The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently released major findings. study about disability and work patterns. The latest in a series of well-conducted random assignment demonstrations sponsored by the agency, it highlighted policy disputes between Republicans and Democrats over the underlying work capacity of individuals seeking disability benefits.
It also points the way to rethinking federal policy on disability and work.
The new study, called the ‘Supported Employment Demonstration’, sought to determine whether service interventions could promote labor market success for young adults (i.e. under 50) suffering from mental disorders.
Individuals in the treatment group received employment support integrated with behavioral health services. These services and supports are known as the Individual Referral and Support (IPS) model and focus on fast placement and elimination of job barriers. The control group received no direct service or support.
A key feature of the Supported Employment Demonstration is its focus on individuals who have been denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The control group experience thus reveals the possible consequences of proposals by Republican leaders and conservative economists that would reduce the scope of such programs.
The Trump administration has put forward one such proposal that would make it more difficult for older people to qualify for disability, leading to more individuals being denied benefits. Proponents argue that such individuals are not adversely affected because they succeed in the labor market.
But the job aid demonstrations tell an entirely different story.
In the third year of the study, the control group earned an average monthly income of only $395, not enough to avoid extreme hardship. Bearing in mind that the participants were younger than those targeted by the Trump administration’s proposals and did not include demotivated workers (i.e., workers not interested in looking for a job), under the Trump administration It is reasonable to expect labor market results to be even worse in the proposal.
The apparent confusion among conservatives about what the consequences of their proposed policies might be is due to a lack of understanding or perception of the seriousness of the health problems faced by applicants for Social Security’s disability programs. due to lack. For example, in 2015, when Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was considering his presidential campaign, Said A New Hampshire audience noted, “More than half of people with disabilities feel anxious or have a backache. Walk into a club.” […]Everyone over the age of 40 has back pain. ”
Senator Paul’s comments reflect contempt for vulnerable people, but they highlight just how bad empiricists the Republican Party is on this issue.just about 6 percent The percentage of the general working-age population in the United States shows frequent bouts of depression and anxiety. The number of Social Security disability beneficiaries? 46 percent. And while about 3 percent of the general working-age population reported difficulty walking her 3-block distance, nearly 3 of her 5 of Social Security disability recipients Such simple physical tasks are difficult.
Conservatives often stress the importance of financial disincentives to disability programs.However, the gold standard random allocation demonstration According to SSA, the financial incentives embedded in the benefits policy have not seen an impact on earnings. why? Because the fundamental problem faced by disabled applicants stems from serious health problems that directly and indirectly affect all aspects of employment.
Here, the jobs help demonstration points the way to rethinking federal policy.
The treatment group that participated in the demonstration had significantly higher incomes than the control group. Those who received employment assistance or behavioral health services earned an average monthly income of 40 to 50 percent higher than those who did not. This is further evidence that people with severe health problems need services and support to achieve any degree of success in the labor market. In previous demonstrations conducted by SSA, mental health treatment researchfound services to help Social Security disability recipients increase employment and reduce hospitalizations.
Indeed, the average monthly income of those who received the supported employment demonstration services remained modest, ranging from $553 to $590. But this is important information because it calls into question the idealistic view of work and disability held by both Republicans and Democrats.
In an ideal view, only high-income full-time work would be considered success for a disabled person. Rethinking disability and work will enable programs, policies and communications to support the diverse working patterns of people with disabilities, including part-time work, temporary work, and non-regular work such as volunteer work. .
SSAs should clearly and regularly communicate to disabled beneficiaries that under current law, SSDI beneficiaries can generally work part-time without suspension or reduction of social security benefits.Policy changes may include Updating The amount of income SSI recipients with disabilities earn before their benefits are reduced (which has been frozen at $65 a month for the past 50 years), and exempts all volunteer activities from disability decisions ( In some cases, SSA equates volunteer work to paid work).
Finally, SSA should consider that change. ticket to work program. This return-to-work program currently focuses little on part-time or temporary work and offers no assistance for rejected applicants. The program may adopt as part of its structure an employment assistance model that has been tested in supported employment demonstrations and apply that model to both beneficiaries and rejected applicants.
By reimagining disability and work, the federal government could begin to support all of the diverse work patterns of individuals with severe health problems.
Dr. David A. Weaver is an economist and former federal employee who is the author of: a lot of research About social security programs. His views do not reflect those of any federal agency.
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