The SSDI Ticket to Work Program is a powerful tool for helping people with disabilities who receive SSDI benefits get back into the workforce. It allows those who are willing to work to find gainful employment while retaining their SSDI benefits, for period of time, which can provide participants with financial upward mobility and aid improvement in quality of life for those who depend on SSDI benefits for income.
For those who participate in the ticket to work program, SSDI benefits can still be received while working for a period of time when your first starting. There are many worthwhile incentives that are provided by the program that encourage those who receive benefits to enter the workforce. The Ticket to Work Program can also provide financial assistance and protections to those in need. Keep reading to learn more about a few of the specific work incentives offered to those who have an SSDI Ticket to Work.
Relief from CDRs
Medical CDRs, or Continuing Disability Reviews, are reviews conducted regularly as part of the SSDI program administration. The review is designed to ensure that those who are receiving SSDI benefits still meet the medical requirements to collect disability benefits. The frequency of the CDRs is based on the severity of the claimed disability and can happen as frequently as every 18 months. When you participate in the SSDI Ticket to Work Program through an approved service provider, you may not have to undergo the medical CDR if you were enrolled with the provider prior to receiving your CDR notification. So long as you are enrolled in the Ticket to Work Program and are meeting the prescribed guidelines for progress, you won’t have to undergo a medical CDR.
Trial Work Period
If you have not worked in a long time, or have never worked, pushing back into the workforce can be a daunting task. The Ticket to Work Program allows participants to acclimate slowly to the process and investigate whether working is a viable option through the trial work period or TWP. Participants in the SSDI Ticket to Work Program can have up to 9 months to investigate the feasibility of working with a disability. During that time, they continue to receive their full benefits no matter how much income they receive from their work. The only requirements are that the participant has a disabling condition and that the work is reported in full.
Expedited Reinstatement
Some participants in the Ticket to Work Program can earn enough from working that they no longer need benefits. Ceasing benefits can be stressful for some, because if the situation changes and they can no longer work, they may have to begin the long, arduous SSDI application process all over again. Those who participate in the Ticket to Work Program are protected from that circumstance, however, through expedited reinstatement. That means that Ticket to Work holders can re-apply for their benefits in the event they can no longer work without having to go through the complete application process. They are also eligible for temporary benefits while they await a ruling on re-application.
If you receive SSDI benefits and would like to explore greater earning potential and a better quality of life through a career, the SSDI Ticket to Work Program can provide a clear path to a brighter financial future and greater independence. To learn more about the work incentives offered through the Ticket to Work Program and how they can help you, visit Disabled Workers at www.disabledworkersusa.com/ticket-to-work/.