Ticket to work is a new Social Security Program. The goal of the program is to assist people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) obtain employment and earn enough money to end the need for cash benefits. The program is voluntary.

Why did Social Security implement this program?

• To lower the barriers to employment for  people who receive SSI and SSDI
• To encourage people to access vocational services to assist them to work and achieve self-sufficiency
• To provide more vocational options for beneficiaries
• To create a comprehensive set of supports  for employing  people with disabilities

What are some of the benefits?

• Assistance from Employment Networks in finding employment opportunities.
• The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not conduct a continuing Disability Review.

Staying Enrolled and Eligible

In order to keep using the services made available by your Ticket - for the Ticket to be considered "in use" - you must demonstrate "timely progress" on your Individual Work Plan (IWP). Social Security defines timely progress differently during different time windows:

• Active participation in the Individual Work Plan during the first 24-month period
• Increased work activity and earnings during subsequent 12-month progress review periods

Receiving services under the program

You can receive Ticket program services for sixty months - 5 years - and sometimes longer. Full use of sixty months of services under current rules is allowed once during each period of a Social Security disability

Wages and eligibility

Earnings (wages) have the same affect on benefit eligibility whether the individual participates in the Ticket Program or not. The SSI work rules and SSDI work rules describe how wages affect these benefits.

Individual Work Plan

Your Individual Work Plan is your formal agreement with your Employment Network detailing exactly how you will use their services in order to achieve your employment goals. The Plan includes specific steps and time frames and may span many years

Medical Continuing Disability Review

All Social Security disability beneficiaries normally undergo periodic medical reviews, called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). Social Security uses the CDR to determine if there has been medical improvement in your condition, or to determine whether you are still eligible for benefits. So long as you are making timely progress on your Individual Work Plan (IWP), Social Security will not initiate a medical CDR.

Employment Networks

An Employment Network (EN) is an entity approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide employment-related services under the Ticket to Work Program (TTW). Employment Networks may offer a variety of services such as job readiness services, placement services, vocational rehabilitation, training, job coaches, transportation or other supports.

For more information and an up to  date list of ENs in Hawaii, visit the Ticket to Work Web Site. For further information, visit Social Security's Ticket to Work Page.

Call Toll Free
1-866-968-7842

Toll-Free TDD Line
1866TDD2WORK
1-866-833-2967

Employment Networks Serving Hawaii

Vocational Rehabilitation and Services
601 Kamokila Boulevard Room 515
Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 692-7720
(808) 692-7727 FAX

Goodwill Industries
2610 Kilihau Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 836-0313

Network Enterprises, Inc.
680 Iwilei Road Suite1422
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 521-7774

Oahu Worklinks
711 Kapiolani Boulevard Suite 1422
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 843-0733

Puna Kamali`I Flowers, Inc.
Contact: Vicki Nelson
16-211 Kalara Street
Keaau, HI  96749
(808) 982-8322

AAATAKECHARGE
A national web-based EN open to all ticket holders since 2001.
Contact: Val Pinter
(214) 660-3640

National Telecommuting Institute, Inc.
NTI is an educational/job-matching organization pioneering the development of telework jobs for people with disabilities.
Contact: John Bertram
1505 Commonwealth Avenue, Fl. 3
Boston, MA  02135
(800) 619-0111

For more information about how the Ticket and working affects disability benefits, talk to a Community Work Incentives Coordinator at the Hawaii Disability Rights Center. For guidance on how to handle a disagreement or dispute with an EN, you may also contact the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

Hawaii Disability Rights Center
900 Fort Streeet Mall, Suite 1040
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 949-2922
Info@hawaiidisabilityrights.org