SSA Ticket to Work Program

[Bummer Knees]

I am on Social Security Disability; I was approved March 07.
According to the letter I received from SSA the new program is called,
Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency. Don't know if this is different from the old Ticket to Work Program.

The letter reads:
This program was established by the Congress and is run by the Social Security Administration. A company called MAXIMUS has been hired to help manage the program.

My concern of this program is as Bad Boy said: termination of benefits.

[Pooh]

Driller actually returned to work before he got his ssd yet they still gave him the 5 month benifits for the ticket to work program.

He didn't use the retraining or anything like that since he was going back into the same field of work - but since he had been off work for 3 years - he was still eligable for it.

[Still in Limbo]

Bummer, the ultimate goal with any work program is to make you self-sufficient and get you off of the SS Program. So yes, if you do use the Program and begin working full-time, after a certain number of mos. as Bad Boy said (I believe it's 5 or 6) you are evaluated and you may lose part or all of you benefits, and if the company you work for has health ins. you could also lose your Medicare. The program is to get you back work and self sufficient, therefore being taken off of the SS program. If you are still fighting w/c, you could also lose those monies and benefits you have there. If you are finished with w/c, and feel you can fully go back into the workforce it's a great program. If not you should tread lightly, the goal is to get you off of SS. Have a Good Day!

[Bummer Knees]

I realize the first thing I need to do is take care of my medical and then look at training programs that will enable me to enter the workforce. To do so I need to look at all of the available resources.

[punk]

Very good Bummer!! I'm so glad you're exploring ALL of your options at this time. It's good to have a plan of action when dealing with all of this....eventhough sometimes it seems impossible to make any plans at all. WC makes us believe we have no way of taking control of any or part of our lives once they've entered the picture. Your best bet is to make a plan of action and try your darndest to implement it with little or no problems along the way!!! Although, we all know that WC will do everything in their power to do just the opposite!! Right?
Good luck and I hope things go well for you!

[red1030]

Hi all....I am on disability related to having MS. SSDI offered this program to me, but I had to have a clearance by medical. I did not recieve this. How it would have worked, I would have 9 months of full SSDI and my job's income. The goal is to see if someone who is on SSDI can actually return to employment. It is a pilot program that allows an individual an opportunity to see if they are able to hold some kind of job while not loosing their benefits from SSDI. If after the 9 months, a person remains employed then SSDI will be adjusted or most likely discontinued.

[punk]

Cool...an even better explanation!!!!!
Thanks Red...you help us so much!!!

[red1030]

Hi punk...your avatar is interesting...I have to stop myself everytime from hitting the "ok" button...just a habit that my husband tells me I have to stop...hehehehehehehe

[punk]

LOL I wondered how many would actually do that!!! That's what it's there for....to make you all laugh!! I don't know why hubby would want you to stop hitting the "ok" button...mine would love it if I would hit it more often!!!

red1030 Wrote:Hi punk...your avatar is interesting...I have to stop myself everytime from hitting the "ok" button...just a habit that my husband tells me I have to stop...hehehehehehehe

[Babebahn]

Bummer Knees Wrote:Yesterday I received information from Social Security Administration about the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program.

This new voluntary program assist disabled individuals with training and employment with Employment Networks or State VR.

The workers are able to keep their benefits, revive cash benefits while working, medicaid or medicare, and help with extra work expenses.

According to the information I have, this is a new program.
Has anyone utilized this program, and is it working for you?

My goal in the future is to return to work.  This may be a program that would help me do this, I live in Kansas.  SSA is federal Agency so my guess is  this program is available in all 50 states.

To return to work I have to have cooperation from wc, which is not happening at the present time.  Wc dr says I need total knee replacement, back surgery, and hand surgery, so I do have challenges when it comes to re-entering the workforce.

My case administrator at SS told me about the program a couple of years ago but she felt that it wasn't for me since I have a lot of limitations. you can go to http://www.ssa.gov and it should link you to the information on the program.