Disabled SSI recipients who work

A substantial working history is not a characteristic normally associated with recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Yet nearly 80 percent of all SSI disabled recipients have worked before applying for SSI and 20 percent work after they start receiving SSI payments. This study takes a look at various facets of the work histories of disabled SSI recipients, including the amount and types of work done, and the types of recipients who seem most likely to work. Information on these histories was obtained from a 1-percent sample file cross-matched to SSI administrative records and other agency files containing data on employment histories and industry codes. Also discussed are the implications that these work histories have for efforts by the Social Security Administration to encourage SSI disabled recipients to begin or resume work.