go to ssdi and it is explained thoughly or call ss office and make an appointment to go talk to someone BUT...

are you trained in a specofc fireld where you can walk in an immediately get a certain amount of money that will cover your needs and give you health insurance?

Is there some way you can lower your needs and stay onssdi? You probably worked really hard to get it and medicare is really quite good insurance.

You can work on ssdi but be reallllllllllllllllll careful not to go over their gross amounts EACH moonth other wise you start going down the road of getting off ssdi.

Just some thoughts

Ticket to Work ,is a program designed to get you working and completly OFF Medicare and the medical benifits.

Why not think about working part time, keep your SSDI and Part D medical benifits ?

You can work part time and still collect SSDI benifits.

You will have to carefully watch your GROSS income, if you exceed your personal cap...you can lose benifits.

Call SS to find out how much money you can earn ( Gross) w/o losing benifts.

I worked part time and collected benifits , I was able to manage quite well.

I have read everything I could find on the web about the ticket to work. It sounded to me like they help you in career development.

I am trained in computer technical support but I have both a physical disability which is my neck that creates pain in my hands and I have BP. What I used to do is very stressful, so for me to get a job I would have to have my skills upgraded.

I would love to find a part time job. But I can't find anything. I can't even find anything listed that could apply to me.

I am scared to call and ask about the program. I don't want to start something that I will regret later. That's why I posted my question here.

Has anyone actually used the program before?

sepi - I am looking into a state-run program that helps people with disabilities get back to work. I wonder if it has anything to do with Ticket-to-Work. I don't really know.

Also, I worked in tech support and it is VERY stressful work. I cannot do it anymore either.

RITKat, Ticket to work program is a federal program since it's under social security administration. I doubt it's the same as what you're looking into. But I would be interested to know about it. Maybe they would have something similar here in Calif. ( I doubt with all the budget cuts there is any social services left)

I went and talked to a college counselor and she referred me to a place to take career assessment test. Also I can ask for help through their special study program for people who are disabled. It's not financial help, but I can get any kind of help and it would be needed. The hard part is getting all the paperwork filled out.

I'm excited about the career assessment test that tells you what you're good at. They have other tests to help you find out what you're good at also. This is through the community college I am attending.

Yeah Tech support is WAY STRESSFUL. That's why I've developed problems with my neck and hands. Stiff muscles from too many years of tech support.have done a number on my neck and I have a lot of nerve pain because of it. My doctor said you can't do this work anymore.

Great information to save for a rainy day, thanks.

I looked at the web site and it has a lot of good information. Although I had read most of it on the SSA website.

But I signed up for a WISE seminar coming up soon in my area. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!