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Guides



Employment: Prepare for Employment

Click on the following links to learn more about what you can do to ensure that you reach your goal of employment.

  • Use Your "Ticket to Work"
  • Check Out Social Security Work Incentives
  • Learn How Working will Affect Your Disability Benefits
  • Contact Your Local Vocational Rehabilitation Office
  • Improve Your Computer Skills
  • Gain Experience Through Volunteer Work
  • Create/Update Your Resume
  • Prepare for the Interview

    Use Your "Ticket to Work”

    If you are receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you are very likely eligible for their Ticket to Work Program. Your ticket can be used to obtain FREE employment services such as skills training, resume development, and job placement via an approved Employment Network or your local Vocational Rehabilitation Office. Chances are you have already received a Ticket without even realizing it.

    To learn more, check out the SSA-sponsored website Choose Work by visiting     www.choosework.net.

    You may also contact MAXIMUS, the Ticket to Work Program administrator, toll-free at 1-866-968-7842 (TDD: 1-866-833-2967) or visit the MAXIMUS Ticket to Work website by visiting www.yourtickettowork.com.

    To locate an approved local Employment Network, visit the Ticket to Work Employment Network Directory online by visiting www.yourtickettowork.com/endir.

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    Check Out Social Security Work Incentives

    Special rules make it possible for people receiving Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. And, if you cannot continue working because of your medical condition, your benefits can start again—you may not have to file a new application.

    Social Security work incentives include:
  • Continued cash benefits for a time while you work;
  • Continued Medicare or Medicaid while you work;
  • Help with education, training and rehabilitation to start a new line of work.

    The rules are different under Social Security and SSI. To learn more about the various work incentives available, read Social Security’s publication Working While Disabled – How We Can Help, by visiting     www.ssa.gov/pubs/10095.pdf.

    For a more in depth look, check out Social Security’s Red Book – A Guide to Work Incentives, by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook.

    To better understand exactly how going to work will impact your benefits, you should also consider speaking to a Disability Benefits Counselor. A Benefits Counselor will provide a summary of how the work incentives will apply to you. Many local Centers for Independent Living (CIL) provide Benefits Counseling. To locate a CIL that serves your area, visit the ILRU Directory of Centers Online at http://ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html.

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    Learn How Work Will Affect Your Disability Benefits

    To find out specifically how going to work could affect your disability benefits, you should contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Project. WIPA staff can answer any questions you have about going to work and SSA Work Incentives. You can find a list of the WIPA projects by state using the Service Provider Directory.

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    Contact Your Local Vocational Rehabilitation Office

    Every state offers Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services to individuals with disabilities. Services will vary from one office to the next, but in general will include job preparation, skills assessment/development and local job searches and placement. Such services are free to approved VR participants. Many state VR agencies will also cover the costs of schooling and training.

    To locate your local VR agency, visit the Job Accommodation Network Directory of Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies or do a Google Search for [your state] vocational rehabilitation.

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    Improve Your Computer Skills

    Many jobs now require the use of a computer. Beyond the obvious benefits, learning how to use a computer can help you improve your critical thinking skills, which will prove useful in both your personal and professional life.

    Check out your local library or technical college for low cost, if not free computer training. Or, if you have a computer at home, check out the FREE online classes offered by GCF Learn Free. You can learn at your own pace and have the benefit of an instructor that is available via a private message board. After successfully completing the training, you will earn Continuing Education Credits and a Certificate of Completion.

    Classes are being offered in Microsoft Access (database), Power Point (presentation), Excel (spreadsheet), and Word (word processing), among others. To participate, you must have these programs installed on your computer. To learn more, visit     www.gcflearnfree.org/classes.

    Receive a Computer for Use in Your Home

    If you do not have a computer at home to practice your skills, there are many programs throughout the nation that provide refurbished computers to low-income individuals and families. To locate a Microsoft Authorized Reburbisher in your area, visit TechSoup.org online at http://techsoup.org/mar/marList.aspx.

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    Gain Experience Through Volunteer Work

    Volunteer work will show potential employers, that you have continued to use and improve your skills despite your unemployment. Volunteering will also help you test your ability to work.

    Many non-profit organizations and churches are in need of reliable volunteers to fulfill their missions. Volunteer work can range from mail preparation or event coordination to mentoring or tutoring. Some positions will require several days per week, while others may require just a few hours. To ensure that your volunteer experience will be of benefit, look for a long-term position that offers at least one day’s worth of work per week.

    To ensure that you gain a valuable reference, you must treat your volunteer job just as you would a paid job. Show up on your scheduled days, act and dress professionally, take care to do the job accurately and thoroughly.

    Find volunteer opportunities by visiting Volunteer Match online at     www.volunteermatch.org or by contacting your local volunteer center.

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    Create/Update Your Resume

    A common issue for many individuals with disbilities is a lack of or a significant gap in employment history. Despite one's lack of employment history it is still possible to develop a winning resume.

    If you have a significant gap in your employment history, or no employment history at all, you will need to develop a functional resume. The functional resume focuses on your skills first and your experience second. You will first focus on the assets that you can bring to the specific job you are seeking. If you do not have much formal work experience, you should list any skills or experience that you have picked up while volunteering or in training. Following are a few specific suggestions:

  • Professional skills (related to the job for which you are applying)
  • Volunteer work experience (church, voting polls, organizations or clubs, other non-profit organizations)
  • Recent classes that you have taken
  • Computer skills

    Always be honest, do not list skills that you really do not have. Remember, you cannot create something out of nothing, it is essential that you gain work experience through volunteer work and that you take classes to improve your employment skills.

    It is recommended that you not specifically mention your disability on the resume or cover letter unless the position directly relates to your experiences as an individual with a disability.

    Check out examples of a functional resume.

    Download a template of a functional resume by visiting Microsoft Office Online Templates and searching for "functional resume".

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    Prepare for the Interview

    The interview is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and make a great impression. Following are a few tips to help you fully prepare for the big day:

  • Research the company or organization and make sure you fully understand the scope of their work. Also be certain that you fully understand the tasks associated with the job for which you are applying. Interviewers are impressed by candidates that ask intelligent questions concerning the organization and position.

  • Practice answering common questions in the mirror or with a friend. A few common questions include:

  • Pick out professional looking attire. Make sure your interview attire is in line with the company's culture. You may not want to invest in a suit if the company encourages business casual attire. Never where jeans, t-shirts, or street shoes to an interview. Make certain your appearance is neat and clean.

    For more on interview preparation, visit Monster Career Advice online at http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/careers.aspx.

    Disclosing Your Disability

    Employment lawyers advise that if your disability is not apparent you should not discuss it until after you have received a job offer. There may, however, be a few instances where you might consider disclosing your disability:

  • You will need an accommodation for the interview
  • You must explain disability-related gaps in your employment history
  • You wish to highlight your personal traits (i.e. problem solving, resourcefulness, the ability to adapt and learn quickly, etc.) that arise from your ability to contend with your disability.

    If you do choose to disclose your disability, discuss it in only a positive manner. Focus on what you can do, not what you cannot do.

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    For more on the topic of Employment:

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    [Updated February 28, 2010]
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