CRYSTAL MELERO:
This segment will focus
on a neat program
called Ticket to Work.
The Social Security
Administration
has an employment
support program
in place called Ticket to Work.
It's designed to help
you find and keep a job.
Now, if you're wondering
what this ticket is,
you should know
it's a good thing.
It's not like a speeding
ticket that you've
been issued by the police.
This is a ticket that
you can submit in order
to receive various
employment services.
Anyone who receives
SSI or SSDI benefits
is eligible to receive
a ticket to work.
And best of all, all of
these employment services
are entirely free, meaning
they are of no cost to you
whatsoever.
Once you've received
your ticket to work,
you'll want to
know how to use it.
First, you'll need
to contact MAXIMUS.
MAXIMUS is the name
of a company that
coordinates the Ticket to Work
Program on behalf of the Social
Security Administration.
Now, MAXIMUS does
not work directly
to provide services to you.
Instead, they will have a list
of providers in your region,
and those providers can help
you find and keep a job.
Each region throughout
the United States
has a number
of different providers,
and providers,
I mean employment specialists.
And each of those specialists
make up the employment network,
otherwise known as the EN.
The EN is a network of providers
throughout the United States,
and each region has
more than one provider.
And you can select
which provider
you'd like to work with.
You should know that each
provider is different and may
offer specialized services.
Some may provide specialized
services for individuals
who are blind or who have low
vision, while others provide
specialized services
for individuals who
are deaf or hard of hearing.
And still others
provide services
for a variety of disabilities.
It's important for
you to evaluate
each EN to make sure you pick
the one that is right for you.
Now, once you've chosen an EN
and begun working with them,
you may become frustrated
and realize that they're not
meeting your needs.
For example, maybe the EN does
not provide the type of support
that you need.
Maybe you want to
transition from your job
to pursue schooling,
but that EN does not
provide financial
support for education.
Or maybe you're
feeling frustrated
by a lack of communication.
If this occurs, you are
allowed to change to a new EN.
After all, you are in control
of your ticket to work,
and if you decide to make
a change because you're
unhappy with your
original EN,
you don't have to tell
them anything.
Instead, all you need
to do is contact MAXIMUS
and tell them you'd like to
make a change because you're
unhappy with your original EN.
It's critical that you know you
are responsible for your job
search and the supports that you
want to have provided for you.
If you are already a recipient
of SSI or SSDI benefits,
you may have already
received your ticket
to work in the mail.
If you can't find it
or you've misplaced it,
you don't have to
worry because you
don't need the original paper
ticket to receive services.
You just need to contact
MAXIMUS and tell them
that you no longer have
your original paper ticket,
and they will provide the
assistance that you need.
