From the Social Security Administration Web Site - Posted 12-28-01

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The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program;
Final Regulations

Synopsis

On December 28, 2001, the Social Security Administration (SSA) published final regulations implementing the "Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program" (the Ticket to Work program) authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-170). The Ticket to Work program provides Social Security disability beneficiaries and disabled or blind Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries with expanded access to employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services. This program will enable these beneficiaries to obtain, regain or maintain employment and to reduce their dependency on cash assistance. Under this program, SSA will pay the providers of those services, called employment networks (ENs), after the beneficiaries achieve certain levels of work and earnings.
These final regulations:

• explain the purpose of the Ticket to Work program and how SSA will implement the program in graduated phases in sites around the country;

• provide that most beneficiaries receiving disability-based cash benefits from SSA will receive tickets if they are at least age 18 but not yet age 65;

• explain how a beneficiary receiving a ticket can assign it to an EN or State vocational rehabilitation agency to obtain services;

• explain what is meant by the term "using a ticket" and how "using a ticket" protects a beneficiary from initiation of a medical review to determine whether he or she continues to meet SSA's definition of disability;

• explain what the Program Manager does to assist SSA to administer the Ticket to Work program;

• describe the qualifications and responsibilities of ENs and how State vocational rehabilitation agencies participate in the Ticket to Work program;

• describe when an EN or State vocational rehabilitation agency is paid under the Ticket to Work program, and the two systems for paying ENs for assisting beneficiaries to go to work;

• explain how we will settle disputes arising in the Ticket to Work program between beneficiaries and ENs, beneficiaries and State vocational rehabilitation agencies, and ENs and the Program Manager; and

• explain how implementation of the Ticket to Work program will affect the alternate participant program.

To visit the complete text of these final rules, go to:

 http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&docid=fr28de01-23

or HERE