The following are common questions about the Ticket to Work Program and the services provided by Your Employment Network, a division of Human Solutions LLC. Please take the time to read these questions and answers to become familiar with our services before signing up.
- What is the Ticket to Work & Self Sufficiency Program?
- Do I have to participate in the Ticket Program if I have a Ticket?
- What are the benefits to me if I sign up for the Ticket program?
- What services does Human Solutions provide to Ticket holders?
- Will Human Solutions find me a job?
- Aside from telling you I'm working, do I need to provide any additional information or proof?
- Even if I go back to work part-time, will SSA believe I have medically improved and terminate my benefits?
- How do I sign up to work with Human Solutions?
- What if I'm signed up with another Employment Network, and I want to switch?
1. What is the Ticket to Work & Self Sufficiency Program?
It’s an employment program for individuals with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The program provides Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities more choices for receiving employment services, vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, or other support services to maximize their self-sufficiency through work.
The purpose of the Ticket program is to offer the support you need to increase your ability to work, your earnings and the chance that you will become and stay self-supporting.
Under the Ticket Program, eligible disability beneficiaries can contact any service provider approved by the Social Security Administration to serve as an Employment Network (EN). Together, the beneficiary and EN work together to develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that's tailored to support and meet the beneficiary's needs and employment goals. There are more than 11 million Ticketholders nationwide who are eligible for the program or are already working.
You can visit the Ticket to Work website for more information.
2. Do I have to participate in the Ticket Program if I have a Ticket?
No. The Ticket Program is flexible and voluntary. To be eligible for the Ticket program, you must be between the ages of 18-64 and currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Beneficiaries eligible for Ticket to Work services can contact one or more ENs to discuss services. The Ticket can only be active with one EN at a time. Before deciding if the program is right for you, it's important to understand the program's goals and expectations. See Question #4 for additional details.
3. What are the benefits to me if I sign up for the Ticket program?
Aside from receiving job search assistance and follow up services, one of the main benefits of signing up for the Ticket program is that Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) will be waived as long as the Ticket is active and Timely Progress is being made. See Question #13 for additional details. If you're interested in having one of our staff contact you, please complete our Client Interest form.
4. What services does Your Employment Network provide to Ticket holders?
Human Solutions is a Traditional Employment Network (EN). As an EN, our role is to do all we can to help you reduce and ultimately eliminate dependency on disability benefits and earn a better living than you do now. If needed, you can begin working part-time during the first 9 months but should have a goal to become self-supporting in time. You should work towards having earnings of $1,110/month or more by at least the 10th month after you start working with us. You should also have a goal of earning above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount of $1,550 (2024) or more per month after your first year of work. You won't be penalized if you can't become fully self-supporting. However, if you decide to use your ticket, you should make a commitment to try your best to achieve these goals.
Unlike many ENs, Human Solutions provides virtual services so you can access our services at a place and time that’s convenient for you. One-on-one counseling will be provided as we develop your Individualized Work Plan (IWP). Then, you will have access to a variety of online self-directed training and resource materials as well as weekly Quick Coach sessions with our staff to help move your employment goal forward. Human Solutions also has a Retention Program to help you stay employed and continue to advance your career.
5. Will Human Solutions find me a job?
Since we provide virtual services, we are often asked if we provide work-at-home positions, but we do not. What we will do is provide you with the necessary tools and supports to find a job or, in some cases, seek self-employment. Your responsibility in the process is to take the lead in moving your job search forward. If you are ready to work or have a definite work goal in mind, our services may be a great fit.
We also work with Ticket holders who are going to school for a specific occupation or job if the completion date of school or the start date of part-time employment coincides with the earning goals of the program. We encourage Ticket holders who contact us to check out all available programs to make sure they find one best suited for their needs.
6. Aside from telling you I'm working, do I need to provide any additional information or proof?
Yes. You will need to provide a photocopy of your pay stubs showing that your gross monthly earnings were $1,110 or more during your first 9 months of working, and $1,550 or more thereafter. These amounts are for 2024 and will change annually. Pay stubs are the preferred form of evidence.
If you don’t have copies of your pay stubs, you can provide an earnings statement signed by your employer containing the pay period dates, gross earnings, and year-to-date earnings. Since your employer may not know you are part of the Ticket program, it's not necessary to disclose why you need the earnings statement. This is a common request and employers are required by law to provide copies of pay stubs if requested.
If you have partial documentation, we will need to explore other options with you.
If you are self-employed, the only acceptable evidence is a self-employed earnings statement, tax return or copies of your estimated quarterly IRS tax deposits.
This documentation is a necessary part of the Ticket program to ensure you are making Timely Progress. Human Solutions provides an optional service of reporting your earnings to Social Security for you. This will not happen automatically, but we will remind you of the service once you start working. If you choose this option, pay stubs can be mailed or faxed in.
7. If I go back to work, even part-time, will SSA believe I have medically improved and terminate my benefits?
As long as you have your Ticket assigned and are making Timely Progress according to SSA’s schedule in the Ticket to Work program, SSA will not initiate a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) during that time. If you are not making Timely Progress in the Ticket to Work program according to SSA’s schedule, they may begin a Continuing Disability Review to determine if you are still disabled.
Timely Progress, which is reviewed by the Ticket Program Manager, a contracted company assisting SSA to manage the Ticket Program, is determined by the following schedule. Timely Progress is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For 2024, Trial Work Level (TWL) is $1,110/month and Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is $1,550/month for beneficiaries with disabilities and $2,590/month for individuals who are blind:
1st 12-month Progress Review (after 12 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 3 months of work at Trial Work Level (TWL), OR
- Complete a GED/TASC or high school diploma, OR
- Complete 60% of a full-time course load for an academic year in a college or technical/trade/vocational training program, OR
- Complete a combination of this work and education requirement
2nd 12-month Progress Review (13-24 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 6 months of work at TWL, OR
- Complete 75% of a full-time course load for an academic year in a college or technical/trade/vocational training program, OR
- Complete a combination of this work and education requirement
3rd 12-month Progress Review (25-36 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 9 months of work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, OR
- Complete an additional full-time academic year of study, OR
- Complete a 2-year or 4-year college program, OR
- Complete a 2-year technical/trade/vocational training program, OR
- Complete a combination of this work and education requirement
4th 12-month Progress Review (37-48 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 9 months of work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, OR
- Complete an additional academic year of full-time study, OR
- Complete a combination of this work and education requirement
5th 12-month Progress Review (49-60 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 6 months of work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level without SSDI or SSI cash benefits in months worked, OR
- Complete an additional academic year of full-time study, OR
- Complete a 4-year degree program
6th 12-month Progress Review (61-72 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 6 months of work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level without SSDI or SSI cash benefits in months worked, OR
- Complete a 4-year degree program
7th 12-month Progress Review (73-84 months of Ticket use)
- Complete 6 months of work at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level without SSDI or SSI cash benefits in months worked *
*The guidelines for any subsequent 12-month Progress Review are the same as 7th 12-month Progress Review.
8. How do I sign up to work with Your Employment Network?
If you are interested in moving forward after you have read through the Questions & Answers and have checked out our Services page, you can complete and submit our online Client Interest form. Once it is received, and we have had an opportunity as a team to review it, we'll contact you to schedule a one-on-one career counseling session with one of our staff. During that session, we will determine next steps and your eligibility for the program.
We want you to make an informed choice on signing up with us, so be sure to take the time to read what and how we offer our Ticket services. As mentioned previously, most of our services are provided virtually, which means you will be responsible, with our assistance and support, for moving the job placement process forward.
We look forward to working with you!
Important Note: To assign your Ticket to any Employment Network, you must be “Ticket Eligible,” and your Ticket must be "assignable." In other words, your Ticket can't be assigned to another Employment Network, or you cannot have an open case with your State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. If you are uncertain of your status, you can contact the Beneficiary Help Line at (866) 968-7842 for verification.
9. What if I am signed up with another Employment Network, and I want to switch?
As a Ticket holder, you can choose at any time to seek the services of a different Employment Network. If you believe our services are a good match for you, and you'd like to reassign your ticket, you can contact us via e-mail at: ticket@human-solutions.net for assistance. We will provide you with the information you need to reassign your Ticket. Once approved, you will then follow our standard process for enrolling in our services.