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November 8, 2010
Publication of Accelerated Benefits Findings Article
The November issue of the Social Security Bulletin includes an article on the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration titled, “Expanding Access to Health Care for Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries: Early Findings from the Accelerated Benefits Demonstration”. The article provides information on health insurance coverage among newly entitled SSDI beneficiaries, the characteristics of those without health insurance coverage, and early impacts of providing health benefits to SSDI beneficiaries during the 24 month Medicare waiting period.
You can access the article at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v70n4/v70n4p25.html
October 8, 2010
Publication of Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program Evaluation Report
We released copies of the report, “Evaluation of the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program: Beneficiaries Served, Services Provided and Program Costs.” It is the second of three evaluation reports we will release on the WIPA program. This evaluation report presents findings from an independent evaluator of the Ticket to Work program, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. The findings provide a national profile of beneficiaries served by WIPA projects, the services delivered, and the costs of providing the services.
You can access the report at http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/research.htm#Ticket
September 29, 2010
Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel (OIDAP) Teleconference Meeting
On September 13, the Federal Register published notification of the upcoming OIDAP Teleconference Meeting on September 29, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. During the teleconference meeting, the OIDAP will receive status reports from the Occupational Information Development Project Director and OIDAP Chair and hold discussion and deliberation on the final review of the Public Comment Summary Report and the OIDAP Proposed Recommendation to SSA on the Occupational Information System plan. For additional information, and to view the notice online, please visit http://www.ssa.gov/oidap/meeting_information.htm.
September 24, 2010
Presentation at the Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel (OIDAP) Meeting
On September 1-2, 2010, the OIDAP held a public quarterly meeting in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. We delivered a presentation to the OIDAP on three topics: Status of the “Occupational/Medical-Vocational Study,” “Evaluation of 2008 Occupations Held by SSDI and SSI Disability Claimants,” and “Development of the Occupational Information System—Content Model.” The OIDAP also heard subcommittee reports that included a presentation from the User Needs and Relations Subcommittee on the draft report of user comments that were received in response to the OIDAP’s September 2009 recommendations report. For additional information, please visit http://www.ssa.gov/oidap/meeting_information.htm.
September 24, 2010
Federal Register Announcement on the Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND)
We published a federal register announcement on August 12, 2010, for BOND data collection activities. In the BOND project, we seek evidence about the effectiveness of potential solutions that could improve the historically very low rate of return to work among SSDI beneficiaries. In this demonstration, we will test reducing benefits by $1 for every $2 in earnings above the BOND threshold, gradually reducing benefits as earnings increase. The proposed public survey data collections will have four components: An impact study, a cost-benefit analysis, a participation analysis, and a process study. You can find a copy of the federal register announcement at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-19914.htm
Final reports from each of the 4 states involved in the Benefit Offset Pilot Demonstration are now available on our website at: http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/offsetpilot.htm
May 17, 2010
Administration for Children and Families and SSA Finalize New Data Sharing Agreement
On May 3, 2010, we entered into an agreement with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services allowing us to link national administrative data from their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to SSA disability data for research purposes. This will allow us to analyze the volume and characteristics of TANF clients with disabilities applying for SSI/SSDI and the outcomes of their applications. This data analysis will support the TANF-SSI Disability Transition Project, a research partnership between ACF, SSA, and several state and local authorities that is designed to identify ways to improve coordination of the TANF and SSI programs. The project should also provide information for TANF reauthorization next year.
April 15, 2010
Reports From The Youth Transition Demonstration Cooperative Agreement Sites
The reports from the Youth Transition Demonstration Cooperative Agreement sites have been posted to our web site at YTD Cooperative Agreement Sites - Status and Reports.
April 14, 2010
Release of Accelerated Benefits Demonstration Project—Second Policy Brief
The Accelerated Benefits Demonstration Project—Second Policy Brief, providing results from the six-month survey is now available on our website: Policy Brief/Six-Month Survey Results
January 20, 2010
Release of National Beneficiary Survey (Round 3) Public Use File
OPDR's Disclosure Review Board (DRB) has approved release of round 3 of the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS) public use file. This third public use file follows the release of the NBS round 1 file in September 2009 and round 2 in December 2009. The NBS collects data on a wide range of topics including employment, limiting conditions, experience with SSA programs, employment services, health and functional status, health insurance, income, and socio-demographic information. Together the round 1, round 2, and round 3 public use files provide data on 13,892 SSA beneficiaries with disabilities. The DRB reviewed the data to ensure that it would not pose an undue risk of disclosure for NBS survey participants.
The data and documentation are now available at http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/publicusefiles.html
January 6, 2010
Release of National Beneficiary Survey (Round 2) Public Use File
OPDR's Disclosure Review Board (DRB) has approved release of round 2 of the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS) public use file. This second public use file follows the release of the NBS round 1 file in September 2009. The NBS collects data on a wide range of topics including employment, limiting conditions, experience with SSA programs, employment services, health and functional status, health insurance, income, and socio-demographic information. Together the round 1 and round 2 public use files provide data on 11,384 SSA beneficiaries with disabilities. The DRB reviewed the data to ensure that it would not pose an undue risk of disclosure for NBS survey participants.
The data and documentation are now available at http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/publicusefiles.html.
For additional information, please visit the Panel's website at www.ssa.gov/oidap.