Case Managers Provide Essential Services To Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries ... [+]
Facing a disability or serious illness at any stage of life can rock us all to the core. We put funds aside for that rainy day, vacations and maybe those golden retirement years. Then one day, our doctor confirms the worst. What we thought was a minor condition or illness, is not. We stop working for surgery, ongoing medical treatments, rehab, or in many cases, simply for not being able to perform due to our condition.
The good news is that there is a path for both financial and Medicare support through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when a disability strikes, and just as important, a path for getting back to work if you are medically able to do so.
Allsup Employment Services (AES), a Social Security-authorized Employment Network (EN) staffed with expert vocational case managers, knows firsthand that nearly 50% of people who apply for and receive SSDI benefits would prefer to go back to work if they could.
Ticket To Work and Employment Networks Bring SSDI Beneficiaries Back To Work
Social Security’s Ticket to Work (TTW) Program, authorized by Congress in 1999, makes working after recovery possible. After you receive SSDI benefits, you can take advantage of the free TTW incentives that provide a way for you to begin working without fear of losing important income and Medicare benefits.
Your healthcare team, along with your family, can help you decide if you are ready to go back to work in the same job, or perhaps even a new one. For many SSDI beneficiaries, making progress towards financial independence is a goal, and with the help of the TTW incentives and a qualified EN, this is attainable.
Ticket to Work’s nine-month Trial Work Period provides protection while you re-enter the workforce. During this time, you can earn as much as you want without losing your cash or Medicare benefits. At any point in time, should your disability or a decline in your condition make it impossible to keep working, you may reclaim your SSDI monthly disability benefits.
How Does TTW Work?
Once your Ticket has been assigned to an authorized service provider such as an EN or State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, you’ll work with them. Your dedicated case manager will provide essential services to help you understand and comply with the program, as well as one-on-one job searching, interview prep, coaching and re-training if needed.
The SSA requires ongoing communication and reporting with Ticket participants. For example, the SSA requires an individual work plan (developed with your EN) with specific timeframes and milestones. They will regularly monitor to assess if you are making “timely progress” towards your goals. These may include:
- Receiving the education and training you need to succeed at work and your long-term career.
- Finding and maintaining employment.
- Earning your way off cash benefits, if possible.
All of this can be overwhelming, especially when you are also managing your health and family obligations while pursuing work or actually working. Case managers help you make sense of the rules for working while receiving SSDI benefits.
An AES client dealing with multiple myeloma explained how his case manager helped him with all the necessary paperwork as he transitioned back to work. This enabled him to stay organized with his medical files, focus on his health and return to his former position as a software engineer.
ENs Work On Your Behalf
Employment Network case managers play a valuable role for those SSDI beneficiaries hoping to return to work. They are partners on this stressful journey, offering both tangible services as well as a shoulder to lean on.
For one client who struggled with mental health issues even before her disability, an AES case manager helped her regain her confidence and self-esteem and explore new ways to acquire certifications in the medical and nursing fields.
As you search for a job, case managers help you update your resume, explore transferable skills, learn about job postings, and even help with mock interviews.
For example, a 56-year-old was eager to return to work after suffering a stroke. His case manager gave him advice on how to interview, ask the right questions and tailor his resume to specific jobs.
When returning from work after a lengthy absence, it can sometimes be difficult for people with disabilities to request special accommodations, such as flexible hours, special equipment or service animals. They may be uncomfortable asking, or they are unfamiliar with their employer’s policies. Case managers can help frame the request to the employer in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act reasonable accommodations.
Another client relied on his AES case manager to help him negotiate with his employer on his special requests for a soft landing to gradually acclimate himself back into the workforce, as well as flexibility if the workload became too much. The case manager encouraged him to be open with the employer, which resulted in his requests being honored.
Keeping up with Social Security’s requirements, especially those related to your earnings during the Trial Work Period, can be tough. Case managers know how to keep track of and submit your earnings so that you can focus on other priorities.
Employment Networks + You = A Positive Path To Returning To Work
AES case managers understand the profound effect a disability can have on all areas of your life – not just your work. They will guide you on your path as you consider the possibility of returning to work. AES and its team of vocational case managers have helped thousands of SSDI beneficiaries nationwide navigate the TTW Program and reenter the workforce. You don’t have to do it alone.
