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Lighthouse Louisiana offers a variety of services to help individuals of all ages who are blind, visually impaired and who have other disabilities. Our mission is to provide the tools for independence, self-reliance and success, regardless of disability.
Your support allows us to provide over 6,000 services annually that help individuals regain and maintain their independence.
Welcome to Ticket to Work
Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work. The Ticket Program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.
Are you a Disability Beneficiary, Family Member or Caretaker?
The Ticket Program is a good fit for people who currently receive Social Security disability benefits, but who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workplace. It offers qualified people with disabilities access to meaningful employment with the assistance of authorized employment service providers.
Who qualifies for Ticket to Work?
Everyone age 18 through 64 who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because of his or her disability is eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work Program. Participation in the Ticket to Work Program is free and voluntary.
Making Timely Progress After You Assign Your Ticket
Your road to employment through the Ticket Program is a two-way street: You receive free assistance from your service provider to prepare for, find and keep a job, while you work your way towards financial independence. In return, you pledge to Social Security that you will take specific steps – determined by the plan you developed with your service provider – within specific timeframes set by Social Security to:
- Work at a specified earnings level or,
- Complete certain educational or training requirements.
When you participate in the Ticket Program, you are working with your EN or VR to reduce or eliminate your dependence on SSDI and/or SSI cash benefits.
Taking the agreed-upon steps toward employment within Social Security’s timeframes is called making “timely progress” towards:
- Receiving the education and training you need to succeed at work and your long-term career
- Becoming and staying employed
- Reducing your dependence on SSDI or SSI payments
- Earning your way off cash benefits, if possible
For you, the return for making “timely progress” is that you succeed in achieving a more financially independent life.
Ordinarily, Social Security reviews your medical condition from time to time to see whether you still have a disability through a process called the medical Continuing Disability Review, or CDR. If you assign your Ticket to an approved service provider before you receive a CDR notice and make “timely progress” following your employment plan, Social Security will not conduct a review of your medical condition. If you assign your Ticket after you receive a CDR notice, Social Security will continue with your scheduled medical review.
Learn More
For more information, contact us at: (504) 899-4501
Monday – Friday 8 am – 4:30 pm (CST)
or email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I lose my Medicare or Medicaid if I go to work?
No. For most people, health coverage continues long after cash benefits stop.
- SSDI Recipients: You can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 93 months (7 years and 9 months) after your Trial Work Period ends.
- SSI Recipients: Most states offer “1619(b)” status, which allows you to keep Medicaid even if your earnings are too high for a monthly SSI check, as long as you still have a disability.
Q: What is the “Trial Work Period” (TWP)?
The TWP is a “safety zone” for SSDI recipients. It allows you to test your ability to work for 9 months (within a 5-year window) while receiving your full monthly benefit check, regardless of how much you earn.
2026 Note: Any month you earn more than $1,210 (before taxes) counts as a Trial Work month.
Q: Can I get my benefits back if I stop working?
Yes. If your disability makes it impossible to continue working within 5 years of your benefits stopping, Social Security has a process called Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). You can often get your benefits restarted immediately while the SSA reviews your case—no new application required.
Q: Will Social Security review my medical condition more often?
Actually, the opposite is true. As long as your Ticket is “assigned” to an Employment Network and you are making “Timely Progress” in your work plan, Social Security will not start a regularly scheduled medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR).
Q: Does this program cost me anything?
Never. The Ticket to Work program is 100% free and voluntary. Our services are paid for by the Social Security Administration based on your success. There are no hidden fees or contracts that require you to pay us back.
Q: What if I don’t like the job I find?
That is what we are here for. We don’t just find you a job; we help you find the right career. If a job isn’t a good fit, we will work with you to find a better one. You can also “unassign” your Ticket at any time if you choose to stop the program.
Important Information to remember for 2026
- Trial Work Month Trigger: $1,210/month
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): $1,690/month (Non-Blind) | $2,830/month (Blind)
- Cost of Program: $0.00
Sign your Individual Work Plan (IWP) and start your journey toward independence.
Find out More:
For more information, contact us at: (504) 899-4501
Monday – Friday 8 am – 4:30 pm (CST)
or email: [email protected]