Did you know that the Ticket to Work program did NOT exist in the 90’s but the “Trial Work Period” DID? At that time Vocational Rehabilitation & the Trial Work Period existed to provide a disabled beneficiary a better opportunity to test their ability to work before they were subject to the loss of disability benefits. We covered in previous blogs what Trial Work Period is, but let’s give a quick recap. Trial Work Period (TWP) is 9 months of any 60 consecutive months that a disability beneficiary works and can still receive their SSDI checks no matter how high their income is. Back in the 90’s, a beneficiary would use a TWP month when they had monthly gross work earnings of $200 or more.
In 1999 the “Ticket to Work Incentives Improvement Act” was signed into law to increase the options for individuals with disabilities who wished to return to work. Making available enhancements to the existing work incentive programs.
This program then expanded beyond the “Trial Work Period”, adding two more phases:
Phase 2 – The Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
- The EPE starts the month after TWP ends.
- Grace Period: The first month countable wages go above SGA after TWP ends, you get to keep your SSDI check that month and the following 2 months no matter how high wages go.
- A 3-year safety net that starts the month after the 9th TWP month and ends 36 months later.
- Continue receiving SSDI check each month countable gross wages are below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) $1,350 or if blind $2,260. This amount changes yearly see link https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html.
- Stay in Eligibility Status for 36 months, even in months not getting checks. Report earnings reduction to Social Security to restart SSDI cash benefit if it stops due to wages.
- Keep Medicare coverage – Extended Medicare if cash benefits cease due to work, Medicare can continue for at least 93 months after Trial Work Period.
Phase 3 – Post EPE Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
- After the 36 months of EPE ends, if countable wages are below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), SSDI cash benefits continues.
- Expedited Reinstatement: The first month countable wages go above SGA ($1,350 or if blind $2,260 in 2022) your benefit will terminate.
- ***If, within 5 years from that point, countable wages drop below SGA and disability prevents SGA level work, you can request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR), and get 6 months of provisional benefits while Social Security decides on your reapplication.
- If eligibility is reinstated, after receiving 24 months of benefits, you receive a new TWP, EPE, EXR and Extended Period of Medicare Coverage.
EXR is a safety net if your cash benefits end because of your work. If you make less money or must stop working because of your disability, Social Security may be able to restart your benefits right away if all of these requirements are met:
- You stop working above the SGA level.
- Your disability is the same as or related to your current disability.
- You make your request within five years of when your benefits end.
The Ticket to Work program has been a great path to work for many, and as an Employment Network we provide free employment services to disability beneficiaries deciding if working is right for them. For more information about the Ticket to Work program contact us at 888-359-2366.
~ Tina
Resources:
The link here shows the earnings amount that Social Security uses to determine if a month counts as a TWP month. This amount changes every year. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/twp.html
Page 21 Section 5112: Trial Work Period for all disabled beneficiaries (dated May 1991) https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v54n5/v54n5p19.pdf
Page 35 https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-030.pdf
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