Timely progress is the standard we use to determine if a Ticketholder is successfully participating in the Ticket to Work program. If the Ticketholder is making timely progress as defined in Regulations, Section CFR 20 411.180, we will not initiate a medical CDR. Timely progress means the Ticketholder passes a periodic review by demonstrating the Ticketholder completed at least a certain amount of work or educational activity, or a combination of both, during a 12-month period.

An example of this is the first 12-month progress review, where we expect the Ticketholder to meet one of the following goals:

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  Worked three months at the trial work period (TWP) amount. (For current TWP amounts, see DI 13010.060);

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  Obtained a general education diploma certificate or high-school diploma;

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  Completed 60 percent of a full-time course load for an academic year in a college or technical, trade, or vocational training plan; or

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  Completed a combination of the work and education requirements so that the 2 percentages equal 100 percent or more.

We have a contract with a TPM to conduct timely progress reviews. Ticketholders respond to a letter received mailer to indicate accomplishments. Click here to see a sample Q2 notice.

An Employment Network (EN) or State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agency acting as an EN may notify the TPM if the Ticketholder is not actively following the employment plan. If the Ticketholder does not make timely progress, we change the Ticketholder’s ticket status from “In Use” to “Not In Use.” The Ticketholder may appeal timely progress decisions with us, or reactivate participation in the Ticket to Work program; however, the Ticketholder must be working or going to school sufficiently to meet the timely progress requirements that applied when failed the progress review. The failed progress review notice instructs where to send appeal letters.

If the Ticketholder cannot work or attend school, and is unable to meet the ticket guidelines, Ticketholder may inactivate the ticket. In evaluating the timely progress requirements, we will not count months that the ticket was unassigned nor any month that the ticket is in inactive status, as defined in DI 55025.001B.6. The Ticketholder has the choice during a review period to:

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  place the ticket into inactive status;

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  take the ticket out of assignment; or

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  establish one meets the timely progress requirements.

The first 12-month progress review certification period begins with either the month following the:

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  month that we assign the ticket; or

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  date the Ticketholder has an assignable ticket and receives VR services under an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) from a state VR agency that chose the VR cost-reimbursement option.

Any subsequent 12-month progress review certification period begins with the month following the end of the previous 12-month progress review certification period. In computing certification periods, we do not count any month that the ticket is:

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  not assigned to an EN or state VR agency acting as an EN and not in VR cost-reimbursement status (the status will show In-Use SVR); or

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  in inactive status.