Every October, the nation comes together for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to recognize the skills, dedication, and contributions of workers with disabilities. This year's theme, Celebrating Value and Talent, says exactly what we believe here at ERS: your abilities matter, and your career goals are worth pursuing.

Through the Ticket to Work program, ERS helps Ticketholders take confident steps toward meaningful employment and greater financial independence. Whether you're in our SPARK stage and searching for the right opportunity, or in THRIVE and building on the job you already have, our Career Coaches are here to guide you every step of the way.

We also know that questions about work and benefits can feel overwhelming. That's why our certified Benefits Counselors help you understand how earnings affect your benefits, so you can make informed decisions and move forward with clarity instead of worry.

This month, we celebrate you: the talent you bring, the goals you're chasing, and the progress you're making!

Celebrate NDEAM with us! Follow ERS on Facebook and Instagram for success stories, helpful tips, and updates all month long.

Medicare Open Enrollment kicks off October 15th, and this is the one time each year you can make changes to your Medicare coverage without restrictions.

Plans change every year: pricing, coverage, even which prescriptions are covered. If you haven't looked at yours since last Open Enrollment, now's the time.

Our ERS partner, MedicareMall, offers a free, no-obligation review that takes about ten minutes and helps you go into Open Enrollment already knowing where you stand.

A letter from SSA can be stressful, especially when it mentions an overpayment. In September, our certified Benefits Counselors supported Ticketholders through overpayment notices of every size. Here are a few ways our team made a difference.

Catching What Shouldn't Be There

A ticketholder discovered roughly $53,000 in earnings on her SSA record — for a job she never had. Our counselor caught the red flag immediately and walked her through reporting it as possible identity theft, protecting her benefits before a bigger overpayment could even happen.

Every Dollar Explained

A six-figure overpayment notice is enough to make anyone panic. Our counselor broke a $100,000+ overpayment down piece by piece — what caused it, what evidence could reduce it, and exactly what to file and by when — so a ticketholder facing one of the biggest numbers we've seen still had a clear path forward.

Two calls to SSA. Two different answers

Our counselor didn't stop there — a follow-up call to a second representative finally got the ticketholder the clear, accurate information he needed about his work incentives. Persistence is part of the job.

Live Video Coaching is here!

With ERS LIVE, you get more one-on-one energy, from wherever you are. You and a LIVE ERS Career Coach will share a better connection working through your goals together, face to face. Click below to let us know you are interested.

Sign up for it today!

Free Tech Access Through Human-I-T's Gold Membership

Human-I-T is a nonprofit working to close the digital divide by getting affordable technology and internet access into the hands of people who need it. Their free Gold Membership program lets qualifying individuals save 40–60% on already low-cost laptops and devices, access discounted internet plans and mobile hotspots, and get free digital literacy training and one-on-one tech support. To qualify, applicants submit proof of enrollment in a government assistance program (such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI) or proof of income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. It's a great resource to share with anyone in our community looking to get connected without breaking the budget. Learn More

We have no affiliation with Human-I-T — just sharing a resource we thought could be useful to our readers.