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Article: Guide to Employment for Job Seekers

Publicly Funded Employment Service Programs

Table of Contents
  1. Jobs and Careers
  2. Career Planning
  3. How To Find A Job
  4. How to Help Others Find a Job
  5. Job Accommodations
  6. Publicly Funded Employment Service Programs
  7. Self-Employment and Starting A Small Business
  8. Employment and Social Security
  9. Success Stories

State Vocational Rehabilitation
Ticket to Work Program
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Publicly funded employment service programs seek to help individuals find and maintain employment. Many of these programs provide resources for employees and help to protect their rights. These programs also ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

State Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation is a program that is funded by both state and federal dollars. Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to help people with physical or mental impairments obtain successful employment. If you have a disability and need assistance in finding a job, contact your state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to see if you qualify for services. The vocational rehabilitation office contact information for each state can be found by visiting the site.

Ticket to Work Program

The Ticket to Work Program is an employment program that is sponsored by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Ticket to Work is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. Under the program, the Social Security Administration provides disability beneficiaries with a ticket that they can use to obtain services that will help them find and keep employment. Ticket to Work is a voluntary program that gives individuals with disabilities the freedom to pursue employment goals with the supports they need to be successful. The goal of the program is to help individuals with a disability earn enough money so that they will not need Social Security benefits.

Individuals can redeem or use their ticket to find employment and supports for continued employment at an Employment Network (EN). Employment Networks can be one-stop centers, disability and rehabilitation service providers, nonprofits, faith-based groups and other organizations. Once these employment networks have the ticket they can help the individual with the services they need to find and retain a job.

Listed below are links that describe the Ticket to Work Program and where to find more information.

Social Security Administration-Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program
The Social Security Administration is the government office that runs the Ticket to Work program. On this site you will find general information about the program including how the program may affect your disability benefits.

Ticket to Work-Maximus Inc.
Maximus is a private company that the Social Security Administration has contracted to administer the Ticket to Work program. Their site has information about the Ticket to Work program including a directory by state of Employment Networks (EN).

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), commonly known as welfare, is a block grant created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Under this grant states are given money to operate their own TANF programs. The money given to each state should address four purposes as outlined in the federal law:

  1. To provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.
  2. To end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage.
  3. To prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish preventions to reduce the incidence of these pregnancies.
  4. To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

States have used their TANF funds in a variety of ways including: cash assistance, child care, education and job training, transportation, and other services that help families make the transition to work.

To learn more about TANF and to find information on how to apply for TANF services refer to the links below.

Office of Family Assistance
The Office of Family Assistance is a website that answers frequently asked questions about TANF. Go to this site to learn about the other programs that are funded by TANF.

National Center for Children in Poverty
This site has a database of TANF state profiles.

Economic Success Clearinghouse
This site addresses workforce development and human service issues including TANF reauthorization.

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Last Updated on 12/27/2017

Friday, March 29, 2024