it for you. Our counselors can look over your resume and make suggestion on how to improve it to help you make a good impression as you apply to jobs.

Online resources:  Our website  is host to a wide variety of resources, presentations on, Resume Writing, Cover letters, Building self-confidence, Interviewing and much more.  

Still have questions, get in touch let us know and we can explain it in detail over the phone.

Our contact information is available here.

If we don’t have a service or resource that you are currently interested in, let us know and we will work with you to develop those services to meet your needs!