SSA Ticket to Work Program Offers Employment Assistance to Beneficiaries with Disabilities

It's a major project of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), but chances are that you've never even heard of it.

The purpose of the (SSA) Ticket to Work Program and Self-Sufficiency Program is to expand the set of service providers available to individuals who are entitled to Social Security benefits on the basis of disability. It also targets those eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on disability or blindness. The goal of the project is to help these individuals locate, secure and retain employment with the long-term goal of reducing their dependency on Social Security and SSI cash benefits.

More than 11 million individuals are currently eligible to participate in the program. Once the SSA determines a person is eligible, he is issued a Ticket and referred to as a Ticket-holder. The prospective employee uses the Ticket to obtain the services and jobs he need from a huge group of organizations known as Employment Networks (ENs).

This program is part of the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. This act was designed to remove many of the barriers that commonly influenced decisions about going to work because of concerns about losing health care coverage. The end result of the Ticket Program is increasing opportunities and options for SSA disability beneficiaries to find jobs and locate vocational rehabilitation and other ancillary support services. Potential service providers include public and private groups, employers and other organizations.

The SSA has contracted with MAXIMUS, a private firm to be the operations support manager for the program. MAXIMUS administers oversight and support to keep the plan running.

Ticket to Work is voluntary and flexible. Those with disabilities who are eligible for SSA benefits are not required to participate. In many cases, the networks are permitted to choose which services they want to provide, where they will do so and to whom.