Fall Job Search with SSDI or SSI: Ticket to Work Guide

Look Beyond the Job Posting

A job title and hourly rate tell only part of the story. A part-time position might have changing shifts. A remote job might require in-person training. A seasonal role might end after a few months. None of those details automatically make a job a poor fit, but knowing them in advance can help you decide whether the opportunity aligns with your needs, goals and lifestyle.

An interview is your opportunity to learn about the job. Consider asking:

• “What does a typical shift look like during your busiest weeks?”
• “How far in advance are schedules posted?”
• “Do weekly hours usually stay the same?”
• “Which duties need to be done on-site?”
• “What does training look like during the first month?”

You can ask these questions about how the job works without disclosing your disability. For example, a job seeker applying for a 20-hour position might learn during the interview that training requires full days for the first two weeks. With that information, she can decide whether the schedule works for her or ask whether another training arrangement is possible.

If you are considering a different field, CareerOne Stop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, can help you research occupations, including typical duties, skills, wages and employment trends.

Find a Support Provider Who Fits Your Goals

Through Ticket to Work, you will work with an Employment Network or a state vocational rehabilitation agency. Providers do not all offer the same services, so it can be helpful to talk with more than one. Social Security’s Find Help tool can help you locate providers, while its guide to choosing an Employment Network includes questions to consider before making a decision.

Ask what support is available after you are hired. Could someone help you navigate a schedule change or prepare to request an accommodation? Can you meet virtually? Who would you contact if the job turns out to be different from what you expected?

If you choose an Employment Network, you and the provider will develop an Individual Work Plan. This plan outlines your employment goals and the services the provider agrees to offer. Read it carefully and ask questions. The plan should reflect the kind of work you are actually trying to pursue and the support you need to achieve your goals.

Get a Clear Picture of Your Benefits

Worrying about how work could affect your benefits is understandable. SSDI and SSI have different work rules, and employment may affect other benefits as well. Before accepting a job offer, consider talking with someone who can review the benefits you receive and help you understand how earnings may affect them.

Some Employment Networks offer benefits counseling. Work Incentives Planning and Assistance projects also provide free, in-depth benefits counseling to eligible Social Security disability beneficiaries, including those who are working or have a pending job offer.

One work incentive you may hear about is the trial work period. This SSDI work incentive allows eligible beneficiaries to test their ability to work for up to nine qualifying months while continuing to receive full SSDI payments. Those nine months do not have to be consecutive; Social Security counts them within a rolling 60-month period. In 2026, a month in which gross earnings exceed $1,210 generally counts as a trial work month for an employee.

Once those nine months are used, most SSDI beneficiaries enter a 36-month extended period of eligibility. During this period, Social Security compares your earnings to its substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount. In 2026, the SGA amount is $1,690 a month for individuals who are not blind and $2,830 for individuals who are blind.

Ask for What Helps You Do the Job

You do not need a perfect explanation before discussing accommodations. Sometimes it is easier to start with the work itself and the change that would help you perform it successfully.

For example: “I can handle the customer calls and documentation. A consistent start time would help me do that work reliably.”

You may also request a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process if you need one. Deciding when to discuss accommodations for the job itself is a personal choice. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explains how the ADA protects job applicants, including how to request an accommodation during the hiring process. For help exploring possible workplace accommodations, the Job Accommodation Network provides free, confidential guidance.