Ticket to Work &
Social Security Disability Benefits
TOOLKIT
For One-Stop Career Centers
This TOOLKIT was compiled by the national technical assistance and training provider under
the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI), which is jointly funded and administered by the U.S.
Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Office of
Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
DEI cooperative agreements were awarded to state Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
administering entities to:


Improve coordination and collaboration among employment and training and asset
development programs carried out at a state and local level, including the Ticket to Work
program.
Build effective community partnerships that leverage public and private resources to
better serve individuals with disabilities and improve employment outcomes.
Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) under the DEI can download this TOOLKIT and
use it to build One-Stop Career Center staff awareness and knowledge on the Ticket to
Work (TtW) Program and serving Ticket holders as an approved Employment Network
(EN). This information can also serve to increase knowledge of workforce staff on the
most critical information regarding Social Security disability benefits, work incentives
and other state work incentive programs.
It has been compiled for informational purposes only, and should not take the place of official
Social Security Administration publications, such as those listed in this TOOLKIT.
This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration under Contract No.: DOLJ081A20684. The
contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of
Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply
endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.
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TOOLKIT - Table of Contents
One-Stops Serving as Resource on Ticket to Work &
SSA Disability Benefits
3
One-Stops & Ticket to Work Basics
4
Why Expand Ticket to Work in the One-Stops
5
One-Stops Partnering with Benefits Planning & Assistance Programs
6
One-Stops Providing Information to Customers on
Applying for Disability Benefits
7
One-Stops Inquiring about SSI/SSDI
8
One-Stops Passing on Critical Information about SSI/SSDI
9
One-Stops Passing on Information about Other State
Work Incentive Programs
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One-Stops Serving as a Resource on
Ticket to Work & SSA Disability Benefits
You do not need to be the expert!
 There are people you can access who are designated experts in ALL of this complex
information and who have many years of technical experience (many of whom also have
personal experience as beneficiaries or parents of beneficiaries).
Know how VALUABLE this information is to individuals with disabilities.
 It is critical for individuals to receive accurate and detailed information regarding their
disability benefits (SSI/SSDI*), including increased choice offered by the Ticket-to-Work
(TtW) Program and other available work incentives and programs in order to make
informed choices about work; these decisions can greatly impact their livelihood.
Know that educating customers about SSA work incentives, Ticket-to-Work
and other available programs can help alleviate fear and increase
employment opportunities.
 Many people are afraid to discuss their benefits and the various work incentives because
it can all sound very complex. However, you can help lessen the anxiety people feel by
providing accurate resources that break down the information and ultimately increase
options for quality employment.
Know about the variety of useful tools/resources available to customers.
 There are many useful tools and resources available on a wide variety of topics including:
how to find out if a person may be eligible for benefits, how to apply and file for benefits,
who can help in understanding the work incentives, who can help with TtW questions,
and who can assist with appeals for disability benefits.
Know how to connect a customer with the Work Incentives Planning and
Assistance (WIPA) Program and/or other certified benefits counselors.
 Every State has a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program that can work with
individuals one-on-one and assist in making informed decisions about work. (See page 6
for more information on CWICs and the WIPA program.)
Know that you do not need to know how to assist a job seeker in filing for
benefits or in utilizing the various work incentives.
 There are many organizations that offer support services to assist individuals in applying
for disability benefits and communicating with SSA, including Centers for Independent
Living and some counselors whose jobs involve case management.
*SSI/SSDI: Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance
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One-Stops & Ticket to Work Basics
Know the basics about Ticket to Work.
 Ticket to Work (TtW) is a Social Security Administration (SSA) program that helps people
with disabilities who are interested in work to get the services and supports they need to
accomplish their desired work goals.
 TtW offers individuals age 18 through 64, who are receiving SSI and/or SSDI, expanded
opportunities to obtain services and supports to enter and maintain employment.
 SSA pays approved providers of services, called Employment Networks (ENs), for
assisting Ticket holders to attain employment-related milestones and outcomes.
 Ultimate goal of TtW is to reduce reliance on SSA disability benefits and promote selfsufficiency (TtW Website: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/).
Know the basics about Employment Networks.
 An EN can be a public or private agency, large or small, non-profit or for-profit entity that
contracts with SSA to coordinate the delivery of employment services to Ticket holders
receiving SSI and/or SSDI. Not all ENs are the same – each may offer different services
and may serve different people. An EN might be a trade school or college, a local
employer or business, a community rehabilitation program, or an employment agency.
Know that the Ticket to Work Program is voluntary for BOTH Ticket holders
and approved ENs.
 CHOICE is the foundation of the TtW Program - Ticket holders can decide which EN they
will assign their Ticket to based upon who can best provide the services they need.
Likewise, One Stops that are approved ENs, can decide which Ticket holders they can
best serve.
Know that it is critical for ALL Ticket holders to receive disability benefits
counseling BEFORE assigning a Ticket, in order to ensure informed choice.
 To understand the effects of work on their benefits, recipients should meet with a
disability benefits counselor prior to entering into an agreement with an EN. (See page 6
for more information on CWICs and the WIPA program.)
Know that when Ticket holders choose to participate in the Ticket to Work
Program, SSA will suspend their medical Continuing Disability Review
(CDR).
 This is critical information to relay to job seekers who are beneficiaries of SSI and/or
SSDI and Ticket holders. They should know that they can return to work without fear of
SSA determining that they have medically improved before they are gainfully employed.
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Why Expand Ticket to Work in One-Stops
Ticket to Work Program is a major component of the DEI.
 As part of the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI), grantees at the state level and/or
local level Workforce Investment Areas (LWIAs) are required to become ENs under
SSA’s Ticket to Work Program.
One-Stops have the necessary experience in assisting Social Security
disability beneficiaries and are able to provide the services expected of ENs.
 Since One-Stop Career Centers serve ALL customers, including job seekers with
disabilities, they are already assisting beneficiaries of SSI/SSDI who are Ticket holders.
Expanding the TtW Program in the One-Stop system will expand the universe of choices
for people with disabilities in getting assistance in the return to work.
Payment to One-Stops by SSA for assisting Ticket holders to reach
employment goals can help fund disability-related supports and staffing.
 SSA provides monetary support to approved Employment Networks who assist Social
Security beneficiaries with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment, including
long-term funding to ensure Ticket Holders receive ongoing return to work support.
Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) will provide hands-on support to
DEI participating One-Stops as they work to expand Ticket to Work.
 As a major component of the DEI, DRCs will assist One-Stops that are serving as
approved ENs by helping to:
o Determine the services that your One-Stop/EN will provide to Ticket holders
o Reach your target audience, including Ticket holders, service providers and other
referral sources
o Access other partner resources, such as benefits planning services
o Identify and carry out necessary EN administration and service delivery tasks
o Negotiate individual work plans with Ticket holders
o Coordinate with Maximus, the Operations Support Manager and TtW Data
Operations Center
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One-Stops Partnering with Benefits Planning &
Assistance Program
BENEFITS PLANNING SERVICES: WIPA
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/wipafactsheet.html
 The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects across the U.S. and
the U.S. territories work with SSA beneficiaries with disabilities on job placement, benefits
planning and career development.
 By working with a WIPA program, SSA beneficiaries will be better equipped to make
informed choices about work. Each WIPA program is staffed with Community Work
Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) to:
o provide work incentives planning and assistance;
o help beneficiaries and their families determine eligibility for Federal or State work
incentives programs;
o refer beneficiaries with disabilities to appropriate Employment Networks or State
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies based on individual needs and
impairment types;
o provide general information about potential employer-based or federally
subsidized health benefits coverage available to beneficiaries once they enter the
workforce; and
o inform beneficiaries with disabilities of further protection and advocacy services
available to them.
 WIPA programs are authorized to serve all SSA beneficiaries with disabilities, including
transition-to-work aged youth, providing benefits planning and assistance services on
request and as resources permit.
 You may be interested in the services of a CWIC if you are a SSA beneficiary and you:
o Plan to start or return to work;
o Plan to accept or seek a higher-paying job;
o Plan to start your own business;
o Are concerned about stopping work; or,
o Have other questions about how work will affect your disability benefits.
BENEFITS PLANNING SERVICES: AWIC
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/awiccontacts.html
 Area Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) are SSA employees who provide
assistance to the SSA personnel, beneficiaries, ENs, State VR Agencies, WIPAs and
others in community on employment supports and outreach by:
o Presenting information and training those working on SSA's employment support
programs about the Ticket to Work program and SSA work incentives;
o Helping to resolve work-issues in some cases; and
o Monitoring disability work-related activities and issues in their Federal region.
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