There isn’t one official “Ticket to Work success rate.” Instead, SSA reports pieces: how many people assign Tickets (engagement), how many reach SGA-level earnings (milestones), and how many have benefits suspended or terminated due to work (outcomes). Below, we translate the latest 2024–2025 data into practical success benchmarks—minus the jargon.
What does “success rate” mean in Ticket to Work?
In practice, success = sustained work at or above SGA that reduces or ends cash benefits. For TTW, that’s when a beneficiary’s earnings trigger Outcome payments to the provider—i.e., benefits are suspended or terminated for work (STW). SSA’s payment system defines this formally; ENs only receive Outcome payments when a Ticketholder enters suspense or non-pay due to work. Source: SSA (payment rules), last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
Bottom line: If you want a single test, use “benefits ceased or suspended due to work” as the operational success marker.
The newest numbers (2024–2025): what we can—and can’t—measure
SSA does not publish a single national 2025 “success rate,” but you can triangulate from three current streams:
1) Engagement: Ticket assignments & Tickets “in use” (2025)
- Ticket Tracker (monthly) shows each state’s Tickets assigned, Tickets in-use with VR, and % of target group with Tickets in-use/assigned—the cleanest top-of-funnel gauge. Reports are available for Jan–Jul 2025. Source: SSA Ticket Tracker page, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
Why it matters: Higher assignment/in-use rates today set up more milestone/outcome claims later.
2) Outcome activity: EN payments and ePay files (2024–2025)
- TPM’s EN Payments Calls show ongoing ePay activity (automatic milestone/outcome claims paid). Example: recent ePay cycles paid 10,438 claims across 3,091 SSNs (July file completed Sept 2024). Source: TPM calls, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
- 2025 decks include “2024 end-of-year statistics,” 2025 TWL/SGA amounts, and 2025 payment rates for quick reference. Source: TPM Feb 4, 2025 deck/transcript, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
Read as: real, recent outcome-level payments are being made, but SSA doesn’t bundle them into a one-line national success rate.
3) Exits due to work (STW): newest rigorous evidence
- O’Leary & Roessel (SSB 2023): TTW participation improves earnings and STW incidence for many service users, although net savings didn’t fully offset program costs. Importantly, evaluation methods couldn’t detect small effects on exits at the whole-population level even if real. Source: SSA Social Security Bulletin, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
Context: SSA’s new TTW evaluation (awarded 2023) will publish final results in 2027, with interim reporting from 2026. Source: SSA APR & evaluation page, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security+1
Bottom line: Today’s best “success” proxy is how many Ticket users reach SGA and lose cash benefits (Outcome phase)—visible indirectly via EN outcome payments and ePay statistics; engagement is visible via Ticket Tracker.
How EN payments work in 2025 (Milestones vs Outcomes)
- Milestones: paid when a Ticketholder hits certain earnings (e.g., Trial Work Level) and progress markers.
- Outcomes: paid only when earnings cause benefit suspense/non-pay (SSDI) or when SSI payments are reduced to $0 due to earnings; in 2025 ENs can receive up to 36 months of $555 (SSDI) or 60 months of $310 (SSI) per eligible Ticketholder. Source: SSA payment pages, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
Bottom line: Tie your internal “success” to Outcome attainment (benefits off due to work), not just milestone hits.
Success proxies you can track today (30-day checklist)
Use this checklist to build a practical, auditable success rate—fast.
- Define the numerator: Count Ticketholders who achieved Outcome status during the period (i.e., benefits suspended/terminated due to work).
- Define the denominator:
- Primary: All Ticketholders assigned or in-use during the past 12 months; and
- Secondary: All eligible “target group” beneficiaries in your catchment (from Ticket Tracker state sheet). Source: SSA Ticket Tracker, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- Track leading indicators: assignments this quarter, % completing IWP within 14 days (per 2025 RFA rules), TWL months hit, timely progress reviews passed. Source: SSA EN RFA 2025, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- Validate payments: reconcile ePay results against your caseload; investigate denials (e.g., still in current-pay status can’t count as Outcome). Source: TPM calls, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
- Compute rates:
- Outcome Rate (assigned base) = Outcomes ÷ Assigned/In-Use ticketholders.
- Outcome Rate (target group base) = Outcomes ÷ State target-group estimate.
- Publish a one-page scorecard monthly. Include SGA/TWL thresholds for the current year.
Bottom line: Your Outcome Rate (defined above) is a credible, SSA-aligned “success rate” you can report and improve.
What share leave benefits due to work? Historical benchmarks & caveats
Because SSA hasn’t issued a single 2025 national success percentage, use benchmarks cautiously:
- Early TTW cohort (research): ~60% of TTW participants earned above SGA at least one month over 3 years; ~35% sustained ≥13 months above SGA. Source: SSA SSB early cohort analysis, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- DI cohorts (roll-level, not just TTW): About 6.5% had benefits suspended for work and 3.7% had benefits terminated for work within the window reviewed in that study. Source: SSA SSB longitudinal stats, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- Modern synthesis (SSB 2023): For many service users, TTW improves earnings and STW incidence, but does not fully pay for itself in net SSA savings; also, small positive effects at population scale can be real yet hard to detect. Source: SSA SSB 2023, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- Program-scale snapshot (participation): As of Apr 30, 2024, SSA reported 88,517 Tickets assigned to 378 ENs (incl. VRs serving as ENs). Source: Senate testimony, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. finance.senate.gov
Caveats: timeframes differ; older cohorts faced different rules and economy; today’s official evaluation runs through 2027. Source: SSA evaluation/APR, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security+1
Bottom line: Reasonable national “success” range (strictly defined as benefit off due to work) is single-digit to low-teens percent of engaged participants in many settings, with higher milestone attainment earlier in the funnel. Use your local Outcome Rate to manage.
State variation: using Ticket Tracker to benchmark your market
Where to look: The Ticket Tracker provides monthly state-level:
- Tickets assigned (EN + VR),
- Tickets in-use with VR, and
- % of target group with Tickets in-use/assigned (an engagement rate proxy). Source: SSA Ticket Tracker, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
How to use it:
- Pull your state’s latest month (e.g., July 2025) to see % of target group engaged.
- Compare to neighboring states to set realistic assignment goals.
- Layer your Outcome Rate on top to see if you’re converting engagement into benefit-cessation outcomes.
Bottom line: Use Ticket Tracker for market sizing and assignment goals; marry it to your Outcome Rate for true success management.
How providers improve success odds (EN vs VR)
Comparison table: levers to increase Outcomes
| Lever | EN best plays | VR best plays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid engagement | Same-week IWP; text/email nudges | Presumptive in-use pipeline | 14-day IWP submission window matters. Source: EN RFA 2025. Social Security |
| Employer connections | Sector partnerships, inclusive hiring | Pre-ETS/skills alignment | Tie training to SGA-capable roles. |
| Earnings ramp | TWL sprint → SGA glidepath | Supported employment + benefits counseling | Watch denial codes (current-pay ≠ Outcome). Source: TPM calls. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov |
| Retention supports | 90/180-day stay-on-the-job playbooks | Post-closure follow-along | Aim for 9/12 months ≥ SGA for durability. |
| Payment hygiene | ePay reconciliation monthly | Cost-reimbursement documentation | Fewer denials = faster cash to reinvest. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov |
Bottom line: Fast assignment + earnings coaching + payment hygiene = more Outcomes.
Outlook: what changes next (through 2027)
- Formal evaluation timeline: SSA’s new TTW evaluation (contracted 2023) will deliver interim results beginning FY 2026 and final in 2027—expect clearer success metrics and equity insights. Source: SSA APR & evaluation page, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security+1
- 2025 anchors: SGA/TWL levels and 2025 Outcome payment rates are live; budget around $555 (SSDI) / $310 (SSI) per Outcome month. Source: SSA payment pages, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
Bottom line: Expect clearer national success metrics after 2026; until then, measure locally and benchmark via Ticket Tracker.
Mini data notes (for readers)
- Program scale context: SSA’s Monthly Statistical Snapshot (July 2025) shows 74.4M total beneficiaries (all titles), contextualizing how niche TTW is within the larger system. Source: SSA Snapshot, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Social Security
- Cost-effectiveness debate: GAO (2021) and SSB (2023) document positive participant outcomes but mixed net fiscal effects. Source: GAO/SSB, last checked: Oct 8, 2025. Government Accountability Office+2Government Accountability Office+2
Checklist: measure & boost your TTW success in 30 days
- Pull last 12 months of assigned/in-use Ticketholders (Ticket Portal + Ticket Tracker). Social Security
- Identify all Outcome-eligible clients (benefits suspended/non-pay due to work). yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
- Compute Outcome Rate (assigned base and target-group base).
- Audit denied ePay claims; fix top denial codes (current-pay, lookback earnings). yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
- Launch a TWL→SGA earnings sprint for near-SGA clients; schedule benefits counseling.
- Share a one-page scorecard with staff; set a 90-day Outcome target.
Bottom line: A disciplined 30-day measurement + coaching push can move Outcomes—without waiting for national reports.
Disclaimer
This article is informational, not legal/financial advice. Ticket to Work decisions affect cash benefits and healthcare. Talk to SSA, a Benefits Planner, or an attorney before acting on this information.
Key sources (all last checked Oct 8, 2025)
- SSA Ticket Tracker (monthly 2025 state engagement). Social Security
- SSA Milestone/Outcome payment rules (2025 rates). yourtickettowork.ssa.gov+1
- SSA APR FY 2023–2025 (evaluation timeline). Social Security
- SSA Ticket to Work evaluation page (final 2027). Social Security
- SSB 2023 (O’Leary & Roessel) (earnings/STW improvements, ROI context). Social Security
- GAO-22-104031 (2021) (long-run fiscal). Government Accountability Office+1
- Senate testimony 6/18/2024 (88,517 Tickets assigned; 378 ENs). finance.senate.gov
“Bottom line” recap (3–5 takeaways)
- There’s no single official 2025 national success rate; measure success as benefits suspended/terminated due to work (Outcomes). yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
- Engagement is up-to-date and visible via Ticket Tracker; Outcome activity is visible via ePay and EN payment stats. Social Security+1
- Rigorous evidence shows TTW improves earnings/STW for participants, with mixed net fiscal effects to SSA. Social Security+1
- Build your own Outcome Rate now; benchmark assignments against Ticket Tracker; coach near-SGA clients to cross SGA. Social Security
Next steps:
- Pull your state’s July 2025 Ticket Tracker sheet and compute engagement. Social Security
- Reconcile ePay results vs. your caseload and calculate your Outcome Rate. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
- Set a 90-day SGA coaching plan for clients closest to SGA.
FAQs
1) What is the Ticket to Work success rate in 2025?
SSA doesn’t publish one national figure. Use Outcome attainment (benefits suspended/terminated for work) as your success measure and compute your Outcome Rate from assigned/in-use Tickets. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
2) How many Ticket to Work participants actually leave benefits due to work?
Benchmarks vary; historical DI cohorts show suspensions (~6.5%) and terminations (~3.7%) due to work, while TTW research shows improved STW incidence among participants. Social Security+1
3) How are ENs paid for successful outcomes in 2025?
ENs receive Outcome payments only when earnings push a Ticketholder into suspense/non-pay (SSDI) or $0 SSI; 2025 rates are $555 (SSDI) up to 36 months or $310 (SSI) up to 60 months. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
4) Where can I see current Ticket to Work activity by state?
SSA’s Ticket Tracker posts monthly assignments/in-use and % of target group engaged for every state and territory. Social Security
5) Is Ticket to Work cost-effective?
Mixed. GAO shows long-run costs exceeded savings for early years; SSB 2023 shows participant gains but not full cost offset. New evaluation runs through 2027. Government Accountability Office+2Social Security+2
6) What’s a realistic provider goal for success?
Track both assignment rate (Ticket Tracker) and Outcome Rate (your data). Many providers set quarterly Outcome targets and coach near-SGA clients to sustain 9 of 12 months ≥ SGA. Social Security
7) Does simply hitting milestones count as success?
Milestones are leading indicators. Count Outcomes (benefit off due to work) as your success. yourtickettowork.ssa.gov
8) When will we get a definitive national success figure?
Expect clearer metrics as SSA’s new evaluation publishes interim findings in 2026 and final in 2027. Social Security+1