The Employment Network is a part of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Ticket to Work program. Ticket to Work gives people who are disabled chances to work or increase the hours they already work if they choose. In addition to offering altered conditions to work with your disability, organizations may offer vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other support services.
An employment network (EN) can be an employer, an individual, public or private providers, or organization partnerships. They contract with the SSA to provide necessary services to Social Security disability recipients or coordinate their delivery.
Once you come to agreement with an EN or VR service, you officially begin the Ticket to Work program. The Ticket to Work program lasts nine months while you’re on disability benefits. After nine months, even if you find you can work and no longer need your monthly disability benefits, you can keep your Medicare for at least 93 months and may still be eligible for Medicaid.
Connecting with ENs is easy. The SSA hosts webinars, adversities on social media, including LinkedIn, and can call SSD recipients they think may be interested. You can find ENs or more information yourself on the Ticket to Work website or call them at 1-866-968-7842, (TTY 1-866-833-2967).
The online directory on the website is free and open the public. The guided searches allow to you to filter results by location or gives you the option to take a short quiz that will determine the ENs based on your age, skills, education, disability, and more. If you find an EN you are interested in, you may contact the EN yourself.
ENs may also have access to your basic contact information and reach out to you if you are eligible for their program. However, ENs are generally not required to offer service to everyone, so you need to find and EN that will work with you. Either your or the EN end your agreement at any time. If so, you need to find another EN to work with to continue in the Ticket to Work program.