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To find the state VR agency closest to you put the name of your state, plus "vocational rehabilitation agency" into your search engine; for example, "New York Vocational Rehabilitation Agency." Once you are on your VR agency website read about the types of services your agency provides to individuals with disabilities. Alternatively call Maximus at (866) 968-7842 and ask them to provide you with a toll free phone number for your state agency. Call your agency to ask what they can do to help you.

If you become an active client of your state VR agency you cannot assign your ticket to TakeCharge, or any other Employment Network, while your VR case remains open. So obtain the services that you need and then request that your VR counselor close your case so that your Ticket can become available for assignment.

If during the period you were an active client of your state VR agency, your VR counselor helped you find employment and closed your case as a success, then Phase 1 Milestone payments will not be available on your Ticket from that point forward. If the state provided valuable assistance however, this trade-off is usually worth it. If you leave the benefit rolls because your work earnings exceed SGA ($940/month for general disability and $1,570/month for blind), then the loss of Phase 1 Milestone payments will not impact you anyway. You will be able to go right to Phase 2 Milestone or Outcome payments with your Ticket.

Note, your state VR counselor will inform you that you are entitled to receive services from your VR agency WITHOUT assigning your Ticket to the state. Social Security will reimburse your state agency for the services they provided to you if you become employed and meet certain earning targets. If you do assign your Ticket to your state agency however, and you later decide you would prefer to collect 75% of your Ticket payments for yourself, you are free to switch your Ticket assignment at any time.

If you are confused about any aspect of the Ticket to Work program, call Maximus at (866) 968-7842 for clarification. New Ticket regulations were put into effect on July 21, 2008 and they can be confusing. Just keep in mind, the Ticket program is designed to give the Social Security beneficiary (you) the power to make decisions that are in your best interests. It is permissible to obtain help from both your state VR agency and an Employment Network such as TakeCharge if that is what you choose.