Life on Social Security: How I Earn Money Without Ticket to Work—and Why the DOJ Needs to Investigate

Life on Social Security: How I Earn Money Without Ticket to Work—and Why the DOJ Needs to Investigate

1. My Initial Hope in Government Programs

For years, I placed my trust in government programs like Ticket to Work and vocational rehabilitation, believing they could help me gain meaningful employment and achieve financial independence. I signed up, followed their guidance, and even enrolled with Employment Networks (ENs), thinking that these programs were designed to help people like me thrive.

The Harsh Reality of Ticket to Work

But the reality was a harsh wake-up call. These programs overpromise and underdeliver. They claim to provide job training, career coaching, and placement opportunities—but in many cases, the promised jobs never materialize. The support I was supposed to receive often fell short, leaving me frustrated, disheartened, and stuck. These programs simply cannot accommodate people with unique career goals, entrepreneurial ambitions, or those who want to work outside traditional employment paths.

Taking Control Through Entrepreneurship

I realized early on that relying on a broken system would only limit my potential. I decided to take matters into my own hands and start my own business: Afrinubi Solutions®. Through entrepreneurship, I gained freedom, financial independence, and the ability to work on my own terms. Instead of waiting for bureaucrats to “create opportunities” for me, I built my own path and leveraged my skills to make a living doing what I love.

The Need for DOJ Oversight

However, my experience highlights a much bigger problem. Many disabled individuals are misled by Ticket to Work programs and Employment Networks. There is little accountability for organizations that take federal funding but fail to deliver on their promises. Too many participants are left with wasted time, broken promises, and little to show for their efforts.

This lack of transparency and oversight must change. I firmly believe the Department of Justice should investigate the Ticket to Work program and Employment Networks to ensure they are actually serving disabled Americans instead of exploiting them. Disabled individuals deserve programs that provide real opportunities—not empty promises.

Despite the failures of these programs, there is hope. Entrepreneurship and self-employment are viable paths for people on Social Security, even if the government programs fail you. By creating your own business or leveraging your skills, you can earn money, gain independence, and control your own career. My journey with Afrinubi Solutions® is proof that dedication, self-reliance, and creativity can overcome systemic barriers.

A Message to Others Facing Frustration

To anyone frustrated by these programs: you are not alone. It’s possible to take control of your financial future without waiting for Ticket to Work programs to work. And to the government, I say this: it’s time for accountability. Programs meant to help disabled individuals should be transparent, effective, and truly supportive of people’s dreams—not a barrier to them.

Encouragement and Call to Action

If you are considering self-employment while on Social Security, know that it is possible. Take control, use your skills, and build the life you deserve. But also join me in demanding justice and transparency from programs that have failed too many of us. The system must be held accountable—because disabled Americans deserve nothing less.