About Work Incentives

Work Incentives make it easier for adults with disabilities to work and still receive health care and cash benefits from Social Security. Work Incentives allow you to remain in control of your finances and health care during your transition to work and financial independence.

Work Incentives That Go With the Ticket to Work Program

Work Incentives make it possible for you to explore work while still receiving health care and cash benefits; they are designed to help you succeed!

• You stay in control of your finances and health care.
• You have access to individualized support services.
• You can select part-time or work-from-home alternatives to help you reach your goal of financial independence.
• You can try work with confidence, knowing your benefits continue during your transition period.

The Ticket to Work program is just one of many Work Incentives available to you. When you assign your Ticket to an Employment Network, you are eligible for several Work Incentives:

Trial Work Period (TWP) (SSDI recipients only)	The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months. During your TWP, you will receive full SSDI benefits no matter how much you earn as long as your work activity is reported and you have a disabling impairment.
Expedited Reinstatement (SSI and SSDI recipients)	If your benefits stopped because of your earnings level, you can request to have your benefits reinstated without having to complete a new application. While Social Security  determines your benefits reinstatement, you are eligible to receive temporary benefits for up to six months.
Protection from Medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR)	You will not have to undergo a medical continuing disability review (CDR) while you are participating in the Ticket to Work program.

One of the best ways to learn more about Work Incentives including the Ticket to Work program is to attend a free Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) online webinar. The Ticket to Work program hosts an accessible online event for you and your family to learn about Work Incentives, including Ticket to Work. You can join a webinar on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Register online or call 1-866-968-7842 / 866-833-2967(TTY/TDD).

Keeping Cash Benefits While Going to School or Working

For SSDI and SSI Recipients:

• Postponement of Medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). Social Security conducts periodic reviews of disability cases to see if beneficiaries are still eligible for disability benefits based on their medical conditions. If a beneficiary no longer meets Social Security’s medical definition of disability, disability cash benefits will stop based on the results of a medical CDR. While you are using your Ticket or receiving services from your State VR agency, Social Security will postpone these medical reviews as long as you are working toward your employment goal.
• Continued Payment Under a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or Similar Program. Allows disability benefits to continue until your vocational rehabilitation program is completed even if Social Security finds you no longer have a disabling impairment due to medical improvement.
• Expedited Reinstatement. If you stop working because of your disability within 5 years of when your cash benefits ended because of work, Social Security may be able to start your benefits again without a new application.
• Impairment Related Work Expenses. These are expenses that you have as a direct result of your disability and which are necessary for you to work.
  
• Subsidy and Special Conditions. These are supports provided by your employer or someone other than your employer that may result in your receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform. The value of this support can be deducted from your countable earnings.
• Special Rules For Individuals Who Are Blind. There are additional Work Incentives designed to assist individuals who are blind. For more information, visit http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10052.html

For SSDI Recipients Only:

• Trial Work Period (TWP). The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months while still getting cash benefits.
• Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the 36 months after the Trial Work Period, Social Security may restart your SSDI benefits without a new application, disability determination, or waiting period.
• Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA). A UWA is work of 6 months or less that Social Security does not count as earnings during an EPE.
• Unincurred Business Expenses (Self Employment only). These are contributions made by others to your self-employment business effort which Social Security deducts from countable earnings.

For SSI Recipients Only:

• Earned Income Exclusion. Less than half of your earnings are counted by Social Security as earned income which may allow you to continue receiving an SSI check while working.
  
• Student Earned Income Exclusion. Gives students under age 22 flexibility to keep more of their cash benefits while working and  going to school.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). A PASS plan allows you to set aside income and resources to achieve your work goal. PASS expenses are not counted when Social Security figures your monthly SSI payment.
• Property Essential to Self-Support. Social Security will not count some resources when determining continuing eligibility for SSI.

Keeping Medical Benefits

For SSDI Recipients Only

• Continuation of Medicare Coverage. Most individuals with disabilities who work will receive at least 93 consecutive months of medical insurance under Medicare even if they no longer receive cash disability benefits.
• Medicare for Individuals with Disabilities Who Work.  Some individuals with disabilities who have returned to work may buy continued Medicare coverage after premium-free coverage ends due to earnings from work.
• Help with Medicare Part A Premiums. Some individuals who return to work may be eligible for a program that helps pay Medicare Part A monthly premiums. Call 800-MEDICARE to get the contact information for your State’s Medical Assistance office.

For SSI Recipients Only:

• Medicaid for Individuals with Disabilities While Working  [Section 1619(b)]. After you return to work, Medicaid coverage may continue even if your income is too high to receive SSI cash benefits. Eligibility to participate in Section 1619(b) is based on income, and the threshold limit varies by state. Visit the SSA Work Site to find the limit for your state and more information.
• Medicaid Buy-In for Working Individuals with Disabilities. Some states allow individuals with disabilities who are working to buy Medicaid coverage. To find out more about the Medicaid buy-in program, contact your State Medical Assistance office at 1-800-Medicare to get their telephone number. 

Find out how Work Incentives apply to you:

To find out how Work Incentives apply to you, make an appointment to meet with a staff member at your local Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project. Visit the Resource Directory to find a WIPA near you or see our Work Incentives Planning and Assistance projects page for more information.

Want to do more reading on your own? Check out the Social Security Red Book, the official guide to Work Incentives.