TN 1 (10-02)

A. Policy – beneficiary/recipient choice

The Ticket to Work program is voluntary.

• A beneficiary/recipient has the option of deciding when and whether to assign the ticket.

• A beneficiary/recipient may choose to assign the ticket to any Employment Network (EN) or to a State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency (see DI 55001.001B.5.).

• An EN may select the beneficiaries/recipients to whom it will offer services based on factors such as its assessment of the needs of the beneficiary/recipient and its ability to help the individual. State VR agencies follow the guidelines in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, when determining if a beneficiary/recipient is eligible VR services.

• A beneficiary's/recipient's non-use of the ticket will not affect entitlement to or eligibility for disability/blindness-based benefits.

B. Policy – number of tickets

1. One ticket per period of entitlement or eligibility

Generally, a beneficiary/recipient, who meets the requirements in DI 55002.005, may receive only one ticket during any period when the beneficiary/recipient is either:

• entitled to title II benefits based on disability; or

• eligible for title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness and eligibility has not terminated.

2. Exception – lost tickets

SSA will replace lost tickets (see DI 55002.030C).

3. EXR cases

a. General rule

Generally, an individual whose entitlement to or eligibility for disability/blindness benefits terminated because of work activity or earnings will receive another ticket in the month in which:

• SSA processes reinstatement of entitlement to title II benefits based on disability under section 223(i) of the Act, or eligibility to title XVI benefits based on disability or blindness under section 1631(p) of the Act (see DI 13050.001); and

• the beneficiary/recipient meets the requirements in DI 55002.005B and none of the exceptions in DI 55002.005C.1. through DI 55002.005C.3. and DI 55002.005C.5. through DI 55002.005C.9.

When SSA issues another ticket to a reinstated beneficiary/recipient, SSA will terminate any ticket issued as a result of the earlier entitlement to or eligibility for benefits (see DI 55002.055A.2.b.).

b. Exception – former concurrent beneficiary's entitlement/eligibility was continuous under the other program

SSA will not issue another ticket in an EXR case, if the beneficiary/recipient had been a former concurrent disability/blindness beneficiary and his/her entitlement/eligibility under the other program continued.

EXAMPLE: An individual receives concurrent disability/blindness-based benefits and is found eligible for a ticket. Subsequently, the individual goes to work and the work causes the title II entitlement to terminate, but not the title XVI eligibility. Then, the individual stops work, requests EXR, and has his/her entitlement to title II benefits reinstated (i.e., there is a favorable medical decision). This individual will not receive another ticket because his/her eligibility under title XVI never stopped.

C. Policy – tickets are portable

Once SSA issues a ticket, SSA will not take it back. If a ticket holder moves to a State in which SSA has not yet implemented the Ticket to Work program, the ticket is still valid. The Ticket will also remain “assignable,” provided all other criteria are met (see DI 55025.001B.1.).

EXAMPLE: During Phase 1 of the Ticket to Work program, if someone living in New York receives a ticket and moves to New Jersey (a non-ticket State), the ticket is still valid and assignable. The individual can choose to travel to an approved EN in a ticket State (e.g., New York) for services. Or, the individual may be able to receive services locally (i.e., in New Jersey), if an approved EN is willing to provide services. Should the individual contact SSA for assistance in finding an EN in the individual's new location, the field component will refer the individual to MAXIMUS, SSA's Program Manager (PM).

D. Policy – when an individual is ticket-eligible

An individual is ticket-eligible as of the date SSA selects the record, not the date SSA mails the ticket. Ticket eligibility information appears on ticket queries (see DI 55002.025). A ticket-eligible individual does not need a physical ticket before contacting an EN or State VR agency about services, or assigning the ticket.

E. Policy – requirements for assigning or reassigning a ticket

Individuals with tickets cannot automatically assign or reassign them to an EN or State VR agency. Certain requirements must be satisfied and these are discussed in DI 55025.001B.1., DI 55025.001B.2. and DI 55025.001B.5.