What Is the Ticket to Work Program?

The Ticket to Work program is a free and voluntary program from the Social Security Administration that offers job training and education, career counseling, help with job placement, and workplace accommodations support. The goal of this program is simple: help you try working without immediately losing your benefits. Think of it as a safety net.

Who qualifies for Ticket to Work?

To qualify, you must be 18 to 64 years old and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If that’s you, Ticket to Work can help you prepare for, find, and keep a job. 

Maybe you’re 25, on SSI for autism, and want a career but don’t know where to begin. Ticket to Work can offer job coaching, interview practice, and resume support. Or maybe you’re a former mechanic on SSDI after a back injury, and you’re ready to try lighter or office work. Ticket to Work can help retrain and connect you with employers.

How the Ticket to Work program works

Here’s how it works. You’ll team up with an Employment Network or your state Vocational Rehabilitation agency to figure out what kind of work you want, start your job search, and get help with training, applications, and career planning. To get started, go to https://choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp, where you can search for providers by services offered or zip code.

What is the Trial Work Period?

The key advantage of the Ticket to Work program is that it lets you try returning to work before fully committing. The Ticket to Work program includes a Trial Work Period, which allows you to test your ability to work for a limited time while still receiving your full Social Security disability benefits. 

If you receive SSDI and start working:

• You can earn up to $1,160/month in gross income or work under 80 hours if you are self-employed without affecting your benefits.

• If you go over $1,160, that month counts as a Trial Work Period month.

These income limits change annually with the national average wage index. In 2026, the monthly limit will increase to $1,210.

The Trial Work Period allows you to keep your full SSDI check for up to nine months within a rolling five-year window, no matter how much you earn during those months. The months don’t have to be consecutive. For example: If you earn $1,300 in a month, that month counts toward your Trial Work Period. If in the next month you earn less than that—say, $900—it doesn’t count.

Extended Period of Eligibility

Once you use all nine months of the Trial Work Period, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility, which lasts three years. During this time, if your income is below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), you continue to receive your SSDI check. 

According to the SSA, work is considered substantial if it requires significant physical or mental activity (or both) and is gainful if done for pay or profit. When determining SGA, the SSA looks at your gross income (before taxes) if you’re employed. If you’re self-employed, they consider your net earnings, or your total income minus business expenses. In 2025, SGA is $1,620/month (or $2,700 if you’re blind).

What if you decide you can't work?

After the Extended Period of Eligibility, if your benefits have ended and you must stop working again due to your condition, you may be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement. This allows you to request your benefits to begin again without needing to file a new application.

What happens to your healthcare coverage?

If you successfully return to work after the Extended Period of Eligibility, and your cash payments stop, you can usually keep Medicare for at least 93 months. That’s over seven years of coverage after your Trial Work Period ends.

Ticket to Work and SSI

When it comes to Ticket to Work, SSI works a bit differently than SSDI. Because SSI is a needs-based program, your monthly benefit may be reduced as you earn income. Ticket to Work service providers can help you understand how working will affect your payments and plan accordingly. 

If you’re on SSI and start working, you may be able to keep your Medicaid even after your SSI payments stop. Each state sets an income threshold—the maximum you can earn in a year and still qualify. This threshold is based on local costs, Medicaid spending, and typical wages for people with disabilities. No matter your benefit type, SSDI or SSI, it’s important to report any work or wages to Social Security to avoid overpayments or issues later.

The Ticket to Work program helps people explore job opportunities while keeping their income and healthcare protected. It’s a way to see if working again is right for you, without immediately losing your benefits right away. If you’re on SSDI or SSI, it’s worth talking with a Ticket to Work provider to learn about your options. And if you find that returning to work isn’t possible right now, that’s okay too.

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