Why does Social Security's Ticket to Work program end at age 64?

Oh that makes sense! I didn't realize SSDI automatically converts to retirement. So if I wanted to work after reaching FRA (which is 67 for me), I'd just be subject to the regular retirement earnings limits instead of the disability rules?

I tried it too! The paperwork was actually not that bad for me, but maybe I just had a really good counselor. The best part was keeping Medicare for 8.5 years even after I started working full-time.

Thank you for such a detailed explanation! Those protections sound really helpful. I've been afraid to try working because I don't want to lose my Medicare if my condition flares up again. Knowing I could keep it for 8.5 years gives me more confidence to try.

While I understand your frustration, there are actually different rules that apply once you're receiving retirement benefits. You can still work while receiving retirement benefits, but the earnings test applies if you're under your Full Retirement Age (FRA). After FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your benefits. The reason for the different programs is that disability benefits and retirement benefits serve different purposes and have different funding mechanisms within Social Security.

does that actually work?? i tried calling SS last week and gave up after being on hold for 2 hrs!!

Yes, it worked great for me! I was skeptical at first but was desperate after trying for days to get through. The Ticket to Work questions I had were pretty specific to my situation, and I really needed to talk to someone directly instead of just reading general info online.

That's a good point about the Employment Networks. Did you find your second EN through the Ticket to Work website? Any tips on how to choose a good one? I want to make sure I get good support since I'm nervous about the whole process.

I actually asked for recommendations in my area from the Ticket to Work helpline. They were able to tell me which ENs specialized in my field (accounting) and had the best success rates. Definitely call and ask about specializations - some ENs are better for office work, others for trades, etc. Also ask about how often you'll meet with your counselor!

That's really helpful to know, thanks! So after FRA there aren't any earnings limits at all? That sounds simpler than all the SSDI rules.

Correct - once you reach your Full Retirement Age, there are no earnings limits. You can work and earn as much as you want without affecting your Social Security retirement benefits. Before FRA, the earnings test reduces benefits by $1 for every $2 earned above the annual limit (which is $21,240 in 2023).

Great question! If you're working full-time and earning above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) levels, your SSDI benefits would eventually stop during what's called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). But here's the safety net: you have up to 5 years after your benefits end to request expedited reinstatement if you can't continue working due to your disability. During expedited reinstatement, you can get provisional benefits for up to 6 months while SSA reviews your case. Plus, if you used Ticket to Work, you'd keep Medicare for 8.5 years total even after working full-time. So there are definitely protections in place for people in your exact situation!

Hi Molly! I'm new to this community but have been researching Ticket to Work myself. From what I've read, there aren't restrictions on job types - you can definitely try freelance writing or remote work! The program is flexible about hours too. During the trial work period, you can work any amount and still keep full benefits as long as you're under the monthly earnings limit ($970 in 2023). You can absolutely start small and build up - that's actually encouraged! The Employment Network counselors can help you figure out a gradual transition plan that works for your health. I'd recommend calling the Ticket to Work helpline at 1-866-968-7842 to get connected with counselors who specialize in your field. Good luck!

That's such valuable insight about continuing EN support even after turning 65! I hadn't thought about how the transition period would work. Your point about starting early really resonates with me - I'm 58 now and keep putting off looking into Ticket to Work because I'm nervous about the whole process. But you're right that having those extra years to gradually build up work tolerance without deadline pressure would be really beneficial. Did you find that your Employment Network was able to help you plan for the eventual transition to retirement benefit rules, or was that something you had to figure out mostly on your own? I'm wondering if they typically have expertise in both the disability and retirement systems.

Hi Noah! I don't have MS specifically, but I do have lupus which also has unpredictable flares, so I totally understand your concerns. I'm actually just starting to look into Ticket to Work myself after reading all these helpful comments. From what I've been researching, many Employment Networks are really experienced with chronic conditions that have good days and bad days. Remote work seems to be very well-supported too, especially after COVID showed how many jobs can be done from home. The trial work period sounds perfect for testing out what you can handle without the pressure of losing benefits immediately. I'd suggest calling that Ticket to Work helpline number someone mentioned (1-866-968-7842) and specifically asking to be connected with ENs that have experience with MS or similar conditions. They might be able to match you with counselors who really understand the unpredictable nature of your symptoms and can help you plan for flexibility from the start!

Noah, I can definitely relate to your situation! I have rheumatoid arthritis which also has unpredictable flares, and I successfully used Ticket to Work about 3 years ago. The program was actually designed with people like us in mind - they completely understand that chronic conditions don't follow a predictable schedule. My Employment Network was fantastic about helping me find remote work opportunities, and they worked with me to develop a flexible schedule that could accommodate my bad days. During the trial work period, I was able to start with just 10-15 hours per week and gradually increase as I figured out what I could consistently handle. The key is being upfront with your EN about your limitations and needs - they're trained to work with all kinds of disabilities and health conditions. Remote work is definitely well-supported, especially in fields like customer service, data entry, writing, and various tech jobs. I'd really encourage you to reach out to that helpline and get matched with an EN that has MS experience!

Giovanni, your comment really resonates with me! I'm also dealing with mental health challenges and had that exact same "all or nothing" fear about returning to work. What you said about the gradual approach being more realistic is so true - the idea of jumping straight back into full-time work felt overwhelming and impossible. Reading everyone's experiences here has been like a lightbulb moment for me too. The fact that you can start small during the trial work period and still keep all your protections takes away so much of that panic about "what if I can't handle it?" I'm definitely going to look into finding an Employment Network that has experience with mental health conditions. It's comforting to know there are people specifically trained to understand that recovery isn't linear and that some days are just going to be harder than others. Thanks for sharing - it helps to know I'm not alone in feeling this way about the whole process!

Hi Dylan! Your timeline question is really practical - I was wondering the same thing when I started looking into this. From what I've gathered reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like the process can be quite flexible depending on your readiness and what kind of work you're considering. For the Employment Network piece, it sounds like you could potentially start having conversations and assessments fairly quickly once you call that helpline number (1-866-968-7842) that others mentioned. But the actual timeline to starting work would probably depend on factors like whether you need job training, if you're looking for remote vs in-person work, and how gradually you want to ramp up. I'm also really curious about that SSDI to retirement transition question you asked! At 61, you're getting close to that conversion point, so understanding how that works while still working seems super important. I hope someone who's been through that specific situation can chime in. The "not black and white" point you made really resonates with me too. It's refreshing to learn about a program that seems to acknowledge the reality that many of us might have some work capacity, just not in the traditional full-time way we used to think about employment.

Dylan, I can speak to both of your questions! I went through Ticket to Work starting at age 59 and transitioned to retirement benefits while still working part-time. For the timeline - once I called the helpline and got matched with an Employment Network, I had my first meeting within about 2 weeks. The EN did an assessment of my skills, limitations, and goals, which took maybe 2-3 sessions over a month. I was eager to start testing the waters, so I began looking for very part-time remote work almost immediately after that. From first contact to actually earning my first paycheck was about 6 weeks, but that was because I found something quickly. Others in my EN group took 3-6 months because they needed additional training or were being more selective about opportunities. The SSDI to retirement transition was actually seamless! SSA sent me a letter about 2 months before my 65th birthday explaining that my benefits would automatically convert. My payment amount stayed exactly the same, and since I was already working part-time, nothing changed about my work situation. The only difference was that I no longer had to report my earnings monthly like I did with SSDI - much simpler! The EN continued supporting me through the transition and helped me understand the new earnings rules (no limits after FRA). Definitely don't let the approaching age 65 deadline discourage you from starting - you still have time to benefit from the program!