The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities (GCEPD) is responsible for providing leadership to increase the numbers of people with disabilities in the California workforce.

Maximus is the Ticket to Work Program administrator. Their website provides basic information on the program including eligibility requirements, the Inside Ticket Quarterly newsletter, and a directory of Employment Networks (EN). If you have questions regarding eligibility or other Ticket issues, you can contact them at 866-968-7842 (voice) or (866) 833-2967 (TTY).

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a variety of information on the Ticket to Work Program including a detailed fact sheet and information on how to use your ticket. You can contact SSA at (800) 772-1213 (voice) or (800) 325-0778 (TTY).

Social Security also holds regular Work Incentive Seminars (WISE) to provide SSI or SSDI recipients with information on different choices to help them go to work for the first time, return to work, or reach other employment goals. Seminars include information on the Ticket to Work program as well as other work incentives. To register, click here.

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) provides links to local DOR offices and state vocational rehabilitation agencies, as well as brochures and other information on the program. You can contact the DOR at (866) 449-2730 (voice) or (866) 359-7705 (TTY).

The National Employment Network Association (NENA) serves Employment Networks (ENs) who operate under the Ticket to Work Program. Among other services, NENA provides Ticket news and EN best practices via email, national teleconferences, and its website.

DisabilityInfo.gov provides links to several Ticket resources, including evaluations of the program.

The Tulare County Office of Education serves as an Employment Network for the Ticket Program in Visalia, California.

Organizations interested in becoming an Employment Network (EN) should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (866) 584-5180 (voice) or email or Maximus at (866) 968-7842 (voice) or (866) 833-2967 (TTY).

To start the process, contact Social Security by telephone or visit your local office to schedule an appointment. This first point of contact can establish your "disability onset" date. You should begin this process as soon as possible.

Processing a Social Security claim should take between 1 to 6 months if all required documentation is provided. If a claim is denied by Social Security and an appeal is filed, the claim process can take longer. At this time, the SSI application is not available online. (You can, however, apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits online.)

Local Social Security offices can be found by calling (voice) 800-772-1213 or (TTY) 800-325-0778.

To avoid overpayments, report changes in wages promptly by calling Social Security at the numbers listed above.

To file an SSDI application, contact your local Social Security office to schedule an appointment by phone or in person, or apply online.

Processing the SSDI claim should take between 1-6 months if all required documentation is provided. If a claim is denied by Social Security and appeals are filed, the claim process can take longer.

To avoid overpayments, report changes in wages promptly to Social Security at 800-772-1213 (voice) or 800-325-0778 (TTY).

The federal government pays benefits planners in communities around the country to help people think ahead about benefits issues. The Social Security Administration (SSA) replaced the Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Project (BPAO) with the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program in October of 2006.

The new program emphasizes work incentives over work supports for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. Benefits planners who are funded by SSA and trained under this new program are called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC's).

To find a benefits planner near you, use DB101's Benefits Planners Directory.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

JAN provides free consulting services designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities. JAN does this by (1) providing individualized work accommodations solutions, (2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and (3) educating callers about self-employment options. JAN also has information on accommodations and tools for solving problems at work or school, working at or owning a small business, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) in the Workplace, and the ADA and employment.

Learn about self employment for people with disabilities through an insightful and practical book called Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities by Cary Griffin and David Hammis.

Various community-based organizations provide staff to work with people concerning a range of options on state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Counseling about benefits, as a community service, is an emerging field of expertise with different levels of services available. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with individuals with any type of disability.

Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity.

Find locations at http://www.goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 800-664-6577.

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists 29 centers serving individuals with all disabilities. Many of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity. Most independent living centers can refer callers to local benefit program information if they do not have these services.

Find the list of independent living centers at http://www.cfilc.org, or by calling (voice) 916-325-1690 or (TTY) 916-325-1695.

The AIDS Hotline database contains 1,300 organizations providing HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations offer case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include assistance with public and private benefits programs.

Find the list of AIDS organizations at http://www.aidshotline.org, or by calling (voice) 800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 888-225-AIDS (2437).

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI), a federally funded program in all states, provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In Home Supportive Services. PAI’s Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Program protects the legal rights of Social Security beneficiaries in their efforts to return to work.