Are you blind or visually impaired and wondering how to achieve your work and financial goals? Do you want to learn more about the benefits and services that the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers to people with disabilities? If so, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will find some useful information about the “Ticket to Work” program, as well as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, that may help you improve your income and independence.
But before we dive into the details of these programs and benefits, let us first address some of the common misconceptions and myths about blindness and work that may hold you back from pursuing employment.
Misconceptions about blindness and work.
One of the most common misconceptions is that people who are blind have limited job options and cannot use technology, access information, or perform complex tasks. This is not true. People who are blind have diverse skills, interests, and abilities, and can succeed in almost any career with the right technology and accommodations. People who are blind work in many fields, such as law, education, technology, business, and more. For example, Judge David Tatel is a blind federal judge who has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1994. He uses a computer with a screen reader and a braille display to read and write legal documents, and a digital recorder to take notes during oral arguments. He also relies on his clerks and colleagues to assist him with visual tasks, such as reviewing exhibits or maps.
Another misconception is that people who are blind are helpless or dependent on others for daily tasks. This is not true. People who are blind are capable of leading independent lives, pursuing careers, and actively participating in their communities. They use various techniques and tools to perform everyday activities, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, traveling, and more. For example, [Christine Ha] is a blind chef who won the third season of the reality TV show MasterChef. She uses her senses of touch, smell, taste, and hearing to create delicious dishes, and she also uses adaptive equipment, such as talking thermometers, tactile timers, and braille labels, to assist her in the kitchen. She also runs her own blog and YouTube channel, where she shares her recipes and tips for cooking with blindness.
A third misconception is that people who are blind will lose their disability benefits if they work. This is also not true. People who are blind can work and keep some or all of their disability benefits, depending on the type and amount of work and benefits. They can also use work incentives and the Ticket to Work program to protect their benefits and increase their income while working. We will discuss work incentives and the Ticket to Work program later on in this article. But first, let’s discuss a little bit about the history of Social Security and what it is.
What is Social Security?
Social Security is a federal program that provides income and health care coverage to millions of Americans who are retired, disabled, or survivors of deceased workers. The program was created in 1935, during the Great Depression, when poverty rates among senior citizens exceeded 50 percent. The original Social Security Act aimed to provide a safety net for elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged Americans by paying them monthly benefits based on their lifetime earnings and payroll tax contributions. The act also gave money to states to provide assistance to various groups, such as the blind, the disabled, the needy, and the dependent children. Over the years, the program has expanded and changed to meet the needs of the changing society and economy. For example, in 1956, disability benefits were added to the program, and in 1972, automatic cost-of-living adjustments were introduced to keep up with inflation. Today, Social Security pays benefits to more than 70 million Americans, including about 10 million people who are blind or have other disabilities.
Social Security is one of the most important and popular programs in the United States, as it provides a source of income and health care coverage for millions of people who need it. However, not everyone is eligible for Social Security benefits, and not everyone receives the same amount of benefits. There are different types of benefits and eligibility criteria, depending on the type and severity of your disability, your work history, and your income and resources. In the next section, we will explain the difference between two of the main types of benefits that people with disabilities can receive: SSI and SSDI.
What is the difference between SSI and SSDI?
SSI and SSDI are both programs that pay benefits to people who are disabled, but they have different eligibility criteria, financing and administration.
– SSI is an entitlement program with no work-related requirements. It pays a fixed amount of monthly income to people who are blind, 65 or older or have a qualifying disability. They must also have very limited income and resources. SSI is funded by general tax revenues and managed by the SSA.
– SSDI is an earned benefit that has work requirements to qualify. It pays monthly benefits based on an individual’s lifetime average earnings to people who have a disability that prevents them from working. They must also have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. SSDI is funded by payroll taxes and managed by the SSA.
What are work incentives and how can they help me?
Work incentives are special rules that allow people with disabilities to work and still receive some or all of their disability benefits and health care coverage from Social Security. Work incentives are designed to help people with disabilities achieve their employment and financial goals, and to reduce the impact of work on their benefits. Some examples of work incentives are:
– Trial Work Period: This is a period of nine months, not necessarily consecutive, in which you can test your ability to work and receive full SSDI benefits, regardless of how much you earn. The trial work period ends when you have used nine months within a 60-month period. If you are self-employed, Social Security will consider your work to be a trial work month if you earn more than $1,310 in 2024, or if you work more than 80 hours in your business in a month, regardless of the amount of earnings.
– Extended Period of Eligibility: This is a period of 36 consecutive months after the end of your trial work period, in which you can receive SSDI benefits for any month that your earnings are below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level, which is $2,590 for blind workers and $1,550 for non-blind workers in 2024. If you are self-employed, Social Security will use several factors to determine your net earnings from self-employment, such as your income, expenses, and hours of work.
– Expedited Reinstatement: This is a provision that allows you to request to have your SSDI or SSI benefits reinstated without a new application, if you stop working above the SGA level within five years of when your benefits ended. You can also receive provisional benefits for up to six months while Social Security reviews your request.
– Impairment-Related Work Expenses: These are expenses that you pay for items or services that you need to work because of your disability, such as transportation, assistive technology, or medical care. You can deduct these expenses from your earnings when Social Security determines your eligibility and benefit amount for SSDI or SSI. If you are self-employed, you can deduct these expenses from your net earnings from self-employment.- Plan to Achieve Self-Support: This is a plan that you make with Social Security to set aside some of your income or resources to pay for items or services that can help you reach your work goals, such as education, training, or equipment. You can exclude this income or resources from your SSI eligibility and benefit amount calculations. You can also use this plan to save money for starting or expanding your own business.
One of the ways that you can use work incentives to achieve your employment and financial goals is by participating in the Ticket to Work program.
What is the Ticket to Work Program?
The Ticket to Work program is a federal program that helps Social Security beneficiaries with a disability achieve their employment goals. The program offers beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 who receive SSI or SSDI services to help them become employed. The program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.
How does the Ticket to Work Program work?
If you decide to participatepate in the Ticket to Work program, you will receive a ticket that you can assign to an authorized service provider of your choice. The service provider will help you develop an individual work plan that outlines your employment goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. The service provider will also provide you with ongoing support and assistance to help you overcome any barriers or challenges that may arise along the way.
There are two types of service providers that you can choose from: Employment Networks (ENs) and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. ENs are private or public organizations that offer a variety of services, such as career counseling, job placement, training, and benefits counseling. VR agencies are state agencies that provide specialized services for people with disabilities, such as medical treatment, assistive technology, and skills training. You can find a list of service providers in your area by using the Find Help tool on the Choose Work website¹ or by calling the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).
What are the benefits of the Ticket to Work Program?
The Ticket to Work program offers several benefits for people who want to work and receive disability benefits. Some of these benefits are:
– You can keep your cash benefits and health care coverage while you work, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria for SSI or SSDI.
– You can access free services and support from qualified service providers who can help you find and keep a job that suits your abilities and interests.
– You can use work incentives that can help you increase your income and reduce the impact of work on your benefits. Work incentives are special rules that allow you to deduct certain expenses, exclude certain income, or extend certain eligibility periods for your benefits. For example, you can use the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) to set aside some of your income or resources to pay for items or services that can help you reach your work goals, such as education, training, or equipment. You can also use the Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) to deduct the cost of items or services that you need to work because of your disability, such as transportation, assistive technology, or medical care. You can learn more about work incentives by visiting the Work Site² or by contacting a benefits counselor from your service provider.
– You can have protection from medical reviews while you participate in the Ticket to Work program. This means that Social Security will not review your disability status as long as you make timely progress toward your work goals, as defined by your individual work plan. You can also resume your benefits if you have to stop working because of your disability, without having to reapply, as long as you do so within certain time limits.
Hopefully you have found this article useful and informative, and that it has inspired you to pursue your work and financial goals. If you want to learn more about the topics we have covered, or if you have any questions or comments, please visit the Social Security website and feel free to contact us at tim@lifeafterblindness.com. We would love to hear from you! You can also visit our partner website, Get SSA Help, where you can find more information and assistance from Debi Schwartz, a certified benefits counselor who specializes in helping people with disabilities navigate the complex system of Social Security., Thank you for reading and remember: there truly can be a life after blindness.