Ticket to Work FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
about Ticket to Work
Overview of Ticket to Work
Q1. What is “Ticket to Work”?
Q2. Who will get a ticket?
Q3. When will I receive my ticket?
Q4. Can I use the ticket to receive a cash payment?
Q5. Does it cost anything to use the ticket?
Q6. Do I have to use my ticket?
Q7. Do I have to use the ticket right away?
Q8. When does "using the ticket" actually
start?
Q9. What if I am already a DVR customer?
Ticket to Work and Employment Networks
Q10. Where can I use my ticket?
Q11. What is an Employment Network?
Q12. Are there going to be more Employment Networks
(ENs) and if so, how many?
Q13. Can I use my ticket at DVR and at an EN at the
same time?
Q14. If I go to an EN and it doesn’t work out,
can I come back to DVR?
Ticket to Work and Your Benefits
Q15. What are the advantages to
using my Ticket to Work?
Q16. How exactly does the "expedited reinstatement
of benefits" work? What is the process?
Q17. How does the Medicare coverage extension work
with the ticket?
Q18. What is the Medicaid Buy-in?
Q19. If I use it and things don’t work out,
will I lose my SSI/SSDI benefits?
Q20. How do I find a benefits planner in my area?
Q21. Is there a guarantee that I will get a job if
I use my ticket?
Q22. If I need an expensive service or piece of equipment,
can an EN provide it for me?
Q23. Can people who are working and receive a ticket
use the ticket to get help keeping their current job?
Q24. If someone uses their ticket, goes to work,
then loses their job, can they go back and use ticket again?
Q25. What happens to my DVR case if I take the ticket
to an Employment Network?
Q26. Who can I talk to if I am unhappy with the ticket
services I am receiving who can I talk to besides the EN or DVR?
Overview of Ticket to Work
Q1: What is “Ticket to Work”?
A1: “Ticket to Work” is a program under the Social Security
Administration for people who receive SSI or SSDI and who want to go
to work. The ticket is a document, much like a voucher, that you can
turn in to DVR or another service provider in return for vocational
services.
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Q2: Who will get a ticket?
A2: Anyone on SSI or SSDI who is not expected to “medically recover”
and who receives a cash benefit from SSA will get a ticket.
Only people 18 to 64 years of age will get a ticket.
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Q3: When will I receive my ticket?
A3: Maximus, the company administering Ticket to Work, will send out
the tickets based on the last digit of your Social Security Number starting
in November. They will start with number #1 in November, (skip December),
#2 in January, #3 in February, and each month until all the tickets
are issued.
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Q4: Can I use the ticket to receive a cash payment?
A4: No, you do not receive cash payments under this program.
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Q5: Does it cost anything to use the ticket?
A5: The ticket does not cost anything to use.
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Q6: Do I have to use my ticket?
A6: No. You do not have to use your “ticket”. This program
is entirely voluntary. You can use your ticket now, hold onto it and
use it later, or not use it at all.
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Q7: Do individuals have to use the ticket right away?
A7: No, an individual can use the ticket at any point they want. Using
your ticket is entirely your choice.
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Q8: When does "using the ticket" actually
start?
A8: A ticket is considered "in use" once you sign an Individual
Plan for Employment with DVR or an Individual Work Plan with an Employment
Network. A ticket is not "in use" when you are on DVR's or
any one else's waiting list.
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Q9: What if I am already a DVR customer?
A9: If you are already a Vocational Rehabilitation customer, you can
assign your ticket to DVR and services will continue as per your IPE.
We would like to be your choice of provider under the Ticket to Work program.
Your DVR counselor can discuss your options with you.
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Ticket to Work and Employment Networks
Q10: Where can I use my ticket?
A10: You can use your ticket with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
(DVR) or you can choose another provider approved by Maximus as an Employment
Network (EN).
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Q11: What is an Employment Network?
A11: An Employment Network (EN) is a public or private provider. An
EN can provide the services you need to work or to earn more money,
at no cost to you. The Ticket to Work Program gives you the opportunity to choose
from a variety of employment networks including DVR.
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Q12: Are there going to be more Employment Networks
(ENs) and if so, how many?
A12: We hope there will be more ENs, but we do not know how many. As
new ENs come on board they are listed at Maximus's website: http://www.yourtickettowork.com
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Q13: Can I use my ticket at DVR and at an EN at the
same time?
A13: Yes, if the EN has an agreement with DVR; however, DVR will not
pay for the same services that the EN is responsible to provide when
it takes your ticket.
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Q14: If I go to an EN and it doesn’t work out,
can I come back to DVR?
A14: You can always come back to DVR, regardless of your experiences
with an Employment Network or any program. If your DVR case has been
closed, you will need to reapply for services and go back on the waiting
list.
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Ticket to Work and Your Benefits
Q15: What are the advantages to using my Ticket to
Work?
A15:
• You will continue to receive benefits during your rehabilitation program.
• Social Security will not conduct a Continuing Disability Review
(CDR) while you are using your “Ticket” as long as you are
following your plan to work. When you assign your ticket with DVR or
an EN, you will be exempt from continuing disability reviews (CDR) while
your ticket is active. For the first two years after assigning the ticket,
you will have all CDRs suspended, and for each year after that you will
have to work at a certain level to maintain your CDR exemption.
• After you go to work, if you lose your job due to your disability,
you can quickly get back on benefits again without reapplying.
• You have choices about where you use your ticket.
• DVR will be reimbursed for the cost of your services, and can
use that funding to serve other people with disabilities.
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Q16: How exactly does the "expedited reinstatement
of benefits" work? What is the process?
A16: When you lose your job due to your disability, you contact Social
Security and request that your benefits be reinstated because you lost
your job. You do not have to file a new application. Social Security
pays your benefits for six months while they investigate if you are
still eligible. You do not have to pay Social Security back if they find you are
no longer eligible.
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Q17: How does the Medicare coverage extension work
with the ticket?
A17: Starting October 1, 2000, the law extended Medicare coverage for
at least 93 consecutive months after completion of the nine month trial
work period.
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Q18: What is the Medicaid Buy-in?
A18: Washington State implemented Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities
in January of 2002. This program expands Medicaid to people with disabilities
who go to work.
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Q19: If I use it and things don’t work out,
will I lose my SSI/SSDI benefits?
A19: You will not lose your SSI or SSDI benefits if you use your ticket
and you do not go to work. You may contact a benefits planner to better
understand your benefits.
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Q20: How do I find a benefits planner in my area?
A20: Benefit Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) Programs are organizations
that help you with Social Security work incentives and other employment
support programs available to you. You may call Plan to Work toll-free
at 1-866-497-9443 or TTY 1-877-846-0775 statewide or in Spokane at 509-444-3087
or TTY 509-777-0776. In King County call Positive Solutions at 206-322-8181
or in Kitsap County 360-405-0620.
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Q21: Is there a guarantee that I will get a job if
I use my ticket?
A21: If you use your ticket with DVR or another employment network provider,
we will do our best to help you go to work; however, we cannot guarantee
that using your ticket will result in a job.
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Q22: If I need an expensive service or piece of equipment,
can an EN provide it for me?
A22: Yes, an EN could provide high cost services, but due to limited
resources, they may not.
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Q23: Can people who are working and receive a ticket
use the ticket to get help keeping their current job?
A23: A ticket is for anyone who is receiving Social Security Disability
Benefits either SSI or SSDI. If a person is working and still receiving
cash benefits they can get a ticket.
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Q24: If someone uses their ticket, goes to work,
then loses their job, can they go back and use ticket again?
A24: Yes, if five years has not passed since they first started using
their ticket.
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Q25: What happens to my DVR case if I take the ticket
to an Employment Network?
A25: You may receive services more quickly from an Employment Network.
However, an Employment Network can choose which individuals to serve
or not to serve. DVR serves all eligible individuals and does not “turn
down” any eligible individual.
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Q26: Who can I talk to if I am unhappy with the
ticket services I am receiving ?
A26: Your State Protection and Advocacy System can provide legal service,
advocacy and other services you may need in using the ticket.
In Washington, contact:
Washington Protection & Advocacy System
315 5th Ave. S. Ste. 850, Seattle, WA 98104
*Voice: 1-800-562-2702 or (206) 324-1521
TTY: 1-800-905-0209 or (206) 957-0728
FAX: (206) 957-0729
E-mail: wpas@wpas-rights.org
URL: http://www.wpas-rights.org
*Interpreters Available in over 200 languages via AT&T Language
Line
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