Financial Independence

Employers look for certain skills in potential candidates, including skills such as time management. Because there are only so many hours in a workday, it’s important to know how to make the most of each hour. Here’s how you can have a more efficient workday.

There are many ways you can be self-employed without owning a brick-and-mortar store. In this blog post, we will talk about the many ways you can work for yourself, what makes for successful self-employment, and resources that can help you make self-employment a reality.

Have you recently started working and earning income? You’ve probably heard of gross income and net income. Now that you're working, it’s important to know the difference. This blog post defines net and gross income and shares how both affect your path to financial independence through work.

If you earned income at any point in the year, it's important to file your taxes. This blog post discusses a tax credit called the Earned Income Tax Credit that may apply to you and free services available through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Ticket to Work has changed its email address! You can now email the Help Line at TicketToWork@ssa.gov! For a limited time, emails sent to support@choosework.ssa.gov will be forwarded to the new address.

In 2025, Social Security benefits will increase by 2.5%, impacting over 72.5 million people. Check your new benefit amount via your my Social Security account. Sign up by Nov 20, 2024, to view your COLA notice online.

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), highlighting the value of workers with disabilities in the workforce. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” Read more about how Ticket to Work supports access to good jobs for all.

When you opt in to the Ticket to Work Program’s text messages, you’ll get the support and guidance you need. Join the thousands of people who have already opted in and are unlocking their potential.

Did you know that volunteering can help your career? It can be just as helpful as work experience and help you learn new skills that can lead to career growth. Take a look at some popular questions about the link between volunteering and career growth.

Reporting your wages is important to avoid overpayments from Social Security. An overpayment occurs when Social Security sends you a benefit payment higher than what you're eligible to receive. Read more.