Ability 1st Utah Employment Services
Ability 1st Utah is a National Employment Network under the Ticket to Work Program.
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.
Ticket to Work can help you achieve greater financial independence by providing you access to free employment support services.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Everyone age 18 through 64
- Receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
- Beneficiaries who want to work towards financial independence
Three ways on how do I get started?
One way you can start the process to be part of the Ticket to Work program is to call Ability 1st Utah Employment Services at 801- 850-5560 and make an appointment with our Employment Coordinator. You can also fill out the online application and answer all the questions and submit the form in the Apply for the Ticket to Work section down below. Also, you can come to the Center and set an appointment with our Employment Coordinator.
Watch the following video to learn more about the Ticket to Work Program:
Meet Ben Video:
Apply to the Ticket to Work
WISE Webinar Resources
Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) Webinars
If you are interested in learning about the Ticket to Work program or Work Incentives, you can attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) online webinar.
Work Incentives
Trial Work Period (TWP)
SSDI recipients only
Trial Work Period (TWP) SSDI recipients only. The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months. During your TWP, you will receive full SSDI benefits no matter how much you earn as long as your work activity is reported and you have a disabling impairment.
Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
SSDI and SSI recipients
If your benefits stopped because of your earnings level, and you are no longer able to work because of your medical condition or one related to it, you can request to have your benefits reinstated without having to complete a new application.
Protection from Medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR)
SSDI and SSI recipients
If you assign your ticket to an approved service provider before you receive notice of a medical CDR, you will not have to undergo the medical review while you are participating in the Ticket program and making progress within Social Security’s timeframes.
Medicare and Medicaid Employment Supports
Many people believe that they will automatically lose their Medicare or Medicaid as soon as they start working.
But working does not necessarily mean losing access to federal or state healthcare benefits because there are protections in place, called Work Incentives, that help people who work and receive disability benefits keep those important benefits.
Contact the Ticket to Work Coordinator at Ability 1st Utah to learn more about these work incentives.
The Social Security Administration have six tutorials that you can watch to help you learn more about the Ticket to Work Program!
Ability 1st Utah Employment Services offers the following services:
- Work Incentive counseling and tracking
- Skills and interest testing with tutorials
- Resources to facilitate employment
- Resume writing/cover letters/interviewing skills
- Job Search
- Placement assistance
- Job accommodation advice when needed
- Case management, including life management
- Post-employment services including upward mobility and career enhancement
- Advocacy/Peer Support
- We are a full employment service provider
- All employment services are geared toward community based, integrated-employment
Ticket to Work Success Story:
Paula called Ability 1st Utah Employment Services on December 4, 2022 to enquire about the Ticket to Work Program.
The three requirements to participate in the program (Age 18 to 64, eligibility for SSDI/SSI benefits and a goal to work towards financial independence) was explained. The Services, work incentives and benefits counseling available to support employment goals was discussed. Paula was currently attending Utah State University to earn her Master’s Degree in Psychology and was expecting to graduate in August of 2024. She felt she was ready to search for employment in the field of her study to begin her career in Psychology while she completed her studies. She set her goals and assigned her ticket with Ability 1st Utah Employment Services on January 30, 2023.
During Employment Counseling a discussion came up about a job position I knew of with Wasatch Behavioral Health working as a Case Manager that could give Paula experience in the field of Psychology and Social Work. She and I searched on the Wasatch Behavioral Health website and there was a position available. She submitted her resume and was hired on February 29, 2023. During a meeting in May of 2023 Paula talked about some barriers she encountered on the worksite. She and I met for Disability Disclosure and Reasonable Accommodation counseling to give her the skills needed to request Reasonable Accommodations from her employers and to understand her rights under the American with Disability Act (ADA). This removed barriers she was experiencing that has allowed her to be successful in maintaining her employment.
The Benefits Counseling services Paula receives in the program educates her about the Work Incentives available and the affects her earnings have on SSDI and Medicare benefits so she can prepare for these changes.
Paula is graduated with her Master’s Degree in Psychology and since Paula began her employment with Wasatch Behavioral Health she has increased her hours to working full-time with employee benefits and has earned raises and a promotion from her position as a Case Manager to a Counselor at the Residential Substance Facility.