Last Updated: 8/21/2026
Returning to work can feel like a big step, especially if you’ve been away from the workforce for a while. You may be wondering what type of job is right for you, how to present your experience to employers and how working could affect your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
A successful job search starts with more than finding job openings. It’s about identifying work that fits your skills, interests, abilities and needs, then taking practical steps to show employers what you can contribute.
The Ticket To Work (TTW) Program can provide access to employment support to help you throughout this process, from setting employment goals and preparing your resume to finding and keeping a job.
How can I start with a realistic job goal?
Clear employment goals can give your job search direction and help you focus on opportunities that are a good fit. Start by thinking about:
- The type of work you want.
- The hours you can work.
- The type of workplace you prefer.
- The tasks you can perform.
Your skills, interests, past work experience and current abilities can help shape your goals. When you know what you’re looking for, you don’t have to apply for each job you see. Instead, you can focus your time and energy on positions that align with your skills and what you want from your next job.
The Ticket To Work Program can help you get started. Employment Networks (ENs) and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies can provide career planning and other employment services to eligible beneficiaries at no cost.
How can I identify the skills I bring to a job?
Your past job titles are only one way to show what you can do. You may have built valuable skills through previous jobs, volunteer work, education, hobbies or other experiences in your life.
For example, you may have developed skills in communication, organization, customer service, problem-solving, technology or working with others. Those skills can continue to be valuable, even if you’re changing careers or returning to work after a long break.
Your resume can bring these transferable skills to the forefront by highlighting the skills, accomplishments and experiences that relate to the jobs you want.
In addition, an employment gap doesn’t erase the experience you already have. Previous work, training, volunteer activities and other experiences can still show employers the skills you bring to a position.
How can I make my job applications more focused and organized?
A focused job search is not necessarily about applying for as many jobs as possible. It can be more useful to spend time on jobs that match your skills, goals, schedule and abilities.
Your resume can be tweaked for each job to highlight your most relevant experience, and a cover letter can be tailored to the position when one is requested. Using words and skills from the job description can make it easier for an employer to see how your experience relates to the position.
Keeping track of your applications can also make the search easier to manage. A simple job-search tracker can include:
- Employer and position.
- Application date.
- Contact information.
- Interview date(s).
- Follow-up dates.
- Application results.
This information can help you remember where you applied and when you need to follow up. Over time, it can also show which types of jobs and search methods are leading to interviews or other responses.
How can networking help me find job opportunities and get hired?
Job boards aren’t the only way to find work. The people you know can also help you learn about employers and career opportunities.
Your network might include former coworkers, supervisors, friends, family members, professional groups and community organizations. Hiring events and industry groups can also give you opportunities to meet people who work in fields you’re interested in pursuing.
Let people in your network know what type of work you’re looking for and the skills you bring. You can also have informational conversations with people in an industry or occupation you’re considering. These conversations can give you a better sense of the work, the skills employers value and where opportunities may be available.
Some positions are filled through referrals or personal connections before they are publicly advertised. By building and using your network, you can add another source of opportunities to your job search.
How can I prepare for interviews and questions about my disability?
Preparing for an interview can help you feel more confident and explain your experience and skills clearly. Start by preparing a brief introduction that covers your background, the type of work you’re seeking and what you can bring to the position. Think of examples from past jobs or other experiences that demonstrate how you’ve used skills that are relevant to the role.
Researching the employer before the interview can also help you better understand the position and what the organization does. This information can help you prepare thoughtful answers and come up with questions of your own.
It is also important to note that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you are not required to disclose your disability unless you are requesting a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to perform your job duties, requesting one can help ensure you have the support you need to be successful in the workplace. When discussing an accommodation, you can focus on the workplace support that would help you perform your job duties successfully rather than making your disability the focus of the conversation.
How can Ticket To Work support me during my job search?
Returning to work can raise questions about how working may affect your SSDI benefits. The Ticket To Work Program can connect eligible Social Security disability beneficiaries ages 18 through 64 with free employment services while providing access to work incentives that can help protect benefits as you return to work.
These protections provide more than seven years of benefits protection:
- 12 Months—Trial Work Period (TWP): Test your ability to work for up to nine non-consecutive months plus a three-month grace period while still receiving your full benefits, no matter how much you earn. The TWP can be completed during a 60-month window.
- 36 Months—Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): After the TWP, the SSA evaluates your monthly earnings for 36 months to determine whether they meet Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) levels. If earnings fall below the SGA threshold in a given month (2026: $1,690 non-blind, $2,830 blind), SSDI benefits are paid.
- 60 Months—Expedited Reinstatement (EXR): If your disability makes it impossible to continue working after your SSDI payments have stopped, you can request your benefits be reinstated without filing a new application. You have 60 months after benefits end to request this.
- 93 Months—Medicare Continuation: Even if your SSDI benefits stop, you can keep your Medicare coverage for more than seven years after your TWP ends.
These work incentives can give you time to test your ability to work after you get hired and adjust to changes in employment without immediately losing access to important benefits.
What is an Employment Network?
An Employment Network like Allsup Employment Services (AES) is an organization approved by SSA to provide employment services through the Ticket To Work Program. Depending on your individual goals and needs, AES services may include career counseling, resume help, job-search assistance, interview preparation, benefits counseling and ongoing employment support.
Working with an EN can give you support throughout different stages of your job search. You can get help identifying realistic employment goals, recognizing the transferable skills you bring to a job, focusing your search on positions that fit your abilities and preparing for interviews. Benefits counseling can also help you understand how work incentives may apply to your individual situation.
Support doesn’t necessarily end when you get hired. An EN like AES can continue to provide support as you adjust to your new job and work toward your employment goals.
Returning to work can involve many decisions, but you don’t have to make them alone. With the right employment support and an understanding of the work incentives available through TTW, you can take a more informed approach to your job search and your path back to work.
