SSDI Ticket to Work Program

By Genia Hachenberg, MS, CRC, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with PVA Veterans Career Program

“I want to work but I don’t want to risk losing my Social Security benefits and then find out I can’t keep working.”

Over many years of working with clients, I can say most people want to be active and work rather work than being isolated at home I can also say they do not like the possibility of learning they are unable to work after the benefits stop.

Social Security has developed a program called Ticket to Work that offers protections (called Work Incentives) to encourage people to “test the waters” of employment. Below are three of the major Work Incentives:

What is a Trial Work Period?

During the first nine months that you return to work, you will continue to receive your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, even if you work more than the amount that Social Security considers "substantial gainful activity," or SGA. SGA generally means that you are earning $1,310 or more per month in 2021. At the end of nine months of work, your trial work period is over and your benefits will stop if you are doing SGA.

You are entitled to nine trial work months during your trial work period, but a month doesn't count toward your nine months if you make less than $940 (gross) or if you work less than 80 hours per month in self-employment (regardless of the amount you earned).

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Your nine trial work months don't need to be consecutive, so there can be gaps between the trial work months that count toward your nine-month limit.

What happens if I have a ‘bad’ month or two after the Trial Work Period?

After your trial work period is over, Social Security will decide if you are doing substantial gainful activity. If you are doing SGA, your benefits won't stop right away, and they won't be terminated permanently. Immediately after the ninth trial work period (TWP) month, you will enter a 36-month "extended period of eligibility," or "EPE," where you are entitled to special rules.

During the 36 consecutive months after your trial work period (your EPE), your eligibility to receive a monthly SSDI check is determined on a month-to-month basis. If you don't make above the SGA amount in a particular month, you can still get your SSDI check. If you do make over the SGA amount, you won't get a check for that month.

What happens I find myself unable to work at all after the Trial Work Period?

You can file an application for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) if your countable gross income falls below the SGA amount or stops altogether at any time within five years after your benefits ceased due to work activity. (After this five-year period is up, you must file a new application for benefits to re-enter the disability system.) If you file an application for expedited reinstatement, Social Security will pay you benefits for six months while the agency processes your application.

The odds are in your favor when you file an application for Expedited Reinstatement. Before denying your claim, Social Security must prove that you have medically improved enough to work since the last time you were receiving benefits.

If you, your spouse, or caregiver, are interested in career support including paid employment, education, or volunteer opportunities please visit pva.org/veteranscareerprogram or email veteranscareerprogram@pva.org for more information.