After many hours spent filling out forms and dotting my ” i’s”, I’ve been awarded a contract as a vendor for the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program.
I tend to do poorly with forms and details (just ask my husband!) and I knew it would be torture. Yet another example of the devil is in details.
But I know how hard it is to live with chronic illness and find and maintain a job in which you can thrive. I’m delighted that the government sees a way that it can offer support to people with chronic illness by giving them the tools they need to work in whatever way they can.
So I figure maybe I can be of service this way.
Do you live with chronic illness, receive social security disability benefits, want to go back to work and believe you could use some coaching on this? Or know someone who would qualify? Contact your SSDI office. I’m told I’m on their listings. You can find out specifics about my services on my website. But there are other opportunities to choose from.
FYI! All vendor services are free of charge to recipients.
Why would you choose to work with a career coach if you’ve been on disability and want to become employed again? Here are some reasons:
- Although you have an employment history, you’ve been out of work so long that you fear you’re no longer employable.
- You don’t know how to look for a job since you’ve been out of the workforce so long.
- You’re unsure how to talk about the gaps in your resume or how and if you should talk about the illness.
- You can’t do the tasks you once could and you’re not sure you’ve skills that will get you employed.
- You worry about being an unreliable employee and wonder if that’s a good reason not to try.
- You’re just plain scared to go back to being employed.
I don’t have job listings, I don’t give solutions but I can help you find your own answers, create strategies for how to do a job search and work with you to stay on course. The rest is up to you.
If you read my stuff, you know that I believe that work can be good for your health. That’s why I’ve become an SSDI Tix to Work Vendor.
For more information about the program, read this post (Don’t forget Your Ticket to Work)
I hope you’ll pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested.
go2thesun says
In your business, are people who need to return to school assisted to get Voc. Rehab or other help to update or add to skills?
Do you do any career guidance or assessments? Your description of services is so vague that I cant figure out what you do. So I’m not sure if I would benefit from any services you might provide.
Can you clarify?
Do people on SSI risk losing SSI if they are deemed eligible for your services? I’ve heard ticket to work puts their benefits at risk and maybe they cant find work that is accessible sustainable and they are otherwise able to do, so it could turn out badly.
Is there a difference between help you would give to someone on SSI or SSDI?
Rosalind says
Great questions. And yes, this post isn’t specific about my services or the program because there are too many details to list here. If you have questions about my services, you can look at my website. I”ve written a workbook, WorkingWithChronicIllness that has assessments, tactics and strategies specifically for chronic illness employment. Tix to work SHOULD NOT put your benefits at risk but I’m not an expert on that aspect. I only know what they say. It’s intended to let you take these risks as far as I know. But that’s not my expertise. And as far as I know, there is no difference for SSI or SSDI. For more specific questions for me, you can use the contact page on my website. I hope this helps you and others.
energyd says
Hi Rosalind,
I’m glad you are now a vendor for SSDI. Have you considered being a vendor for State Vocational Rehabilitation? I’m a California Voc. Rehab. client, but am not on SSDI or SSI. I wouold love to work with you, but the cost is an issue. I don’t know how feasible it is for you to do the paperwork to be a vendor with various state voc. rehab. programs, but it’s certainly something to consider.
Rosalind says
Sorry but this is more than I can manage at the moment! I couldn’t manage more interaction that requires so much paperwork!
Katharine says
I’m very happy to hear that you have been approved as a vendor. It is definitely time that Social Security recognizes autoimmune illnesses and supports us in supporting ourselves!
Some of your readers might benefit from the advice you gave for the article, “Returning to Work with a Disability.” Your article can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yag9926
energyd says
That’s understandable. Thanks for the reply!
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