 |
The Ticket to Work Program is
the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
Act. |
|
People with disabilities now
have more choices and expanded opportunities when attempting
to go to work. |
|
The Ticket Program provides
a Ticket to Social Security disability and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries that may be used to obtain
rehabilitation and employment services. |
|
An individual may choose to
receive services from a public or private service provider in
their community. |
|
Service providers, called Employment
Networks, work with Social Security and SSI beneficiaries to
provide assistance designed to help with the transition to work. |
|
The Ticket Program is voluntary.
People with disabilities who receive a Ticket are not required
to work, but may choose to use their Ticket to attempt to work.
Likewise, Employment Networks are not required to accept Tickets. |
|
The program is being phased
in nationally, starting in 13 states in February 2002. |
|
The 13 states are Arizona, Colorado,
Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and
Wisconsin. |
|
Within these 13 states, approximately
2.4 million beneficiaries with disabilities will receive a Ticket.
Tickets will be mailed in stages from early February through
June 2002. |
|
The remaining states will implement
the Ticket Program in late 2002 and 2003. |
|
In addition to the Ticket to
Work Program, other provisions of the law are already in place
to help support people with disabilities as they go to work. |
|
The law removes barriers that
require people with disabilities to choose between health care
coverage and work. |
|
As of October 2000, Medicare
hospital insurance coverage extends for eight years and six
months after most Social Security disability beneficiaries go
to work. Medicare coverage continues even if an individual no
longer receives a monetary benefit from Social Security. |
|
Medicaid coverage for SSI disability
beneficiaries may be extended. Since Medicaid is a state health
benefit, the individual states have the option to expand coverage
to SSI beneficiaries who work. State Medicaid offices can provide
further information. |
|
Beneficiaries may request expedited
reinstatement of benefits if their disability benefits have
ended because of earnings from work. |
|
As of January 2001, people who
go to work and then become unable to continue working because
of their medical condition may have their benefits started again
without filing a new application. The request for expedited
reinstatement of benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid,
must be made within 5 years after benefits are terminated. |
|
Certain disability reviews are
postponed while a person with a disability is using a Ticket. |
|
Social Security will not conduct
a regularly scheduled medical review of a person receiving disability
benefits if that person is using a Ticket.Benefits can still
be terminated if a beneficiary has substantial earnings (currently
defined by regulation as more than $780 per month or more than
$1,300 per month for individuals who are blind). |
|
As of January 2002, Social Security
disability beneficiaries who have received benefits for at least
24 months will not have their disability reviewed solely because
of work activity. However, regularly scheduled medical reviews
can still be performed and, again, benefits terminated if earnings
are substantial. |
|
Social Security established
a network of community-based organizations in each state to
provide benefit planning, assistance and outreach to disability
beneficiaries who want to work. These public and private organizations
explain Social Security's work incentive programs and provide
direct advice to Social Security and SSI beneficiaries. |
|
Social Security established
protection and advocacy systems in each state to provide legal
advice and services to disability beneficiaries. |
