[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR411.180]

[Page 696-697]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 411_The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program--Table of Contents
 
Subpart C_Suspension of Continuing Disability Reviews for Beneficiaries 
                         Who Are Using a Ticket
 
Sec. 411.180  What is timely progress toward self-supporting employment?

    (a) General. The purpose of the Ticket to Work program is to provide 
you with the services and supports you need to work and reduce or 
eliminate your dependence on Social Security disability benefits and/or 
SSI benefits based on disability or blindness. We consider you to be 
making timely progress toward self-supporting employment when you show 
an increasing ability to work at levels which will reduce or eliminate 
your dependence on these benefits.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this subpart--
    (1) Initial 24-month period means the 24-month period that begins 
with the month following the month in which you first assigned your 
ticket. (See Sec. Sec. 411.220(e) and 411.225(c) for when a new initial 
24-month period may be established for you.) We do not count any month 
during which the ticket is not assigned to an EN or State VR agency, as 
described in Sec. 411.145, or any month during which the ticket is not 
in use because it is in inactive status (see Sec. 411.190(a)(2)) or 
because you were determined to be no longer making timely progress 
toward self-supporting employment under Sec. 411.190(a)(3) or Sec. 
411.205.
    (2) 12-month progress review period means the 12-month period that 
begins either following the end of the initial 24-month period or 
following the previous 12-month progress review period. We do not count 
any month during which your ticket is not assigned to an EN or State VR 
agency, as described in Sec. 411.145.
    (c) Guidelines. We will determine whether you are making timely 
progress toward self-supporting employment by using the following 
guidelines:
    (1) During the initial 24-month period after you assign your ticket, 
you must be actively participating in your employment plan. ``Actively 
participating in your employment plan'' means that you are engaging in 
activities outlined in your employment plan on a regular

[[Page 697]]

basis and in the approximate time frames specified in the employment 
plan. These activities may include employment, if agreed to in the 
employment plan. At the end of the initial 24-month period, you must 
successfully complete the 24-month progress review, as described in 
Sec. 411.195. If you worked in one or more months during the initial 
24-month period at the level of work applicable to the work requirement 
for the first 12-month progress review period, each such month of work 
may be used to reduce by one month the number of months of work referred 
to in Sec. 411.195(a)(2) and Sec. 411.195(a)(3) for purposes of 
meeting the requirements of those sections regarding a goal of three 
months of work during the first 12-month progress review period.
    (2) During your first 12-month progress review period, you must work 
(as defined in Sec. 411.185) for at least three of these 12 months. The 
three months do not need to be consecutive. If you worked one or more 
months during the initial 24-month period at the level of work 
applicable to the work requirement for the first 12-month progress 
review period, each such month of work may be used to reduce by one 
month the number of months of work required for the first 12-month 
progress review period.
    (3) During your second 12-month progress review period, and in later 
12-month progress review periods, you must work (as defined in Sec. 
411.185) for at least six of these 12 months. The six months do not need 
to be consecutive.