The Basics
The possibility of work for people with disabilities is more of a reality than ever before. Many people with disabilities have meaningful jobs that they enjoy and are successful at doing. With the right kind of training, preparation, and workplace accommodations, you can have a successful career. Work will not only let you earn your own money, but also give you independence from public benefits. You will likely meet new people and make new friends at your job. You will have the opportunity to make choices about the type of job you want to do and where you want to work.
You may have heard many myths about how working will affect your disability benefits and health care coverage. You may be afraid that you will lose your benefits if you work. You may be concerned about how to get your benefits back if you stop working or need to work fewer hours because of your disability. We want to give you the facts about those myths, so you will feel comfortable and safe beginning or returning to work, and so you won’t worry about losing your benefits before you are ready.
The Social Security Administration and the state of Missouri have built many safeguards into their benefits programs that will let you begin working without losing your benefits. These safeguards are ways to keep your cash benefits and health insurance benefits, if you still need them, when you go to work or change the number of hours that you work.
In this section, we discuss 7 common myths about working and explain how they can be misleading and often discouraging for people with disabilities who want to work.
- Myth #1: I can’t work because of my disability.
- Myth #2: I will lose my SSI/SSDI benefits when I start to work.
- Myth #3: If I work, I will lose my health care benefits.
- Myth #4: If I start working, Social Security will decide I’m not disabled anymore.
- Myth #5: There are no resources that can help me find and keep a job.
- Myth #6: I can’t afford the extra costs of starting to work.
- Myth #7: I don’t need my benefits as long as I have a job, but if I have to stop working because of my disability, I won’t be able to get my benefits back.
Are You on SSI, SSDI, or Both? Why You Need to Know
People often get confused about the differences between SSI and SSDI — this is very common. It is important for you to know which program you are on (or if you are on both programs). This will help you understand how your benefits will be affected by working. If you don’t know which program(s) you are on, see if these brief explanations can help you figure it out.
SSI is a “needs-based” program. This means it is for people with little or no income and few resources. SSI pays up to $914 per month for a person. You may know that you are on SSI if you have had little or no paid work history. Another sign is that you get your cash benefits on the first of every month. If you are enrolled in the 1619(b) program, you are on SSI. People on SSI have a limit of $2,000 in resources.
SSDI is also called "SSD" or "disability" or "disability insurance benefit." SSDI works like an insurance policy. When you work, a tax called FICA is deducted from your paycheck. This is how you pay into this insurance policy. If you become disabled, you can get cash benefits from SSDI. So, to be eligible for SSDI, you must have worked in the past and paid FICA taxes. The cash benefits can be anywhere from $1 to more than $2,000 per month, depending on how long you worked and paid into this system. There are no resource limits for SSDI. SSDI benefits are not paid on the first of the month. These benefits are paid on the third of the month or on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month.
If you’re still not sure which program(s) you’re on, you may want to request something called a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from your local Social Security office. A BPQY statement has information about which disability benefits you get, including your cash benefits, health care benefits, and work history. To read Social Security's BPQY manual, click here (PDF).
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Myth 1: I Can't Work
My doctor or other important people in my life have told me that I cannot work. They say it is too stressful and may make my condition worse.
Your disability may impact the kinds of jobs you can do and the number of hours you’re able to work. However, many people with disabilities are finding that with good, thoughtful preparation and support, they are able to succeed at jobs that are satisfying and meaningful to them. It is common to have fears about your ability to work. You may be nervous about leaving your house, finding transportation to and from work, having new work-related expenses, and handling your new work schedule. It is normal to have these concerns, but there are many resources and laws that will support you.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities if they are qualified for a job. This includes all areas of employment, such as interviewing, hiring, firing, training, promotions, and benefits. Often, with reasonable accommodations you can be successful at more jobs than you may have thought possible. Employers are required by law to offer reasonable accommodations, so that you can do your job. These accommodations will be different from person to person, depending on each person’s needs and job setting. Read more about the ADA and reasonable accommodations in the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations.
Vocation Rehabilitation (VR)
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can help you prepare for, find, and keep work. The services will be different from person to person, depending on each person’s needs. VR will work with you to figure out which services you will need. You and a VR counselor will develop a plan to help you reach your work goals. VR is an example of an agency where you can use your Ticket to Work. To apply for services, call or visit a VR counselor at your local VR office.
Job Coach
A job coach is a person who offers specialized on-site training to help you with learning and performing your job and adjusting to the work environment. A job coach can help you with work-related concerns, such as how to talk to your boss about questions you have on the job and what accommodations you may need. You might have a job coach through your Ticket to Work program, Vocational Rehabilitation, or through another agency.
Disability Disclosure
People with disabilities often wonder if they should tell their potential employers about their disability. And, if they decide to do so, should they disclose their disability during the interview, when they get a job offer, or after they have been hired. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the only time you have to disclose your disability is if you need to request a reasonable accommodation from your employer to perform an essential function of your job. However, there are other reasons you may want, or not want, to disclose your disability. This decision will vary from person to person and from situation to situation.
You may not have the option to not disclose your disability. For example, you may need to ask if the interview location is accessible or you may need an interpreter for the interview. If that’s the case, you will need to carefully write a disclosure statement to the employer. Remember to focus on your abilities, not your disabilities.
For more information about disclosing your disability, read the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations or check out the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).
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Myth 2: If I Work, I'll Lose SSI/SSDI
My friend told me that he lost his Social Security when he went to work and he was not earning enough money to pay his bills. I don’t want that to happen to me.
It is common to be concerned that if you start working, you’ll lose your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and that you might not earn enough to pay for all your expenses.
Both SSI and SSDI have rules that allow you to try working without worrying about losing your benefits. Some of these rules are the same for both programs, but most of them are different for the 2 programs. If you have questions, you may want to talk to a Benefits Specialist.
Here are some basic guidelines about how each program is affected by working. For detailed information, click here to read Social Security’s Guide to Employment Supports, also called “the Red Book.”
- SSI uses a Countable Income Calculation to figure out your cash benefits based on your monthly total countable income. Important: If you are on SSI benefits only, you will always have more money if you work.
- If you are under age 22, on SSI, going to school, and working, you may be eligible for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). The SEIE allows you to earn up to $2,220 per month while going to school without having your SSI benefits lowered. Over the course of a year, you can make up to $8,950 without impacting your countable earned income calculation.
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Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) are disability-related expenses you pay for out of your own pocket so that you can work. Some examples of IRWEs are transportation expenses, assistive technology, and specialized or modified office equipment, such as desks, phones, or computers. If they’re approved by Social Security, you can deduct your IRWEs when calculating your income. This will lower your total countable income, so that you can keep more of your SSI benefits. To be approved by Social Security, the expense must:
- Be paid for by you
- Relate to your disabling medical condition
- Be necessary (without it, you would be unable to work)
- If you get SSI benefits and have a specific work goal, you may be eligible for the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). This program allows you to save money from your earnings for expenses that are related to your work goal. While using a PASS, you will continue getting your SSI benefits to pay for living expenses. PASS funds have to be kept separate from your other money, and you have to keep records of your PASS expenses. To learn more, read the DB101 article about Building Your Assets and Wealth or contact a PASS Cadre.
- For more information about working while you get SSI benefits, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.
Watch this video to understand what to expect with your SSI when you go to work:
- If you are on SSDI, the Trial Work Period (TWP) allows you to try working while continuing to get your full SSDI benefits. Your Trial Work Period consists of 9 Trial Work months within a 60-month (or 5-year) period. If you earn more than $1,050 in a particular month, it counts as a Trial Work month. If you earn less than $1,050, it doesn’t. Either way, you keep getting your full SSDI benefits until you’ve used all 9 Trial Work months within a 60-month (or 5-year) period.
- If you are on SSDI, you will also be eligible for an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). The EPE begins the first month after your Trial Work Period ends and will continue for the following 36 months (or 3 years). During this time, if you earn less than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level ($1,470 per month in 2023; $2,460 if you're blind), you will get your SSDI benefits that month. If you earn more than the SGA limit, you will not.
- If you have any Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs), Social Security allows you to deduct the value of those expenses from your gross earnings during your Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), but not during your Trial Work Period. Deducting your IRWEs may allow you to keep your SSDI cash benefits, if it lowers your earnings below the SGA level.
- If you are on SSDI and have a specific work goal, you may want to look into the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program. This program allows you to save earned income and unearned income to pay for expenses related to your work goal. Note that you must be eligible for SSI to qualify for a PASS. While using a PASS, you will get SSI benefits to pay for living expenses. To learn more, read the DB101 article about Building Your Assets and Wealth or contact a PASS Cadre.
- For more information about working while you get SSDI, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.
Learn more about SSDI program rules in DB101's SSDI article.
Watch this video to understand how SSDI's rules can help you when you go back to work:
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Myth 3: If I Work, I'll Lose Health Benefits
I have ongoing health care needs that I would never be able to pay for myself. People tell me I shouldn’t work because then I might not be able to see my doctors and get the care I need.
Losing your health care benefits can be a huge concern, if you are thinking about going to work. However, several programs can help you keep your health care benefits when you go to work. Some jobs will offer employer-sponsored health care benefits. But for some people that will not be enough. Some people may also want to keep their Medicare or MO HealthNet benefits.
It is important to know what type of health care coverage you have, so you know what will happen to that coverage when you go to work. Here we will describe the most common public health care coverage programs for people with disabilities.
You can also try DB101's Finding the Right Coverage for You interactive guide to get an idea of which of these programs might work best in your situation.
Note: DB101 keeps track of changes to health coverage and related laws. DB101 articles and tools have recently been updated to include MO HealthNet's expansion of coverage for adults 18-64 years old (Medicaid Expansion). Get more information about applying for this coverage.
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people over age 65 and people with disabilities who are on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you have gotten SSDI benefits for more than 24 months (or 2 years), you are probably on Medicare. If you’ve gotten SSDI benefits for less than 24 months, your Medicare will start when you’ve gotten benefits for 24 months.
If you’re on SSDI and have to pay a Medicare Part B premium, it will be deducted from your monthly SSDI benefits amount. You may not have to pay a Part B premium if you qualify for:
- MO HealthNet health coverage and get SSI, Supplemental Aid to the Blind (SAB), or Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC);
- MO HealthNet’s Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program; or
- MO HealthNet’s Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program.
Medicare and Work
When you work and get SSDI cash benefits, you keep your Medicare — plain and simple. If your SSDI cash benefits stop because of work, you can keep your Medicare for many years. This means that even if your SSDI benefits stop, your Medicare will continue for many more years. This is called “Extended Medicare.”
Extended Medicare
You can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 8.5 years after you return to work. (The 8.5 years includes your 9-month Trial Work Period.) After your Trial Work Period, you will get at least 7 years and 9 months of continued Medicare coverage, as long as you continue to have your disabling condition according to Social Security’s rules.
Learn more about Medicare in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.
MO HealthNet
Keeping MO HealthNet is a big concern for people with disabilities who want to work.
Eligibility for MO HealthNet is based on your income and resources:
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If your household's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is 138% of FPG or less ($20,120 per year or less if you are single), you may qualify for income-based MO HealthNet (also called "Medicaid expansion"). It doesn't matter how much your family has in resources.
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If you are disabled, you may instead qualify for disability-based MO HealthNet if your countable income is less than 85% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), $1,033 per month, and your resources are below $5,726 ($11,452 for couples).
- If you are blind, you may also qualify if your countable income is less than 100% of FPG, $1,215 per month, and your resources are below $5,726 ($11,452 for couples).
If you work and your income is below these levels, you should be able to keep MO HealthNet. But that’s not a lot of money to live on every month. And what if you want to save money to buy a car or a house or go on vacation? There are a few ways you can keep your MO HealthNet while working and earning more than these limits:
- You can get MO HealthNet with a spend down.
- You can get MO HealthNet through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 1619(b) rule.
- You can get MO HealthNet through a program called the Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA) program.
To qualify through these you must:
- Have or apply for a Social Security number
- Live in Missouri and intend to stay
- Be a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen
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Have limited resources
- For most MO HealthNet programs, including the spend down and TWHA, you must have less than $5,726 in available resources ($11,452 for couples).
- For people who get MO HealthNet through 1619(b), the resource limit is the same as SSI’s, $2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple.
The amount of money you can make and whether you have to pay a monthly premium or spend money of your own for care depends on your situation. Here we’ll explain the differences between these three programs.
When you apply for MO HealthNet, you don’t have to tell them you are applying for the spend down or the Ticket to Work Health Assurance program. They’ll look at your application and figure out which is the best MO HealthNet program for you. If you are in 1619(b) status, you need to tell your local Family Support Division (FSD) office, because they do not get notice from Social Security.
If you need help completing your application, talk to a Benefits Specialist.
Learn more about MO HealthNet in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.
MO HealthNet with a Spend Down
If you make more than MO HealthNet’s income limit, you may qualify for MO HealthNet with a spend down. A spend down is like an insurance deductible or an insurance premium. With a spend down, you are responsible for part of your medical expenses each month before MO HealthNet will start paying for them.
Every month when you meet the spend down, you will get MO HealthNet coverage. When you don’t meet the spend down, you won’t get MO HealthNet coverage. You can meet the spend down by either paying the spend down to the Department of Social Services (DSS) MO HealthNet Division or submitting bills for medical expenses you are personally responsible for to the Family Support Division (FSD). You may choose to pay the spend down some months and not pay it in other months, if you do not have health care expenses every month.
To see some common questions people ask about how the MO HealthNet spend down works, click here.
SSI’s 1619(b) Program
For people on SSI, the 1619(b) program lets you work and keep MO HealthNet, even if you make too much money to get SSI cash benefits. If you are on this program, you will not have to pay a premium.
In addition to the eligibility requirements listed earlier for all MO HealthNet programs, to qualify for MO HealthNet based on 1619(b) you must:
- Be found eligible for 1619(b) status by Social Security
- Have got MO HealthNet (Medicaid) in the month prior becoming eligible for 1619(b) status
To be eligible for 1619(b) status you must:
- Have been eligible for SSI cash benefits for at least 1 month
- Be working and have gross earnings below $49,608 per year
- Not be getting SSI benefits because you earn too much
- Still be considered disabled or blind by SSI
- Need MO HealthNet to be able to work
- Not make enough money to pay for the services you get with MO HealthNet benefits
- Respond to all Social Security requests for information
Note: When your income is counted, Social Security won’t count all of your income, thanks to various SSI work incentives. So you may be making more than $49,608 per year and still qualify for 1619(b).
MO HealthNet Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA) Program
If you have a disability and are working and your income is more than regular MO HealthNet allows, you may be eligible for the Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA) program. TWHA covers the same services that standard MO HealthNet covers, including visits to the doctor, hospital stays, medical equipment, home care services, and mental health services. The program encourages you to work and enjoy the benefits of working without having to worry that you’ll lose your health benefits.
In addition to the eligibility requirements listed earlier for all MO HealthNet programs, to qualify for TWHA you must:
- Be age 16 – 64
- Be working and paying Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Get Social Security disability benefits or be considered disabled by the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Support Division (FSD)
- Have gross income of $3,645 per month or less for an individual, $4,930 or less for a couple.
- Also meet countable net income limits. Your countable net income is calculated by the Family Support Division and includes various deductions from your gross income.
Depending on your gross income, you may have to pay a monthly premium for this type of MO HealthNet coverage. Premiums range from a minimum of $42 per month to a maximum of $211 per month, depending on your situation.
Learn more about Ticket to Work Health Assurance in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.
Public and Private Coverage
Remember, you can have both private health coverage and public health coverage at the same time. Some private plans have rules limiting what services they will pay for. These rules may include some services that are critical to some people with disabilities, such as Personal Care Assistant services and private duty nursing.
If you are eligible for Medicare or MO HealthNet, which are public health coverage programs, and you get a job that offers you private group coverage, be sure you understand how they will work together. Sometimes your MO HealthNet coverage will help pay for some costs associated with your private coverage, such as your premium, copayments, or deductibles.
To learn more, read DB101's pages about employer-sponsored coverage and individual coverage through HealthCare.gov.
If your income goes up so much that you no longer qualify for MO HealthNet and you can't get Medicare or employer-sponsored coverage, the government may help you pay for a private health coverage plan on HealthCare.gov.
For more information about individual coverage, read DB101's article on How Health Benefits Work.
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Myth 4: If I Work, I'll Lose Disability Status
A friend of mine started working and then Social Security decided she didn’t have a disability anymore, so they cut her off completely. I don’t want that to happen to me.
You may have heard that if you are working, Social Security will assume you do not have a disability anymore and then you will not be eligible for any of their programs. This is not true. Although Social Security may do a medical review of your case, they will not automatically stop your benefits just because you are working. They have to go through a process called the Continuing Disability Review (CDR) before they can stop your benefits. During the CDR, they will gather your medical records and ask you (and sometimes your family or friends) to offer information about how your disability or health condition continues to affect your life.
Social Security may also require that you go to an appointment with a doctor who has a contract with Social Security. If they decide your condition no longer meets their definition of disability, they must notify you of that decision. If you disagree with their decision, you can file an appeal.
However, if you are using the Ticket to Work program, and you are meeting your goals and timelines, Social Security will not do a medical CDR while your Ticket is still valid. For more information on the Ticket to Work program, click here.
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Myth 5: I Can't Get Help Finding Work
I have no idea about how to go about finding and keeping a job. Is there anyone who can help me?
It can be difficult looking for and finding a job if you think you have to do it all on your own. Actually, there are several excellent state and national resources that can help you. These organizations can help you prepare for your job search, find a job that’s right for you, and offer advice and support services to help you keep your job.
Missouri Job Centers
Missouri Job Centers offer free services, including job placement, skills assessments, job training, career counseling, and resume development, to jobseekers.
You can get some services online at jobs.mo.gov or you can go to a Job Center in person. To find a Missouri Job Center near you, call 1-888-728-5627 (1-888-728-JOBS) or click here for a list of all Job Centers in Missouri.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can help you prepare for, find, and keep work. One of the main eligibility criteria for VR services is that you must have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult for you to find and keep a job. If you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) based on your disability, you are generally eligible for VR services.
The services VR offers vary depending on the needs of each person. VR will work with you to figure out which services you need. You and a VR counselor will develop a plan to help you reach your work goals. To locate a VR office in your area where you can apply, click here.
Ticket to Work
The Ticket to Work program is designed to help people with disabilities find and keep work. If you are 18 – 64 years old and are getting SSI or SSDI benefits, you participate in this program. With the Ticket to Work program, you can access employment-related services and supports from Employment Networks (ENs), including training, job placement, job coaching, and vocational assessments. To search for an EN in your area, click here. To learn more about the Ticket to Work program, click here.
Here are several other resources that may help you understand the work world and find and keep a job:
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Myth 6: I Can't Afford to Work
I’m thinking about going to work but I don’t know how I will be able to afford the new expenses for clothes, transportation, meals, and additional hours of personal assistance services.
You may need to pay for transportation to get to and from your job, or you may need to buy special tools or equipment. The following programs can help you with these and other costs.
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) and Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) are disability-related expenses you pay for out of your own pocket so that you can work. Some examples are assistive technology, specialized office equipment, and some transportation expenses. You may be able to deduct these expenses when calculating your countable income so that it is lower. By lowering your countable income, you may be able to get higher Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or keep getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits when you are earning more than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level ($1,470 in 2023; $2,460 if you're blind). If you have questions about this, talk to a Benefits Specialist.
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
If you get SSI and have a specific work goal, you may be eligible for the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program. If you don’t get SSI benefits, you may also be eligible for the PASS program if doing it would help you become eligible for SSI. For example, if your income from SSDI prevents you from getting SSI benefits, you may be able to put your SSDI benefits into a PASS so that you can begin getting SSI benefits in addition to your SSDI benefits.
A PASS lets you save money from your earnings or SSDI benefits to pay for expenses related to your work goal. While using a PASS, you will continue getting SSI benefits to pay for your living expenses. PASS funds have to be kept separate and you have to keep records of your PASS expenses.
Social Security employs special staffers called the PASS Cadre to help you set up and understand your PASS. For more information, contact a PASS Cadre or read the DB101 page about PASS.
Vocational Rehabilitation
In some situations, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can help pay for the costs of assistive technology, tools, and equipment related to your new job. VR can help you and your employer to figure out which services you need, regardless of who is paying for the service. If you are not working, you and a VR counselor can develop a plan to help you reach your work goals. If you are already working, you and a VR counselor can develop a plan to help you keep that work. To locate a VR office in your area where you can apply, click here.
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Myth 7: If My Benefits Stop, I'll Never Get Them Again
I’m doing pretty well at work, but my disability gets worse sometimes. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get SSI or SSDI if I need them. Will they think I'm not disabled because I was working?
If you are not able to keep working or if you need to work fewer hours, you might worry about going through the long process of applying for benefits again.
However, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) have rules to help people who work. These may allow your benefits to be restarted without your having to reapply.
- If you are on the SSI 1619(b) program and your income drops below a certain level, you will be eligible for SSI benefits again without needing to reapply. For information on this, talk to a Benefits Specialist.
- Once you are no longer eligible for SSI or 1619(b), you may be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). If your SSI benefits stopped because of your earnings from work, and you were eligible for SSI within the last 5 years, you can use EXR to begin getting SSI benefits again.
- To learn more about these, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.
- The Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) begins the first month after your Trial Work Period ends and it will continue for 36 months (or 3 years) in a row. During this time, if you earn less than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, you will get your SSDI benefits that month. If you earn more than the SGA level, you will not get SSDI benefits. No new application is required to get your SSDI benefits if your earnings are less than the SGA level.
- After the EPE ends, you may be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). If your Social Security benefits stop because of your earnings, you can use EXR to get your SSDI benefits restarted, if you stopped working within 5 years of the time your benefits ended.
- To learn more about these, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.
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Next Steps
Find a Job
Contact a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office in your area to sign up for an orientation to learn about the eligibility requirements and services VR offers. The program offers a variety of services to people with disabilities to prepare for, get, and keep employment.
Missouri Job Centers can help you find a job and plan for your career. To find a Missouri Job Center near you, call 1-888-728-5627 (1-888-728-JOBS) or click here for a list of all Job Centers in Missouri.
Jobs.mo.gov is an online service where you can look for jobs.
The U.S. Department of Labor's My Skills, My Future website helps job seekers match their skills with new careers and find out what training is needed to move from one job to another.
Apply for Benefits
You can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
- By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY)
- At your local Social Security Office
You can also apply for SSDI online. If you have an appointment with Social Security, it's a good idea to review the Disability Starter Kit to prepare.
Ticket to Work
Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program helps people with disabilities who get Social Security benefits re-enter the workforce and become more independent. The Ticket to Work Program offers free access to employment-related services, such as training, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation.
Benefits Planning Services
If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or CDB benefits, and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Specialist can help you avoid complications when you are working on a job plan for your future. For questions or guidance specific to your situation, you can speak to someone at the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-833-2967 TTY/TDD) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM EST.