Ticket to Work 2025: Try Working Without Losing Benefits

The biggest fear for anyone on disability (SSDI or SSI) is simple: “If I try to get a job, the government will cut me off immediately. And if the job doesn’t work out, I’ll be left with nothing.”

It is a valid fear. But the Ticket to Work program is the safety net designed to solve exactly that problem.

It is a free, voluntary program that lets you “test drive” working. You can get a job, earn money, and keep your Medicaid/Medicare. Most importantly, if you have to stop working because of your disability, you can get your benefits back without reapplying.

For 2025, the earnings limits have increased, giving you more room to try working. Here is how to use the program to build a career without risking your financial survival.

Key Details at a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

1. The “Medical Review” Freeze Normally, the SSA reviews your medical condition every few years to see if you are still disabled. This is stressful.

• The Ticket Benefit: As long as you are participating in Ticket to Work and making “timely progress” (taking classes, working part-time, or meeting goals), the SSA cannot conduct a medical review. You are safe from being “medically improved” out of the system while you try to work.

2. The “Trial Work Period” (SSDI Only) You can earn unlimited money for 9 months without losing a single dime of your SSDI check.

• How it works: In 2025, any month you earn over $1,160 counts as a “Trial Work Month.”
• You get 9 of these months (they don’t have to be consecutive) in a 5-year period.
• Example: You get a job earning $4,000/month. For the first 9 months, you keep your $4,000 salary AND your full SSDI check. It’s a massive financial boost.

3. Employment Networks (ENs) You get a “Ticket.” You can assign this ticket to an “Employment Network” (a private company or nonprofit).

• They work for you for free.
• Services include: Resume writing, job coaching, interview prep, and even buying you work clothes or tools.
• Why do they do it? The SSA pays them when you get a job. Their success is tied to yours.

Who Should Apply

1. People Who WANT to Work This program is voluntary. No one forces you to do it. It is for people who are bored at home, want extra money, or want a career, but are afraid of the complex rules.

2. Young Adults on SSI If you have been on SSI since childhood, you might lack work history. Ticket to Work can pay for vocational training or job coaching to help you land your first entry-level job.

3. Professionals with a New Disability You used to be an accountant, but a stroke sidelined you. Now you want to try working from home part-time. An Employment Network can help you find remote work that accommodates your new physical limitations.

Insider Tips for Success

1. Shop Around for an “EN” Not all Employment Networks are created equal.

• Some are national call centers that just email generic job leads.
• Some are local nonprofits that will drive you to interviews and sit with you during orientation.
• Strategy: Call 3 different ENs. Ask them: “What specific services do you offer? Do you have experience with my specific disability?” Pick the one that listens.

2. Understand “Timely Progress” To keep the medical review protection, you have to show you are doing something.

• You can’t just assign your ticket and sit on the couch.
• You must meet annual goals (e.g., completing a GED, working 3 months, or earning a specific amount).
• Warning: If you fail to make progress, the protection falls off, and the SSA can review your medical case again.

3. Use “Expedited Reinstatement” (EXR) This is your ultimate safety net.

• Scenario: You work for 3 years and stop getting benefits. Then your condition gets worse and you have to quit.
• Fear: “Do I have to apply all over again and wait 2 years?”
• Reality: NO. You file for EXR. The SSA starts paying you temporary benefits immediately (usually the next month) while they review your case. You don’t go to the back of the line.

Application Timeline

• Step 1: Call the Ticket to Work Help Line (1-866-968-7842) or visit the website.
• Step 2: Get a list of Employment Networks (ENs) in your area.
• Step 3: Interview ENs and choose one.
• Step 4: Sign an “Individual Work Plan” (IWP) with the EN.
• Step 5: Your “Ticket” is now assigned. Your medical reviews stop. Work begins.

Required Materials

• SSDI/SSI Status: You must be currently receiving benefits.
• Ticket: You don’t need a physical paper ticket. Your Social Security Number is your ticket.
• Work Goals: You need a general idea of what you want to do (e.g., “I want to work in customer service” or “I want to learn coding”).

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Honesty with your EN. Tell your Employment Network exactly what you can and cannot do.

• “I can’t stand for more than 15 minutes.”
• “I have anxiety and can’t deal with angry customers.”
• “I need a flexible schedule for doctor appointments.”
• If they know your limits, they can find you the right job (e.g., data entry from home) instead of setting you up to fail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Thinking You Will Lose Medicare/Medicaid You won’t.

• Medicare: Continues for at least 93 months (7 years and 9 months) after your Trial Work Period ends, even if your cash checks stop. You just pay the standard Part B premium.
• Medicaid: In most states, under Section 1619(b), you can keep Medicaid even if you earn $40,000+ a year, as long as you still need the coverage.

2. Not Reporting Wages Even though you are allowed to work, you MUST report your wages to the SSA every month.

• The Trap: If you don’t report, the SSA won’t know you are working. They will keep sending you checks after your Trial Work Period ends. Two years later, they will realize the mistake and send you a bill for $30,000.
• Fix: Report every cent, every month. Use the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app.

3. Going it Alone You can find a job without Ticket to Work. But why?

• If you find a job on your own, you do not get the automatic protection from medical reviews.
• Assign your ticket to a VR agency or EN just to get that safety shield, even if you find the job yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch ENs? Yes. If your EN isn’t helping you, you can “unassign” your ticket and take it to another one. You have a 90-day grace period to find a new one without losing protection.

Does this apply to my child on SSI? Only if they are 18+. There is a different program (Youth Transition) for kids under 18.

What is the “SGA” Limit? “Substantial Gainful Activity.” In 2025, it is $1,620/month. If you earn more than this after your 9-month Trial Work Period, your cash benefits will stop (but you can get them back if you drop below it again during the 36-month eligibility period).

Is the money taxable? Your earnings from work are taxable just like anyone else’s. Your SSDI benefits may be taxable if your total income is high enough.

How to Apply

1. Call the Help Line: 1-866-968-7842.
2. Visit the Website: choosework.ssa.gov.
3. Use the “Find Help” Tool: Search for providers in your zip code.

Official Ticket to Work Page