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Disability beneficiaries who work and their experience under program work incentives.
Social Security Bulletin
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Few disability beneficiaries return to work, and most who attempt it do not leave the rolls permanently. Young, educated beneficiaries are more likely to attempt work, while those with higher benefits are less likely.
Area of Science:
- Social Gerontology
- Disability Studies
- Labor Economics
Background:
- Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries face challenges in returning to the workforce.
- Understanding work patterns and the effectiveness of work incentives is crucial for policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the return-to-work patterns of Disability Insurance beneficiaries.
- To analyze the success rates of work attempts and the impact of program work incentives.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of claims folder data for DI beneficiaries from the 1980-81 cohort.
- Inclusion of information on work activity and participation in program work incentives.
Main Results:
- Approximately 10% of disability beneficiaries engaged in work during their initial entitlement period.
- Over 70% of beneficiaries granted a trial work period successfully completed it, but more than half did not leave the DI rolls.
- Fewer than 3% of all beneficiaries had benefits terminated due to work, with about one-third returning to the rolls.
Conclusions:
- Work attempts by DI beneficiaries are relatively uncommon.
- Successful completion of a trial work period does not guarantee sustained employment or permanent exit from the DI rolls.
- Younger beneficiaries with higher education levels were more likely to attempt work.