Recent Ticket To Work Changes: What’s New (and Not)

Quick answer: What really changed to Ticket to Work?

Since early 2024, Congress has not passed a new law that alters the Ticket to Work statute (§1148 of the Social Security Act). However, SSA did update how the program is administered in 2025: a new Employment Network (EN) RFA and Ticket Program Agreement (TPA), plus updated 2025 payment amounts. SSA also launched a new independent program evaluation, so you’ll see more activity and guidance—but not a change in the statute itself.

Bottom line: No new TTW law; yes to 2025 administrative updates (EN agreements, payment rates) and a new evaluation.

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm specifics with SSA or your state VR agency.

Law vs. rules vs. administrative updates: how to tell them apart

Legislative change (Congress): Amends the law (e.g., 42 U.S.C. §1320b-19).
Regulatory change (SSA rule): Revises 20 CFR Part 411 via the Federal Register.
Administrative/operational updates (SSA program): Updates to agreements, handbooks, payment tables, or evaluation/ICR notices—these do not change the statute but can affect how ENs/VRs operate.

Bottom line: A headline may say “Ticket to Work changed,” but only Congress can change the statute; SSA can update how the program runs.
Source: eCFR (20 CFR Part 411), last checked: September 17, 2025.

No new statute in 2024–2025: where the law stands

The governing law remains Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-170); current regulations are at 20 CFR Part 411. No enacted law in 2024–2025 changed §1148. (Some bills referenced TTW but did not pass; more on that below.)

Proof of status quo: eCFR shows Part 411 in effect; SSA’s program pages (Work Site and YourTicketToWork) continue to describe TTW within the same statutory framework.

Bottom line: As of Sept 17, 2025, the TTW statute is unchanged.
Source: eCFR Part 411; SSA Work Site, last checked: September 17, 2025.

What actually updated in 2025: EN RFA/TPA + payment rates

1) New EN RFA & Ticket Program Agreement (TPA), Jan 31, 2025.
SSA released SSA-EN-RFA-25-0001, replacing the prior RFA. Highlights you’ll notice inside the document:

TPA refreshed with a 10-year term, streamlined operations, and explicit privacy/security obligations (e.g., NIST references, PII protocols).
Reporting & portal requirements (e.g., Ticket Portal, personnel change reporting, subcontractor qualifications).
Payments: The TPA points ENs to current annual payment schedules on YourTicketToWork rather than embedding rates in the TPA itself—reflecting the fact rates update each year.

2) 2025 EN payment amounts (examples):

Milestone-Outcome (Phase 2): SSDI $555/mo (up to 11 mos); SSI $310/mo (up to 18 mos).
Outcome-Only (when benefits cease due to work): SSDI $1,033/mo (up to 36 mos); SSI $577/mo (up to 60 mos).

3) SSA operations support: YourTicketToWork publishes EN Payments Call decks, rate tables, and checklists; 2025 materials confirm SGA = $1,620 (non-blind)/$2,700 (blind) and show 2025 Ticket Payment Rates used in processing.

Bottom line: ENs should validate they’re using the 2025 rates and the new TPA, and that their privacy/reporting practices match the updated RFA.
Sources: EN RFA (SSA-EN-RFA-25-0001); YourTicketToWork payment pages/materials, last checked: September 17, 2025.

Independent evaluation (Mathematica): In Sept 2025, SSA noticed an ICR to evaluate TTW’s work outcomes and cost-effectiveness as required by TWWIIA. Expect surveys/data requests to ENs and stakeholders as the evaluation proceeds.
Earnings verification for EN payments: Federal Register notices (e.g., Dec 30, 2024) detail computer matching/verification to ensure EN payment accuracy. This is administrative plumbing, not a change to participant rights, but it explains communications ENs may receive.

Bottom line: More evaluation + verification activity ≠ a new law—but it can lead to future rulemaking or guidance.
Sources: Federal Register ICR; FR notice on earnings verification, last checked: September 17, 2025.

Proposals in Congress: what’s on the table (and what isn’t)

Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (118th & 119th Congress): focuses on phasing out FLSA §14(c) subminimum wage; bill references TTW as a resource but doesn’t amend TTW directly. Not enacted as of this writing.
Social Security 2100 Act (118th): included TTW-related edits to §1148(h)(5) for ENs; did not pass.
Transfer to DOL? In 2020, DOL issued an RFI about transferring TTW from SSA to DOL. No transfer occurred; TTW remains with SSA.

Bottom line: Watch bills, but today’s TTW operations still follow SSA’s existing regulations and program guidance.
Sources: Congress.gov bill texts; DOL RFI, last checked: September 17, 2025.

Checklist: What beneficiaries and ENs should do now (2025–2026)

For beneficiaries (SSDI/SSI):

Confirm your status in the Ticket Portal via your EN/VR; keep your Individual Work Plan (IWP) current.
Know the milestones: Ask your EN how your earnings can trigger Phase 2 milestones or Outcome payments and how that affects your case.
Document earnings (paystubs, W-2s), and report promptly to SSA to avoid over/under-payments.
Understand SGA (2025): $1,620 non-blind; $2,700 blind. Plan hours/wages accordingly.
Keep health coverage questions ready (Medicaid/Medicare work incentives; WIPA can help).

For ENs/VRs:

Adopt the 2025 TPA and align security/PII practices (NIST, Privacy Act, SSA §1106).
Use 2025 payment rates and EN Payments materials; attend EN Payments Calls for updates.
Prepare for evaluation outreach (surveys, data) and ensure your record-keeping supports payment claims and audits.

Bottom line: Treat 2025–2026 as a tighten-up year—update agreements, verify rates, and prep for evaluation requests.

Comparison table: Legislative vs. regulatory vs. administrative (with 2025 examples)

Type	Who changes it	What it does	2025 example	Does it change beneficiary eligibility/rights?
Legislative (statute)	Congress/President	Amends 42 U.S.C. §1320b-19	None enacted in 2024–2025	Would if enacted, but no change this period.
Regulatory (rule)	SSA via FR	Amends 20 CFR Part 411	No new Part 411 final rule in 2024–2025	Could, depending on content.
Administrative (program ops)	SSA	Updates EN agreements, payment rates, guidance	2025 EN RFA/TPA; 2025 EN payment tables	Indirectly affects process & payments (for ENs); beneficiary core rules unchanged.
Evaluation/ICR	SSA/OMB	Collects data, may inform future changes	2025 TTW evaluation (ICR 0960-NEW)	No immediate rights change; informs policy.

FAQs

Q1. Did Congress make recent Ticket to Work legislative changes?
No. As of Sept 17, 2025, there’s no new law changing §1148. TTW still runs under 20 CFR Part 411.

Q2. So what’s new for 2025?
SSA issued a new EN RFA/TPA and posted 2025 payment rates. ENs must align operations, security, and reporting accordingly.

Q3. Are payment amounts different in 2025?
Yes—rates update annually. Examples: Phase 2 (SSDI $555, SSI $310); Outcome-Only (SSDI $1,033, SSI $577). Check the SSA payments pages for details.

Q4. Is the program moving to the Department of Labor?
No. DOL issued an RFI in 2020, but no transfer occurred. TTW remains with SSA.

Q5. What bills should I watch?
The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act and the Social Security 2100 Act referenced TTW but weren’t enacted. Track Congress.gov for any movement.

Q6. Why am I hearing about evaluations and data matches?
SSA is running a new independent evaluation and continues earnings verification/computer matching to ensure accurate EN payments—procedural, not statutory changes.

Q7. Where is the official guidance?

Program home: SSA Work Site and YourTicketToWork (EN portal).
Law/rules: P.L. 106-170 and 20 CFR Part 411.