Celebrating Ticket to Work’s 25th Anniversary

25 Years of Empowering Employment Through Ticket to Work

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program, a milestone in helping people with disabilities explore employment and move toward financial independence.

Since its inception, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act has supported thousands of individuals in shifting from relying solely on benefits to building fulfilling careers—on their own terms.

What Is the Ticket to Work Program?

The Ticket to Work (Ticket) program is a free and voluntary initiative for people aged 18–64 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want to explore employment options.

Key features of the program include:

• Access to career development and employment services
• Support for self-employment and traditional jobs
• Help navigating work incentives and benefit transitions
• Connections to trusted service providers, either virtually or in person

Participants can work with an Employment Network (EN) or a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency to build skills, find opportunities, and gain confidence—all while maintaining access to critical benefits as they transition.

Real Stories, Real Success

To highlight the impact of the Ticket program, the Social Security Administration has shared inspiring success stories:

Adrienne’s Story
Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Adrienne began planning for adulthood before finishing high school. Through collaboration between local agencies and the Ticket program, she found full-time work with the City of Philadelphia and replaced her SSI payments with a rewarding career.

Kushal’s Journey
Living with muscular dystrophy, Kushal faced significant mobility challenges. But with help from the Ticket program, he earned a master’s degree in social work and now works full time as a benefits counselor—while retaining critical healthcare coverage.

More stories like Adrienne’s and Kushal’s can be found on the Ticket Program website.

How to Get Started

If you’re ready to take the next step toward employment, you can explore Ticket to Work options in several ways:

• Use the Find Help tool at choosework.ssa.gov
• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842
  • TTY: 1-866-833-2967
  • Available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET

Ticket service providers will guide you through available work incentives and help you build a personalized plan for long-term success.

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Stay Connected
Want to learn more? You can:

• Subscribe to the Choose Work! blog
• Register for a free WISE webinar
• Follow the Ticket program on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
• Text “TICKET” to 1-571-489-5292 for mobile updates (standard messaging rates may apply)

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What’s Next?
Did Adrienne’s or Kushal’s story inspire you? Don’t miss our other real-life success stories and insights from the disability and financial empowerment communities.

Subscribe to the Penny Forward Podcast for more conversations that help people with disabilities gain control over their financial future.
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