Last Updated: 7/29/2026
Re-entering the workforce after recovery from or with a disability is often more complex than updating your resume and applying for jobs. You may be unsure of what your current capacity allows, how to explain gaps in your employment history or any number of other challenges that come with balancing work and disability.
Questions we often hear include:
- Are there vocational programs for people with disabilities?
- How can I get help getting back to work with a disability?
- Will I lose my disability if I work part-time – or any amount at all?
You don't have to sort through this alone. This is exactly where a vocational expert can help.
What is a vocational expert?
An Allsup Employment Services (AES) vocational expert is a trained professional who helps you manage every stage of returning to work, from preparing for employment to succeeding on the job. Unlike a general career coach, AES vocational experts understand:
- How a physical or mental impairment affects job function.
- What workplace accommodations may help you succeed.
- How the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) rules apply to your specific situation.
This specialized expertise matters because AES operates as an SSA-authorized Employment Network under the Ticket To Work (TTW) Program. Your AES vocational expert isn't guessing at the rules and how to succeed because they work with TTW every day and serve as a trusted guide.
How does a vocational expert help me understand and use Ticket To Work?
Ticket To Work is the SSA program that allows you as an SSDI or SSI recipient to explore employment while protecting your benefits.
To help introduce you into the TTW Program, your AES vocational expert helps:
- Determine your eligibility.
- Walk you through how earnings may affect your benefits.
- Explain the safety nets available if employment doesn't go as planned.
After that, your vocational expert puts in motion a wide range of helpful services.
How does a vocational expert support my job search?
Once you understand how TTW works, your vocational expert provides personalized job-search support tailored to your goals, abilities and needs. This typically includes:
- Identifying transferable skills and realistic job goals based on your abilities.
- Updating your resume to highlight strengths and address employment gap.
- Locating job postings that match your capabilities and accommodation needs.
- Assisting you in preparing for interviews.
- Helping you decide whether, when and how to disclose a disability to an employer.
How does support continue after I’m hired?
AES doesn't step back once you receive a job offer. Your vocational expert continues supporting your transition into the new role, providing guidance on asking for workplace accommodations, communicating with your employer, and overcoming challenges that may arise along the way.
Your vocational expert also stays involved in your SSA communications, helping you manage earnings reporting and understand your responsibilities under the TTW Program. This support lets you focus on succeeding at work instead of worrying about the paperwork.
How does a vocational expert help protect your benefits while you work?
While some vocational programs for people with disabilities only focus on job search, Social Security benefits protection is central to your experience with AES.
Your AES vocational expert helps you understand and use the Trial Work Period to test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits and explains how healthcare coverage can continue during this process.
Active participation in TTW can also protect you from Continuing Disability Reviews, and if your benefits end due to earnings but your health worsens and you need them later, Expedited Reinstatement offers a path back without starting the application process over. Having a specialist who understands these protections significantly reduces the risk of costly missteps.
What does it cost you to work with an AES vocational expert?
In short, nothing.
Because AES is an SSA-authorized Employment Network, vocational services are funded through the SSA at no cost to participants who qualify. This means you can access the guidance, resources, and support you need to pursue your employment goals without adding another financial concern.
How do you get started with an AES vocational expert?
Reaching out is simply the first step in a conversation about where you are today and where you want to go. You don't need a finished plan. That's exactly what your vocational expert is there to help you work through, one step at a time.
To get started with no cost or obligation, contact Allsup Employment Services today by calling 866-540-5105 or requesting a call.
