Manny is a bright, well-liked 23 year old who has had several health problems in recent years that have made it difficult for him to work or go to school regularly. He would like to work as a computer programmer but needs some training. He’s never really done a “job search” and is a bit intimidated by idea of it. Where should he look for jobs he might be qualified for? What should he include in his resume? How should he conduct himself in an interview?
He goes to lunch with his friend Jessica and the two begin talking about his concerns. Jessica is a few years older than Manny and has some physical impairments as well. She knows what Manny is going through—she remembers how overwhelmed she felt when she began looking for a job. She suggests Manny look into the Ticket to Work program.
“Ticket to Work. I’ve heard of that,” says Manny. “I think I got something in the mail from them a year or two ago. What’s the program all about?”
“Well, the Ticket to Work Program is designed to help people with disabilities achieve employment goals,” says Jessica. “It provides all sorts of employment support services like vocational rehabilitation, training, and job referrals.”
“No kidding,” says Manny. “How do I find out if I’m eligible for it?”
“You should call Maximus
. They’re the company that oversees the program,” says Jessica. “And it’s your lucky day, Manny. I happen to have a business card with their phone number right here. It is (866) 968-7842.”
“Very cool,” says Manny. “Do you think I’ll qualify?”
“Probably. The program is for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities, aged 18 – 64. Do you receive SSI or SSDI?”
“Yeah, I receive an SSI payment every month,” says Manny.
“Sounds like you’ll qualify,” says Jessica. “I know there are some exceptions though. You better call Maximus just to be sure.”
“OK. I will,” says Manny. “So tell me about this program. What will it do for me?”
“Well the Ticket to Work program addresses the kind of things you say you’re worried about—getting job training, finding work, even writing a resume.” says Jessica. “After you find out if you qualify, you have to get hooked up with an Employment Network (EN) or a vocational rehabilitation agency.”
“What’s the difference between the two?”
“They both serve the same basic purpose under the Ticket program: They provide people with disabilities employment support. Organizations like job placement agencies, independent living centers, and employers serve as EN’s whereas vocational rehabilitation agencies are part of the California Department of Rehabilitation. I worked with an EN myself, but I know others who have worked with vocational rehabilitation agencies. Who you work with kind of depends on the services you need.”
“OK,” says Manny. “So how did your EN help you with your career?”
“They helped with everything. They provided some of the basic computer training I needed. They sent me job listings via email. They helped me write my resume and posted it on their website,” says Jessica. “I’ve heard the services vary from EN to EN, so you should be sure to research your options carefully. In your case it would be important to find one that provides computer programming training.”
“Absolutely,” says Manny.
“If you work with an EN, you and your EN will draft a 5-year Individual Work Plan that outlines your employment goals and the services the EN is going to provide. If you work with a vocational rehabilitation agency, you’ll draft something similar called an Individual Plan for Employment. In order to keep your Ticket ‘active,’ you have to make sufficient timely progress towards your employment goal,” says Jessica. “One of the main benefits of the Ticket program is that so long as you’re making adequate timely progress, Social Security will suspend medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR).”
“Why is that so important?”
“Well, when Social Security conducts a medical CDR, they determine whether or not you still qualify as medically disabled by their definition. If they determine you are no longer disabled, you lose all your Social Security benefits.”
“Really,” says Manny.
“Yeah. So the fact that CDR’s are suspended if you’re making timely progress under your Ticket plan is a real perk,” says Jessica.
“How do they determine if you’re making adequate timely progress,” Manny asks.
“Well, Maximus reviews your progress at the end of the second, third, fourth and fifth years of your plan. During your first two years, you just need to actively participate in your plan. For the final three years, they have income requirements. By the end of the fifth year, for example, I had to earn an income that was high enough to take me off SSI and SSDI,” says Jessica.
“Really! That sounds a little scary,” says Manny.
“Actually it wasn’t. The income requirements are lower for the thrid and fourth years, and by the fifth year, I was working full time and earning $2,500 per month. I have to tell you, I was SO proud of myself. I always knew I could get to the point where I was completely supporting myself.”
“Sounds fantastic,” says Manny. “I want to get involved right now. I’m going to call Maximus to make sure I qualify.”
“That’s a good idea,” says Jessica. “I hope the program works as well for you as it did for me. Good luck!”
