Ticket to Work
FACTS, ANSWERS, QUESTIONS

1) What is a Ticket to Work?


A Ticket is a document some of our consumers on SSI or SSDI will receive. They can give their Ticket to VR or other registered vocational providers (called “employment networks”) and the provider can use the Ticket to get payments from SSA when a consumer works his or her way off of cash benefits.

2) Who will get a Ticket?


Anyone on SSI or SSDI who is not expected to “medically recover” and who receives a cash benefit from SSA will get a Ticket to Work. Furthermore, only people 18 and over will get Tickets. Over 90% of people on SSI and SSDI in Vermont will get a Ticket.

3) Do consumers have to use the Ticket?


No, the program is voluntary.


4) Who can consumers give the Ticket to?


A consumer may give their Ticket to any Employment Network (EN) or VR agency that is willing to provide services. A consumer cannot place a Ticket with two ENs simultaneously though they can move their Ticket when they are dissatisfied with services.


5) Is there a benefit for a consumer who chooses to use their Ticket?

Yes! A consumer who deposits their Ticket with VR or another EN will be exempt from continuing disability reviews (CDR) while their Ticket is active. For the first two years after they deposit their Ticket, consumers will have all CDRs suspended, and for each year after that they will have to work at a certain level to maintain their CDR exemption.




6) Should DVR always accept Tickets from our SSI and SSDI consumers?

Yes! VR holding that Ticket will assure us access to outcome payments that are made by SSA. A consumer should assign their Ticket to VR when they sign their employment plan. We will need to contact all current VR consumers who received Tickets to help them understand the program and assure that they deposit the Ticket with us.


7) How will VR partner with other providers in Vermont?


VR can form Employment Networks with other providers. We are currently planning to form partnerships with VABIR, community mental health centers and DET one-stops, though there’s no confirmed plans about these partnerships at this point.

8) How will an EN or VR agency be paid for services?


If a person works at a level where they no longer received cash benefits from SSA, an EN will be able to submit claims to SSA for outcome payments.


9) Can we Still get our traditional reimbursement that we have always gotten from SSA?


VR agencies (but no other ENs) will have the choice of receiving either outcome payment from SSA, or traditional cost-based reimbursement. Under outcome payments, we will receive a monthly cash amount for every month the person is off cash benefits. Under cost-reimbursement, we are paid for our cost. We will have to make the decision about whether to take cost-based or outcome payments from SSA at the time we sign an employment plan with an individual.


10) Who administers the Ticket program?


SSA has hired a “Program Manager” (PM) to help SSA administer the program. The PM will send out Tickets, keep track of where Tickets are deposited, administer payments to VR and other ENs and resolve all disputes. The PM is also the primary source of information about the Ticket program. They will have a toll-free number that consumer and providers can call for information.