The Ticket to Work program gives SSI recipients a path to employment without automatically losing their benefits. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want to return to work, test part-time employment, or pursue vocational training, this free federal program provides job supports, benefits counseling, and income protections designed specifically to reduce the financial risk of working. In 2026, several key thresholds have changed thanks to a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment, so this guide covers the current numbers and exactly how the program works for SSI recipients.
What Is the Ticket to Work Program?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) created the Ticket to Work program under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. It is available to anyone between ages 18 and 64 who receives SSI or SSDI because of a disability. Participation is entirely voluntary and costs nothing.
The program connects participants with Employment Networks (ENs) and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies that provide free job placement assistance, career counseling, resume help, and on-the-job supports. The central benefit for SSI recipients is not just the job-search help. It is the combination of work incentives that protect your cash benefits and Medicaid coverage while you test your ability to work.
SSI and SSDI have different rules within Ticket to Work. This article focuses specifically on SSI beneficiaries. If you receive both SSI and SSDI, some SSDI rules (like the Trial Work Period) may also apply to you.
2026 SSI Payment Amounts
Before getting into work rules, it helps to know the baseline amounts for 2026.
| Recipient Type | Monthly Federal Benefit (2026) |
|---|
| Individual | $994 |
| Couple (both eligible) | $1,491 |
| Essential person | $498 |
These amounts reflect the 2.8% COLA that took effect December 31, 2025. State supplements can increase your payment above the federal rate depending on where you live.
How SSI Counts Earned Income
The core work incentive for SSI recipients is the earned income exclusion formula. When you work, SSA does not count every dollar you earn against your benefit. Here is how the calculation works:
- Start with your gross monthly earnings
- Subtract $20 (general income exclusion)
- Subtract $65 (earned income exclusion)
- Divide the remainder by 2 (50% earned income disregard)
- That result is your countable earned income
- SSA reduces your SSI payment by $1 for every $1 of countable income
Example for 2026:
| Step | Amount |
|---|
| Gross monthly wages | $1,000 |
| Minus $20 general exclusion | $980 |
| Minus $65 earned income exclusion | $915 |
| Divided by 2 (50% disregard) | $457.50 |
| SSI benefit reduction | $457.50 |
| Remaining SSI payment | $994 - $457.50 = $536.50 |
At $1,000 per month in earnings, you would still receive $536.50 in SSI plus your full $1,000 in wages, for total monthly income of $1,536.50. That is significantly more than $994 in SSI alone.
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
If you are under age 22 and regularly attending school, an additional exclusion applies on top of the standard formula. In 2026, students can exclude up to $2,410 per month, with an annual cap of $9,730. This exclusion is applied before the standard $20/$65 exclusions, making it possible for student workers to earn a substantial amount before seeing any SSI reduction.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and SSI
SGA is the monthly earnings threshold that determines whether SSA considers you capable of substantial work. The 2026 SGA limits are:
| Population | 2026 Monthly SGA Limit |
|---|
| Non-blind individuals | $1,690 |
| Statutorily blind individuals | $2,830 |
SGA works differently for SSI than for SSDI. For SSDI recipients, exceeding SGA after the Trial Work Period can trigger benefit termination. For SSI recipients, there is no Trial Work Period and no SGA cutoff in the same sense. Instead, your SSI payment simply adjusts up or down based on your countable income each month using the formula above. You can earn above the SGA threshold and still receive a reduced SSI payment, as long as your countable income does not push your benefit to zero.
Once your countable income reduces your SSI to zero for 12 consecutive months, you lose SSI cash benefits. However, Section 1619(b) protects your Medicaid coverage even then.
Section 1619(b): Keeping Medicaid When You Earn Too Much for SSI Cash
One of the most valuable protections for working SSI recipients is Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act. Under this provision, you can keep your Medicaid coverage even after your earned income is too high to receive an SSI cash payment. This matters enormously because losing Medicaid while trying to work is one of the biggest barriers people with disabilities face.
To qualify for 1619(b) Medicaid continuation, you must:
- Have been eligible for an SSI cash payment in at least one of the prior 12 months
- Still meet the SSI disability requirements
- Still meet the SSI non-disability requirements (resources, citizenship, etc.)
- Need Medicaid to continue working
- Have gross earnings below your state's threshold
The 2026 state thresholds vary significantly. A sample:
| State | 2026 1619(b) Threshold |
|---|
| Minnesota | $84,208 |
| Connecticut | $74,867 |
| California | $60,893 |
| New York | $57,512 |
| Texas | $38,616 |
| Florida | $33,726 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | $29,412 |
If your earnings exceed your state's standard threshold, SSA can calculate a personalized threshold that accounts for your actual medical and disability-related costs, including impairment-related work expenses, blind work expenses, or costs covered under a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
How the Ticket to Work Program Suspends Medical Reviews
One direct benefit of using your Ticket to Work is that SSA suspends Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) for SSI recipients while you are actively participating and making timely progress toward your employment goal. CDRs are the periodic reviews SSA conducts to verify you still meet the disability standard.
This protection is separate from the benefits calculation rules. Even if you are not earning enough to reduce your SSI payment, just being enrolled in the program and progressing through your Individual Work Plan protects you from an untimely medical review.
Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
A PASS is a written plan approved by SSA that lets you set aside income or resources toward a specific work goal without those amounts counting against your SSI eligibility. Common uses include:
- Paying tuition or vocational training costs
- Buying tools or equipment for a business
- Covering transportation costs to get to work
- Purchasing assistive technology
Money set aside in an approved PASS does not count as income or resources for SSI purposes. This can help you save for work-related expenses that would otherwise put you over SSI's $2,000 individual resource limit.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
If you pay out of pocket for items or services that your disability requires in order to work, those costs can be deducted from your gross earnings before SSA calculates your countable income. Examples include:
- Specialized transportation (wheelchair-accessible van costs above regular bus fare)
- Prescription medications needed to control symptoms while working
- Medical devices, prosthetics, or adaptive equipment
- Attendant care during work hours
IRWEs are deducted after the $20 and $65 exclusions, further reducing your countable income.
How to Enroll in Ticket to Work: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Confirm eligibility.
You must be between 18 and 64 and currently receive SSI or SSDI because of a disability. SSA will mail you a Ticket notice, but you do not need to wait for it to get started.
Step 2: Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line.
Call 1-866-968-7842 (TTY: 1-866-833-2967) or visit choosework.ssa.gov to get a list of approved Employment Networks and State VR agencies in your area.
Step 3: Choose a service provider.
You can work with either an Employment Network (a private or nonprofit organization) or your State Vocational Rehabilitation agency. Interview a few options and ask about their experience with SSI recipients, what job placement services they offer, and how they handle benefits counseling.
Step 4: Get free benefits counseling.
Before you assign your Ticket to any provider, contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor. WIPA projects are federally funded and free. A WIPA counselor will create a benefits analysis that shows you exactly how different earning levels will affect your SSI payment, Medicaid, and any other benefits you receive.
Step 5: Assign your Ticket.
Once you choose a provider, you and the provider sign an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that outlines your employment goal and the services you will receive. Signing this plan assigns your Ticket and starts the CDR protection.
Step 6: Meet timely progress milestones.
SSA requires that you make timely progress toward your work goal to maintain the CDR protection. Progress standards increase over time. If you fall behind, you can request a reallocation of your Ticket to a different provider.
Step 7: Use work incentives as you start earning.
Your SSI payment will adjust automatically as your earnings change each month. Report your earnings to SSA promptly to avoid overpayments.
Reporting Requirements When Working
Accurate and timely reporting is one of the most important responsibilities for working SSI recipients. You must report to SSA:
- Any change in wages, including starting or stopping work
- Changes in work hours or pay rate
- Any changes in household members, living situation, or other income sources
SSA offers several ways to report: online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, through the SSA mobile wage reporting app, or at your local SSA office. Report by the 10th of the month following the month the change occurred.
Failure to report earnings on time is one of the most common causes of SSI overpayments, which SSA will recover by reducing future payments.
Returning to SSI If Work Ends
If you stop working or your income drops, SSI has two expedited restart provisions:
Expedited Reinstatement (EXR): If your benefits were terminated because of excess earnings, you can request reinstatement within five years without filing a new disability application. SSA will provisionally reinstate benefits for up to six months while reviewing your request.
Continuing Eligibility: If your SSI was only suspended (not terminated) due to excess income, it can be restored in any month your countable income drops below the break-even point.
Other Work Incentives to Know
| Incentive | How It Helps SSI Recipients |
|---|
| Earned Income Exclusion | Reduces countable income by $20 + $65 + 50% of remainder |
| Student SEIE | Excludes up to $2,410/month, $9,730/year for eligible students |
| PASS | Shelters income/resources used toward a work goal |
| IRWE | Deducts disability-related work costs from countable income |
| 1619(b) | Keeps Medicaid when earnings exceed SSI limit |
| Blind Work Expenses | Similar to IRWE but specific to blind SSI recipients |
| CDR Protection | Suspends medical reviews during active Ticket participation |
Check Your Eligibility
Not sure which work incentives apply to your situation or what other programs you may qualify for? Use the Benefits Navigator screener at benefitsusa.org/screener to get a personalized benefits estimate based on your income, household size, and location. It covers SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, and other federal and state programs in one free check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Ticket to Work program?
Anyone between ages 18 and 64 who receives SSI or SSDI due to a disability is eligible. Participation is free and voluntary. You do not have to be currently employed or looking for full-time work.
Does using Ticket to Work affect my SSI payment?
Enrolling in the program and signing an Individual Work Plan does not by itself change your SSI payment. Your payment adjusts only when your actual earned income changes. The program's earned income exclusions and other work incentives are designed to let you keep more of your SSI as you start earning wages.
What is the SSI break-even point in 2026?
The break-even point is the earnings level at which your countable income equals your SSI federal benefit rate and your payment drops to zero. For an individual receiving the maximum $994 per month in 2026 with no other income, the break-even calculation is: ($994 x 2) + $85 = $2,073 in gross monthly wages. Above that level, your SSI cash payment goes to zero, but 1619(b) continues your Medicaid.
Can I keep Medicaid after my SSI cash payment stops?
Yes. Section 1619(b) allows you to keep Medicaid even after your earnings are too high for an SSI cash payment, as long as your gross earnings stay below your state's threshold (ranging from roughly $29,000 to over $84,000 in 2026 depending on the state) and you still meet other SSI eligibility criteria.
What is a WIPA counselor and do I need one?
WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) counselors are federally funded specialists who analyze how working will affect all of your benefits. Meeting with a WIPA counselor before starting work is strongly recommended because the interaction between SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance can be complex. The service is completely free.
What happens if my Ticket to Work provider is not helpful?
You can unassign your Ticket from one provider and reassign it to a different Employment Network or State VR agency at any time. Call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 to find other options.
Does Ticket to Work affect SNAP or housing assistance?
The Ticket program itself does not affect SNAP or housing benefits. However, the wages you earn while working will be counted as income for those programs and may reduce them. A WIPA counselor can run the numbers for your specific situation before you start working.
How long can I use the Ticket to Work program?
There is no fixed end date. You can use the program for as long as you remain eligible for SSI or SSDI and are making timely progress toward your employment goal. If you achieve self-supporting employment and no longer need benefits, your Ticket expires naturally.
