What is the Ticket Program?

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities
who are interested in going to work.

The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 - legislation designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people's decisions about going to work because of the concerns over losing health care coverage.

The goal of the Ticket Program is to increase opportunities and choices for Social Security disability beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and other support services from public and private
providers, employers, and other organizations.

Under the Ticket Program, the Social Security Administration (also referred to as the Agency) provides disability beneficiaries with a Ticket they may use to obtain the services and jobs they need from a new universe of organizations called Employment Networks (ENs).

MAXIMUS, a private company, has been contracted by the Social Security Administration to function as the
Operations Support Manager (OSM) and the Ticket Program Data Operations Center Manager (TPDOCM).

It is MAXIMUS responsibility to administer oversight and process support necessary to sustain ongoing
Ticket Program Operations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is launching the second phase of a new program designed to help people with disabilities go to work. The Ticket to Work program, which began in February of 2002 in 13 states, is now available in 20 additional states and Washington, DC.

"Today, less than one percent of the people who get Social Security and Supplemental Security Income
disability benefits leave the rolls each year to go to work. We can do better, and we must do better," said Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security. "President Bush said, 'My Administration is committed to tearing down any barriers that unreasonably prevent the full participation of Americans with disabilities.'

And he said that he will work 'to help disabled Americans realize their dreams through meaningful and
successful careers.' And the Ticket to Work gets us there."

Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries will receive a
Ticket that may be used to obtain vocational rehabilitation, job training, and other support services. The Ticket Program will be in operation nationwide by January of 2004.

Tickets will begin arriving in mailboxes this week. Over the next several months, about 2.6 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities will receive a Ticket to Work. The mailings will be staggered, based on the last digit of a beneficiary's Social Security number. Anyone who wants a Ticket immediately can call 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967 (1-866- TDD2WORK).

Individuals may take their Ticket to any of the employment service providers who offer services in their communities. These providers are called Employment Networks. A list of participating networks can be found at www.ssa.gov/work, by clicking on service providers.

Here's how the program works: a Ticket holder gives the Ticket to an Employment Network. The network
and the Ticket holder together design an individual employment plan outlining the services to be provided to assist the beneficiary in reaching his or her employment goal.

The Ticket Program is voluntary. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who receive a Ticket are not required to work, but may choose to use their Ticket to attempt to go to work. Likewise, Employment Networks are not required to accept Tickets.

The Ticket Program is designed to provide people with disabilities with more choices and expanded
opportunities to help them go to work. Individuals will receive services from an Employment Network for
free. SSA will pay the Employment Networks for successfully helping a beneficiary go to work. Employment Networks may choose to be paid based solely on helping an individual achieve self-sufficiency, or they may choose to receive payments when beneficiaries achieve different milestones during their attempt to go to work.

The Ticket Program is the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, which
was passed by Congress and signed into law in December 1999. Other provisions of the law are already in place to help support people with disabilities as they go to work. These provisions include expanded health care coverage.

Many of the barriers that would force people to choose between health care coverage and work have been removed by the legislation. Social Security disability beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare, the Federal health insurance plan. Effective in October 2000, most Social Security disability beneficiaries are protected by Medicare for at least eight years and six months after they go to work. Medicare coverage continues even if an individual no longer receives a monetary benefit from Social Security. Most SSI beneficiaries are eligible for Medicaid, which is a state health benefit. These individuals should contact the state Medicaid
office in their area for more information.

Beginning in November approximately 2.6 million beneficiaries will receive tickets in the following states:

Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,
Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Tennessee and Virginia, and in the District of Columbia.

The first phase of the Ticket Program began in February 2002 in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The final phase is scheduled for 2003 in Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, as well as in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Those who have questions about the Ticket Program should call Maximus, Inc. Maximus, the organization
selected by SSA to administer the Ticket Program, may be contacted toll-free at
1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967 (1-866- TDD2WORK).

Internet users can visit www.yourtickettowork.com --Maximus' website.

For general information about the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, please go to SSA's
Internet website-- www.ssa.gov/work --The Work Site.