Social Security-authorized Employment Network explains how people with spinal cord injuries can explore employment and understand how work may affect their SSDI benefits
Diane Winiarski, senior director of Allsup Employment Services
Belleville, Illinois, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allsup Employment Services (AES), a Social Security-authorized Employment Network (EN), is marking National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month this September by encouraging people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to consider whether returning to work could be a part of their journey.
Spinal cord injuries can change a life in an instant. Between 250,000 and 390,000 Americans are living with a SCI, according to United Spinal Association. The number grows by about 18,000 each year. Data shows that roughly 78% of people with spinal cord injuries are men, and the average age at injury is 43. Vehicle crashes cause the largest share of injuries, at 39.3%, followed by falls, 31.8%; acts of violence, 13.2%; sports, 8%; and medical or surgical complications, 4.3%.
Stabilization and recovery bring physical and emotional adjustments, and questions about work can follow. For some people, steady work can provide routine, income and connection during a difficult period. Still, the road back is uneven. In 2025, 22.8% of people with a disability age 16 and older were employed, compared with 65.2% of people without a disability, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“After a spinal cord injury, work can feel like a door that closed for good, but for many people, it hasn’t,” said Diane Winiarski, senior director of Allsup Employment Services. “What helps is having someone go over the options with you, at your pace, so the choice about whether and when to return to work is an informed decision instead of a leap of faith.”
For people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits after a spinal cord injury, a frequent concern is how returning to work could affect the cash benefits and health coverage they rely on. Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program provides free employment services and access to work incentives designed to support eligible beneficiaries as they explore returning to work.
Support Built Around The Person
The Ticket to Work Program is a free and voluntary Social Security program available to people ages 18 through 64 who receive SSDI or Supplemental Security Income benefits because of a disability. Through the program, eligible beneficiaries can work with an authorized Employment Network such as AES at no cost.
AES vocational experts help participants develop individualized return-to-work plans and identify accommodations or assistive technology that could make employment more manageable. They also explain how earnings may affect SSDI benefits and help participants meet Social Security’s reporting and paperwork requirements.
Social Security work incentives can reduce some of the financial risk associated with attempting to work. During a Trial Work Period, SSDI beneficiaries can test their ability to work for up to nine months while continuing to receive full SSDI payments, regardless of earnings, as long as they report their work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment.
Eligible beneficiaries may continue Medicare coverage for up to 93 months after the final month of the Trial Work Period. Social Security also generally will not initiate a medical Continuing Disability Review when a beneficiary assigns a Ticket before receiving a review notice and continues making timely progress toward an employment goal.
If SSDI benefits end because of work and earnings, a beneficiary who becomes unable to continue working because of the same or a related medical condition may request Expedited Reinstatement within five years. Social Security may provide provisional benefits for up to six months while reviewing that request. Eligibility and the effect of work on benefits depend on each person’s circumstances.
Making The First Moves
For anyone considering a return to work, a few early moves forward can make the process feel more manageable. It can help to: assess transferable skills and interests, identify accommodations that could make a position realistic, and understand how earnings may affect your SSDI benefits before applying for work.
AES vocational experts provide this guidance at no cost and continue supporting TTW participants after they are hired, including assistance with Social Security forms, earnings reporting, and questions that arise during the return-to-work process.
“The right accommodation, such as a flexible schedule, can be the difference between a job that works and one that doesn’t,” Winiarski said. “A big part of what we do is help people identify what they need and ask for it with confidence.”
Free Services For SSDI Beneficiaries Considering Work
AES provides free, personalized services through the Ticket to Work Program, including career planning, job-readiness support, guidance on SSDI rules and work incentives, as well as long-term employment support. These services help beneficiaries understand how work and earnings may affect their benefits so they can make informed decisions, Winiarski explained.
An AES vocational expert can help. For more information about returning to work with SSDI benefits, call (866) 540-5105 or visit AllsupEmploymentServices.com.
ABOUT UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans, United Spinal Association is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to empowering people with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, to live successful and fulfilling lives. Membership is free and open to all individuals with SCI/D, with more than 70,000 members across 40 chapters, 100 support groups and more than 120 rehabilitation hospitals and therapy partners nationwide. Known for its revolutionary advocacy efforts, United Spinal played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, and was instrumental in attaining sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation in New York City, which created the standard accessibility model used in many U.S. cities.
ABOUT ALLSUP EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Allsup Employment Services (AES), a subsidiary of Allsup, provides free nationwide assistance to Social Security disability beneficiaries returning to work through Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program. AES is a Social Security-authorized Employment Network (EN) whose professionals help beneficiaries protect their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits while they attempt a return to work. Learn more at AllsupEmploymentServices.com.
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- Diane Winiarski, senior director of Allsup Employment Services
CONTACT: Rebecca Ray Allsup (618) 236-5065 [email protected] Laura Sala Allsup (618) 409-7079 [email protected]
