If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and want to return to work, the Ticket to Work program was designed specifically for you. This free, voluntary federal program lets you test your ability to work without immediately losing your disability benefits or triggering a medical review. It removes one of the biggest fears SSDI recipients face when considering employment: the risk of losing coverage before you know if you can sustain work.
The program has been around since 2002, and for 2026 the key income thresholds have been updated. Understanding how those numbers work can make the difference between confidently trying work and staying stuck on the sidelines.
What Is the Ticket to Work Program?
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It gives SSDI and SSI beneficiaries access to free employment support services, including career counseling, job placement assistance, and vocational rehabilitation, through a network of approved providers called Employment Networks (ENs).
The core benefit is protection. When your ticket is assigned to an approved provider and you are making timely progress toward employment goals, SSA will not conduct a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) based on your work activity. That means pursuing a job does not put your current benefits at risk.
The program is entirely optional. Choosing not to participate does not affect your SSDI or SSI payments.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility is straightforward:
- You must be between ages 18 and 64
- You must currently receive SSDI, SSI, or both
- Your disability must be the basis for receiving those benefits
If you meet those three conditions, you are eligible. You do not need to apply separately. SSA automatically makes a ticket available to you. Note that SSA no longer mails paper tickets. Your eligibility is determined by your benefit status, not by holding a physical document.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 64 |
| Benefit type | SSDI, SSI, or both |
| Participation fee | Free |
| Participation type | Voluntary |
2026 Income Limits and Thresholds
Three numbers govern how work affects your SSDI benefits. All three updated for 2026.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
SGA is the monthly earnings threshold that SSA uses to determine whether you are working at a level considered "substantial." If your earnings consistently exceed SGA, your SSDI benefits may stop.
| Category | 2025 SGA | 2026 SGA |
|---|---|---|
| Non-blind individuals | $1,620/month | $1,690/month |
| Statutorily blind individuals | $2,700/month | $2,830/month |
During the Trial Work Period (see below), SGA does not apply. You receive full SSDI benefits regardless of earnings.
Trial Work Period (TWP) Threshold
The Trial Work Period gives you nine months to test your ability to work. Any month in which your gross earnings exceed the TWP threshold counts as one trial work month. These nine months do not need to be consecutive; they just need to fall within a rolling 60-month window.
| Year | Monthly TWP Threshold |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,160 |
| 2026 | $1,210 |
During all nine trial work months, you receive your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn. After using all nine months, SSA evaluates whether your earnings exceed SGA.
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. During this window, you receive your regular SSDI benefits in any month that your earnings fall below SGA ($1,690 in 2026 for non-blind individuals). In months where earnings exceed SGA, your benefit is withheld, but it can be reinstated in subsequent months if earnings drop again.
Key Work Incentives Explained
The Ticket to Work program is built around a set of work incentives. These are SSA rules designed to reduce the financial risk of trying work.
Trial Work Period
As described above, you have nine months to test work at any earnings level without benefit reduction. This is the foundation of the program. Many people use this period to evaluate whether they can sustain a job before making any long-term commitments.
Extended Period of Eligibility
The 36-month window following the Trial Work Period keeps you in the SSDI system. Your benefit turns on and off based on whether your earnings are above or below SGA each month. If you have a bad month medically and earnings drop, your payment resumes automatically.
Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
If your SSDI payments stop because your earnings exceeded SGA, and you later cannot continue working due to your disability, you can request reinstatement without filing a new disability application. You have 60 months after benefits end to use this option. SSA can provide provisional benefits for up to six months while reviewing your reinstatement request.
Medicare Continuation
Even after your SSDI cash payments stop due to earnings above SGA, Medicare coverage continues for up to 93 months (roughly 7.5 years) after your Trial Work Period begins. This is one of the most significant protections in the program. Losing health coverage is often the biggest barrier to returning to work, and the 93-month extension addresses that directly.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
If you pay for items or services related to your disability that allow you to work, SSA can deduct those costs from your earnings when calculating whether you exceed SGA. Examples include medications, medical devices, transportation to medical appointments, and specialized equipment.
How to Assign Your Ticket: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Find an Employment Network or State VR Agency
You have two types of providers to choose from:
- Employment Networks (ENs): Private or public organizations approved by SSA. They offer job placement, counseling, and support services. Some specialize in specific industries or disabilities.
- State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies: Government agencies in every state that provide rehabilitation services, training, and job placement. Many people start with VR and later transfer to an EN.
The SSA's Choose Work website at choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp has a searchable directory of ENs by location and specialty.
Step 2: Contact and Evaluate Providers
You are free to speak with as many ENs as you want before deciding. Ask about:
- What specific services they offer
- Whether they have experience with your type of disability
- What their success rates look like
- Whether they provide benefits counseling
There is no cost to you for any of these conversations or services.
Step 3: Complete a Benefits Planning Session
Before formally assigning your ticket, request a benefits counseling session with a Benefits Counselor or Work Incentive Counselor. This session helps you understand exactly how working will affect your SSDI, SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid. Many ENs offer this directly. SSA-funded Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs also provide free counseling.
Step 4: Assign Your Ticket
When you find an EN you want to work with, you and the EN sign an Individual Work Plan (IWP). The IWP outlines your employment goal and the services the EN will provide. Signing the IWP officially assigns your ticket to that EN.
If you choose a State VR agency instead, you sign an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with them.
Step 5: Make Timely Progress
After assignment, SSA expects you to make timely progress toward your employment goal. Milestones vary depending on how long you have been in the program. Your EN tracks your progress and reports to SSA. As long as you are meeting the milestones, SSA will not conduct a CDR based on your work activity.
Step 6: Report Your Earnings
You must report your work activity and monthly earnings to SSA. You can do this by:
- Calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213
- Using the my Social Security online portal at ssa.gov/myaccount
- Visiting your local SSA office
- Submitting a wage report via the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app
Timely wage reporting prevents overpayments, which can be difficult to resolve later.
Changing or Un-assigning Your Ticket
You can un-assign your ticket from an EN at any time if you want to change providers. After un-assigning, you can assign your ticket to a different EN or State VR agency. There is no penalty for switching. Your progress history carries over.
If you choose to stop participating in the program entirely, your ticket returns to unassigned status. Your benefits continue unaffected.
What the Ticket to Work Program Does Not Cover
The program provides employment support, not income support. It does not:
- Pay you a salary or wage
- Guarantee you a specific job
- Replace your SSDI or SSI payment during the Trial Work Period
- Cover all disability-related work expenses (though IRWE deductions help)
The services you receive depend on what your chosen EN or VR agency offers. Quality and availability vary.
Interaction with SSI
If you receive SSI rather than SSDI, the Ticket to Work program still applies. However, SSI has its own set of work rules separate from the Trial Work Period. SSI uses a different earned income exclusion formula:
- SSA excludes the first $85 of monthly earned income (combining the $20 general exclusion and $65 earned income exclusion)
- Beyond that, SSI is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned
- For 2026, SSI's Student Earned Income Exclusion allows eligible students to exclude up to $2,290 per month (up to $9,230 per year)
If you receive both SSDI and SSI, both sets of rules apply simultaneously. A benefits counselor can help you model exactly how earnings will affect each program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not reporting wages on time. SSA can issue overpayments if they discover you were working and did not report earnings. These must be repaid.
Assuming all work triggers a review. Many SSDI recipients avoid any work out of fear. The Ticket to Work program specifically protects you from CDRs during active participation.
Choosing an EN without doing research. Not all ENs are equally capable. Ask specific questions about their services and experience before assigning your ticket.
Confusing trial work months with SGA. During the Trial Work Period, the SGA limit does not apply. You can earn any amount during those nine months and still receive full benefits.
Missing the Expedited Reinstatement window. If your benefits stop and you later cannot work, you have 60 months to request reinstatement. Missing that window means starting a new disability application.
Check Your Full Benefit Eligibility
The Ticket to Work program is one piece of a larger picture. If you receive SSDI, you may also qualify for Medicare, SNAP, LIHEAP heating assistance, Lifeline phone discounts, and other programs. Returning to work affects each of these programs differently.
Use our free benefits screener at /screener to see which programs you currently qualify for and how a change in income might affect each one. The screener covers 11 federal and state programs and takes about five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Ticket to Work program?
Anyone between ages 18 and 64 who receives SSDI or SSI because of a disability is eligible. Participation is free and voluntary.
Does using the Ticket to Work program affect my SSDI payments?
Not directly. Your SSDI payments continue as normal while you are in the Trial Work Period. After the Trial Work Period, payments may be withheld in months when your earnings exceed SGA, but you remain in the system for the 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility.
Will SSA review my disability while I am in the program?
SSA will not conduct a Continuing Disability Review based on your work activity while your ticket is assigned and you are making timely progress toward your employment goal. This is one of the main protections the program provides.
What is the 2026 SGA limit for SSDI?
For 2026, Substantial Gainful Activity is $1,690 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 per month for statutorily blind individuals.
How long does the Trial Work Period last?
The Trial Work Period covers nine months. These months do not need to be consecutive; they count within a rolling 60-month window. Any month in which you earn more than $1,210 (2026 threshold) counts as one trial work month.
Can I switch Employment Networks if I am not satisfied?
Yes. You can un-assign your ticket from one Employment Network and assign it to another at any time. There is no penalty for switching, and your progress history carries over.
Does the Ticket to Work program cover healthcare?
The program itself does not provide health insurance. However, a separate SSA work incentive called Medicare continuation keeps your Medicare coverage active for up to 93 months after your Trial Work Period begins, even if your SSDI cash payments stop.
What happens if I try to work and it does not work out?
If your disability prevents you from continuing to work and your benefits were stopped due to earnings, you can request Expedited Reinstatement within 60 months. SSA can provide provisional benefits for up to six months while reviewing your request.
Is Ticket to Work the same as Vocational Rehabilitation?
No, but they are related. State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies are one type of approved provider under the Ticket to Work program. You can assign your ticket to a State VR agency instead of a private Employment Network. Many people use VR for initial training and then transfer to an EN for ongoing job support.
Where do I find an Employment Network?
Use the SSA's Choose Work directory at choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp. You can search by location, disability type, and the services you need.
