Ticket to Work offered by Social Security Administration in Spokane

Helps people who receive disability benefits return to work or work for the first time. Beneficiaries receive a ticket which they may use to obtain services and jobs from state vocational rehabilitation agencies or organizations that have been designated as Employment Networks by the program.   Once a beneficiary assigns his or her ticket to an Employment Network or vocational rehabilitation agency, the agency coordinates and provide appropriate services to help the beneficiary find and maintain employment such as

• Employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation services or
• Other support services necessary to achieve a vocational (work) goal

Participants will continue to receive benefits until they begin earning wages or self-employment income above the applicable earnings limit for the Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance program. They will continue to receive health care coverage even after they are no longer eligible for financial benefits.   Social Security cannot perform a medical "Continuing Disability Review" to determine whether participants continue to have a disability while they are participating in the Ticket Program, including receiving services from the State Vocational Rehabilitation agency, and progressing towards their employment goals.   Those who have their benefits stop due to earnings and then can no longer work due to disability can request to have their benefits start again without having to complete a new application using a work incentive called Expedited Reinstatement. Participants will be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement for up to five years after they stop receiving benefits.   The program is voluntary, and there is no penalty for not participating.