What Is Social Security Ticket to Work? A Milwaukee Guide

What is Ticket to Work?

Ticket to Work is a free, voluntary program from Social Security for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because of a disability. If you are between 18 and 64 and want to work, you can assign your Ticket to an approved Employment Network like Accessible Career Options (ACO) and get employment help at no cost to you.

The program is designed so you can test working, build your skills, and move toward financial independence without immediately losing the benefits and health coverage you rely on. ACO is an authorized Employment Network in Milwaukee, which means you sign up through us — not through a separate application to Social Security.

Who is eligible?

Most people who receive SSI or SSDI because of a disability already have a Ticket, even if they have never used it. You are likely eligible to work with ACO if:

• You receive SSDI or SSI because of a disability.
• You are between the ages of 18 and 64.
• You want to work, increase your earnings, or move toward leaving benefits behind.
• You live in the greater Milwaukee area or elsewhere in southeastern Wisconsin.

How ACO's Employment Network works

When you assign your Ticket to ACO, we become your employment team. The process is built around a written plan called an Individual Work Plan (IWP). Here is what it looks like:

• Free consultation — We talk through your work history, goals, and the kind of schedule and support that fit your life.
• Assign your Ticket to ACO — We confirm your eligibility with Social Security on your behalf.
• Write your Individual Work Plan — This agreement lists your employment goal, the services we will provide, your responsibilities, and how we will track progress.
• Job search and placement — Your job developer works the plan with you, including resumes, applications, interview practice, and employer introductions.
• Coaching after you are hired — On-the-job and off-the-job coaching continues after your start date, plus check-ins on your IWP milestones.

Work incentives that protect your benefits

The most common worry we hear is, 'Will working cost me my benefits?' Social Security has rules called work incentives that exist to prevent exactly that. Our benefits analysts walk you through how each one applies to your situation before you accept a job offer.

• Trial Work Period (SSDI) — SSDI beneficiaries can test working for nine months within a rolling 60-month window and still receive full benefits, no matter how much they earn.
• Extended Period of Eligibility — After the trial work period, there is a 36-month stretch where your benefit can restart in any month your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity level.
• Expedited Reinstatement — If you have to stop working within five years because of your disability, your benefits can be restarted without filing a brand-new application.
• Continued Medicaid and Medicare — Medicare Part A can continue for at least 93 months after your trial work period, and Wisconsin SSI recipients may keep Medicaid under Section 1619(b) while working.
• Paused medical reviews — While you are making timely progress under your IWP, Social Security will not start a scheduled medical continuing disability review.
• SSI earned income exclusions — SSI does not count every dollar you earn. General and earned income exclusions mean your SSI payment drops far more slowly than your paycheck rises.

What to do next

Not sure whether you have a Ticket? Call ACO at 414-239-6465 and we will check for you. You can also read more about the program on our Ticket to Work page or visit choosework.ssa.gov for official Social Security rules.