Childhood Continuing Disability Reviews and Age-18 Redeterminations for Supplemental Security Income Recipients: Outcomes and Subsequent Program Participation

by
Research and Statistics Note No. 2015-03 (released October 2015)

Jeffrey Hemmeter and Michelle Stegman Bailey are with the Office of Program Development, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Joy Cobb, Bob Somers, Elaine Gilby, Ray Wise, Michael Stephens, Eli Donkar, Susan Kalasunas, and Susan Wilschke for their valuable suggestions and comments.

The findings and conclusions presented in this note are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Social Security Administration.

Summary

Selected Abbreviations
ALJ administrative law judge
CDR continuing disability review
DI Disability Insurance
LBW low birth weight
MIE medical improvement expected
MINE medical improvement not expected
MIP medical improvement possible
SSA Social Security Administration
SSI Supplemental Security Income

This note presents statistics on the return to disability program participation of child Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients whose eligibility had ceased because of a finding of medical improvement in a childhood continuing disability review (CDR) or an age-18 redetermination. The study supplements previous work on program return among adults. We estimate that about 9 percent of children who qualified for SSI payments because of low birth weight (LBW) returned to the SSI rolls within 10 years of having their eligibility ceased for medical improvement. About 13 percent of non-LBW children returned to the rolls within 10 years of a cessation decision, and about 10 percent returned before reaching age 18. Finally, we find that about 14 percent of youths returned to SSI within 10 years of a cessation decision in an age-18 redetermination. These statistics provide context for policy proposals calling on SSA to conduct more childhood CDRs.

Introduction

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides means-tested cash transfers to children with disabilities in the United States. In December 2013, over 1.3 million children received payments averaging $631 per month (Social Security Administration [SSA] 2014b, Tables 4 and 5). As part of its program-integrity efforts, SSA periodically conducts continuing disability reviews (CDRs) to determine the ongoing medical eligibility of SSI recipients. Among the reviews conducted in fiscal year 2009—of which at least 98 percent have now had a final decision rendered after all appeals—SSA ceased eligibility in 47 percent of low birth weight (LBW) child CDR cases, 15 percent of non-LBW child CDR cases, and 37 percent of age-18 redeterminations (SSA 2014a).

This note supplements previous work on the return of adults to SSI participation after exiting the program because of a finding of medical improvement in either a CDR (Hemmeter and Stegman 2013) or an age-18 redetermination (Hemmeter and Gilby 2009) by presenting similar statistics for SSI child participants. Even though CDRs may result in program exits, many child SSI recipients experience long tenures in the program. This outcome is not surprising, as many childhood impairments are life-long and many of them deteriorate over time. Davies, Rupp, and Wittenburg (2009), for example, showed that almost 40 percent of children who were awarded SSI payments at age 13 in 1997 were still receiving payments at age 24.

In our prior work, we estimated that 30 percent of disabled adult SSI recipients who left the program returned to the SSI rolls within 8 years (Hemmeter and Stegman 2013).1 Whether children face similar prospects of program return is unclear. The significant gaps in services between childhood and adulthood (Government Accountability Office 2012) could result in higher levels of program return; conversely, younger individuals are likely to have more opportunities for self-sufficiency than adults have, possibly resulting in lower levels of program return. In fact, our estimates reveal substantially lower SSI return rates for former child recipients than for adults.

Child CDR Policy

SSA must conduct CDRs for minors at intervals that are determined by the type of case. The agency is statutorily required to conduct (or “release”) LBW child CDRs within 1 year of birth, or later if the impairment is not expected to improve within 12 months. SSA also conducts age-18 redeterminations of SSI eligibility under the program's adult definition of disability, generally within 2 years of the recipient turning 18 (SSA 2011). Cases for non-LBW SSI children, on the other hand, are released for CDRs according to the “diary date” and available funding. The diary date is set at the time of award (or last favorable decision), and is based on whether SSA determines that medical improvement is expected (MIE), possible (MIP), or not expected (MINE). This designation determines when the review date will be scheduled, ranging from 6 months to 7 years after the favorable decision. Once a diary comes due for a child SSI recipient, SSA directly releases the case for a CDR.2

During a CDR, examiners use a medical improvement review standard (MIRS) to determine if an individual continues to meet the program eligibility rules. The MIRS requires examiners to look for medical improvement in the impairment on which eligibility was based since the last favorable decision.3 Examiners use the MIRS except in instances of fraud or failure to cooperate during the CDR process, and in cases in which either an error was clearly made during the last review (initial award or prior CDR) or advances in diagnostic techniques indicate that the impairment is not as disabling as originally determined. Age-18 redeterminations are not subject to the MIRS;4 rather, they are treated as new disability determinations using the five-step adult determination process instead of the three-step process used for children.5

The number of CDRs that SSA can process depends heavily on agency funding, competing workloads (such as initial claims), and adjudicative capacity at the initial, reconsideration, and hearing levels. Some of SSA's funding is designated specifically for program integrity, of which CDRs are a part. Because funding levels generally do not allow the agency to conduct all of the CDRs scheduled in a given year, SSA prioritizes cases. As a result, in many years, SSA conducted fewer non-LBW child CDRs than it would have with full funding; however, additional dedicated funding in recent years has enabled SSA to conduct those CDRs in increasing numbers.

Data and Methodology

Our primary data source for this analysis is SSA's CDR Waterfall File, which contains detailed information on centrally initiated CDRs with a Disability Determination Service decision. We select the 1998–2008 cohorts of LBW and non-LBW child CDRs and of age-18 redeterminations from that file. In addition to the Waterfall File, we use SSA's Numerical Identification (Numident) file (for dates of death) and the Supplemental Security Record (to replace any missing dates of birth). For data on successful postcessation applications to SSI or to Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) as a disabled worker—each of which we refer to, for brevity, as a “program return” in this note—we use SSA's Disability Research File. Using these data, we estimate the number of program returns through 2012.

Our study population excludes cases from the profile sample;6 cases with a missing final-decision date or with inconsistent dates in the data (for example, the final CDR decision date precedes the initial CDR decision date, or date of death precedes the final CDR decision date); and cases either in the appeal process or with time left to appeal. Our final populations consist of 104,031 LBW child CDRs; 992,362 non-LBW child CDRs; and 579,325 age-18 redeterminations.

We present the numbers and percentage distributions of all children and youths who received a CDR or an age-18 redetermination, and of those whose eligibility ceased as a result. We also present the percentages estimated to return to the rolls within 10 years. For LBW child CDRs, we estimate the percentage returning to SSI only. For non-LBW child CDRs, we also present the percentage of former recipients estimated to return to SSI before age 18. All statistics are shown by selected personal and programmatic characteristics. In estimating program return rates, we measure from the date of the final CDR decision to the date the successful application was filed.7

Our program-return estimates are based on cumulative incidence functions, which account for censored follow-up periods (that is, different follow-up periods depending on when the CDR decision occurred) and the competing outcome of death.8 See Hemmeter and Stegman (2013) for more information on this methodology.

Population Characteristics, Cessation Rates, and Return Rates

In this section, we present the numbers and percentage distributions of children and youths who received a CDR or age-18 redetermination, the resulting cessation rates, and the estimated percentages that returned to SSA's disability programs, all by selected characteristics.

LBW Child CDRs

Table 1 shows that majorities of LBW child SSI recipients received their CDRs at ages 1–2 (77.3 percent) and were assigned the MIP diary type (63.0 percent).9 Less than 6 percent of LBW children received a CDR after age 4, and the current review was not the first CDR in about 49 percent of those cases (not shown). About three-quarters of these LBW children entered the SSI program at the initial-application level of adjudication, and a consultative examination was requested during the CDR for slightly less than half of these children.10

Table 1. Selected characteristics of LBW child SSI recipients who received CDRs during 1998–2008 that resulted in eligibility cessation, and cumulative incidence of program return
Characteristic All CDRs CDRs resulting in cessation
Number As a percentage of— Percentage returning to SSI within 10 years a
Number Percentage distribution All cessations All CDRs in category
Total 104,031 100.0 49,709 100.0 47.8 9.4
Diary type (expected likelihood of medical improvement) b
MIE 38,493 37.0 18,335 36.9 47.6 8.1
MIP 65,525 63.0 31,372 63.1 47.9 9.6
Age at initial CDR decision
Younger than 1 569 0.5 189 0.4 33.2 6.4
1–2 80,466 77.3 39,117 78.7 48.6 9.6
3–4 17,200 16.5 8,284 16.7 48.2 8.6
Older than 4 5,796 5.6 2,119 4.3 36.6 8.3
Adjudication level of program award
Initial application 78,559 75.5 36,697 73.8 46.7 9.6
Reconsideration 451 0.4 136 0.3 30.2 10.7
ALJ or higher 108 0.1 33 0.1 30.6 3.0
Unknown 24,913 23.9 12,843 25.8 51.6 8.9
Any prior CDR
No 99,789 95.9 48,396 97.4 48.5 9.5
Yes 4,242 4.1 1,313 2.6 31.0 8.3
Consultative examination requested
No 57,874 55.6 28,606 57.5 49.4 9.2
Yes 46,157 44.4 21,103 42.5 45.7 9.8
Year of initial CDR decision
1998 13,741 13.2 7,293 14.7 53.1 8.7
1999 9,417 9.1 4,716 9.5 50.1 9.0
2000 9,834 9.5 4,743 9.5 48.2 9.6
2001 9,517 9.1 4,561 9.2 47.9 10.6
2002 12,946 12.4 6,095 12.3 47.1 10.7
2003 7,131 6.9 3,208 6.5 45.0 8.9
2004 12,179 11.7 5,347 10.8 43.9 8.6
2005 13,906 13.4 6,413 12.9 46.1 8.0
2006 6,306 6.1 2,955 5.9 46.9 7.5
2007 3,858 3.7 1,899 3.8 49.2 6.5
2008 5,196 5.0 2,479 5.0 47.7 5.1
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Rounded components of percentage distributions do not necessarily sum to 100.0.
a. Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.
b. The data include only 13 cases with a MINE diary type. We removed those records from the diary-type analysis, but retained them for the other subgroup analyses. As a result, the sum of the cases by diary type does not equal the total number of cases.

SSA ceased SSI eligibility for about 48 percent of the LBW children in our population, although the cessation rate varies to some degree according to certain characteristics. For example, we see relatively lower cessation rates for children who received a CDR when younger than age 1 and older than age 4; for those who entered the program through a decision at the reconsideration level or higher; and for those who had had a prior CDR. The cessation rate declined annually for CDRs decided over the first half of the study period, from 53.1 percent in 1998 to 43.9 percent by 2004. For CDRs decided after 2004, the cessation rate increased slightly, approaching 50 percent by 2007.

We estimate that within 10 years, 9.4 percent of former LBW child recipients returned to SSI. Chart 1 shows that the rate of return was gradual over our 10-year follow-up period, with about half of the successful reapplicants returning within 4 years of cessation. Table 1 shows relatively lower return rates for LBW children whose CDRs were decided when they were younger than age 1 (6.4 percent) and for those who entered the program at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level or higher (3.0 percent). The latter result may simply reflect the relative rarity of LBW children entering the program at that level and then having their payments ceased because of medical improvement.

Chart 1.
Estimated SSI program return rate for LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 1. Estimated SSI program return rate for LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by years since cessation decision
Months after cessation Percent
1 0
2 0.05
3 0.14
4 0.28
5 0.44
6 0.62
7 0.74
8 0.92
9 1.11
10 1.28
11 1.43
12 1.56
13 1.72
14 1.85
15 1.98
16 2.13
17 2.25
18 2.37
19 2.52
20 2.62
21 2.72
22 2.84
23 2.95
24 3.05
25 3.16
26 3.25
27 3.36
28 3.46
29 3.57
30 3.68
31 3.78
32 3.86
33 3.96
34 4.06
35 4.16
36 4.24
37 4.35
38 4.45
39 4.54
40 4.61
41 4.71
42 4.78
43 4.88
44 4.98
45 5.10
46 5.19
47 5.27
48 5.34
49 5.43
50 5.51
51 5.64
52 5.72
53 5.81
54 5.91
55 6.01
56 6.08
57 6.17
58 6.26
59 6.34
60 6.43
61 6.51
62 6.59
63 6.67
64 6.76
65 6.84
66 6.90
67 6.98
68 7.06
69 7.14
70 7.22
71 7.28
72 7.32
73 7.38
74 7.43
75 7.51
76 7.57
77 7.61
78 7.67
79 7.72
80 7.80
81 7.83
82 7.90
83 7.94
84 8.01
85 8.05
86 8.10
87 8.13
88 8.17
89 8.21
90 8.28
91 8.32
92 8.34
93 8.39
94 8.41
95 8.45
96 8.49
97 8.53
98 8.58
99 8.64
100 8.70
101 8.73
102 8.76
103 8.79
104 8.85
105 8.89
106 8.94
107 8.98
108 9.03
109 9.06
110 9.10
111 9.14
112 9.18
113 9.20
114 9.23
115 9.25
116 9.29
117 9.34
118 9.36
119 9.39
120 9.41
121 9.45
 
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

The declining return rate in more recent CDR years is largely a mechanical artifact of the data, given the shorter follow-up period for those with cessations in later years. However, in Chart 2, we see somewhat lower return rates for the 1998 and 1999 CDR cohorts in almost every year after the decision than we see for later cohorts. We also see higher return rates for the 2001 and 2002 CDR cohorts, reflecting the last years in our data for which SSA received supplemental funding to reduce the CDR backlog (see Hemmeter and Bailey 2013).

Chart 2.
Estimated SSI program return rate for LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 2. Estimated SSI program return rate for LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0.05 0.04 0 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.04 0.12 0.03 0.05 0
3 0.12 0.08 0.08 0.20 0.11 0.19 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.11 0.08
4 0.15 0.25 0.19 0.35 0.26 0.22 0.47 0.34 0.24 0.32 0.36
5 0.30 0.32 0.23 0.57 0.49 0.37 0.69 0.45 0.44 0.42 0.61
6 0.41 0.36 0.36 0.88 0.75 0.56 0.95 0.62 0.58 0.47 0.85
7 0.49 0.40 0.42 1.01 1.02 0.84 1.10 0.70 0.81 0.47 0.89
8 0.60 0.47 0.53 1.25 1.18 1.09 1.33 0.94 1.15 0.58 1.09
9 0.70 0.53 0.57 1.51 1.49 1.25 1.65 1.14 1.39 0.68 1.41
10 0.80 0.57 0.72 1.71 1.74 1.40 1.87 1.31 1.52 1.00 1.57
11 0.89 0.66 0.76 1.89 1.90 1.59 2.06 1.56 1.69 1.16 1.73
12 1.01 0.68 0.89 2.00 2.03 1.71 2.36 1.76 1.79 1.16 1.82
13 1.15 0.72 0.95 2.19 2.36 1.93 2.43 1.95 1.90 1.37 1.90
14 1.28 0.78 1.12 2.32 2.46 2.12 2.62 2.14 1.96 1.47 2.06
15 1.40 0.89 1.18 2.57 2.59 2.21 2.75 2.32 2.03 1.47 2.22
16 1.51 1.00 1.33 2.70 2.81 2.40 2.84 2.45 2.20 1.69 2.38
17 1.56 1.08 1.43 2.89 2.94 2.52 2.96 2.62 2.34 1.74 2.58
18 1.63 1.19 1.56 3.07 3.02 2.71 3.14 2.73 2.47 1.95 2.70
19 1.70 1.25 1.77 3.24 3.25 2.90 3.24 2.84 2.71 2.11 2.86
20 1.80 1.31 1.90 3.40 3.40 2.93 3.29 2.92 2.77 2.16 3.07
21 1.89 1.36 2.02 3.57 3.49 2.99 3.39 3.01 2.88 2.21 3.19
22 1.97 1.51 2.09 3.64 3.69 3.15 3.52 3.13 2.94 2.42 3.35
23 2.07 1.57 2.17 3.71 3.79 3.30 3.63 3.27 3.08 2.63 3.43
24 2.17 1.61 2.21 3.81 3.97 3.43 3.80 3.37 3.21 2.69 3.51
25 2.28 1.63 2.32 3.88 4.10 3.55 3.98 3.41 3.38 2.84 3.63
26 2.33 1.70 2.47 3.97 4.18 3.68 4.02 3.51 3.52 3.00 3.71
27 2.39 1.82 2.51 4.12 4.33 3.74 4.13 3.59 3.69 3.42 3.71
28 2.48 1.89 2.59 4.25 4.46 3.90 4.23 3.70 3.86 3.53 3.75
29 2.56 2.08 2.74 4.36 4.58 3.99 4.36 3.71 4.06 3.58 3.83
30 2.62 2.16 2.87 4.52 4.69 4.11 4.43 3.80 4.16 3.79 3.95
31 2.66 2.23 3.01 4.63 4.79 4.21 4.53 3.91 4.20 4.05 4.11
32 2.73 2.27 3.23 4.67 4.89 4.21 4.56 3.96 4.33 4.32 4.24
33 2.80 2.33 3.37 4.71 4.95 4.43 4.68 4.10 4.47 4.37 4.36
34 2.88 2.44 3.52 4.82 5.00 4.52 4.77 4.21 4.64 4.48 4.36
35 2.93 2.52 3.67 4.93 5.12 4.64 4.81 4.29 4.84 4.53 4.48
36 3.06 2.55 3.77 5.04 5.20 4.64 4.86 4.38 4.94 4.53 4.60
37 3.14 2.74 3.94 5.17 5.27 4.93 4.94 4.43 5.01 4.63 4.68
38 3.19 2.80 4.13 5.28 5.45 4.96 5.13 4.49 5.04 4.69 4.76
39 3.28 2.84 4.22 5.35 5.55 4.99 5.26 4.60 5.21 4.85 4.84
40 3.40 2.93 4.28 5.46 5.59 5.02 5.27 4.66 5.31 4.90 4.84
41 3.57 3.01 4.34 5.57 5.68 5.14 5.33 4.82 5.31 4.95 4.93
42 3.59 3.16 4.51 5.61 5.74 5.17 5.42 4.90 5.35 5.06 4.93
43 3.66 3.20 4.62 5.68 5.84 5.21 5.52 5.10 5.42 5.22 4.93
44 3.78 3.33 4.70 5.81 5.94 5.24 5.67 5.21 5.45 5.33 5.06
45 3.88 3.52 4.89 5.83 5.99 5.36 5.76 5.40 5.55 5.50 . . .
46 3.94 3.63 5.00 5.90 6.07 5.42 5.87 5.51 5.69 5.72 . . .
47 4.07 3.73 5.04 6.01 6.10 5.49 5.97 5.55 5.79 5.94 . . .
48 4.13 3.84 5.14 6.10 6.25 5.49 5.97 5.63 5.90 6.00 . . .
49 4.22 3.97 5.19 6.23 6.30 5.52 6.02 5.76 6.00 6.11 . . .
50 4.28 4.01 5.25 6.45 6.40 5.64 6.06 5.81 6.18 6.28 . . .
51 4.37 4.24 5.33 6.56 6.60 5.74 6.17 5.93 6.32 6.39 . . .
52 4.40 4.37 5.44 6.67 6.74 5.80 6.21 6.03 6.35 6.39 . . .
53 4.51 4.45 5.52 6.82 6.84 5.89 6.31 6.09 6.49 6.39 . . .
54 4.70 4.58 5.61 6.95 6.96 5.95 6.32 6.17 6.56 6.51 . . .
55 4.84 4.67 5.73 6.95 7.02 6.05 6.46 6.28 6.67 . . . . . .
56 4.94 4.77 5.78 7.13 7.10 6.08 6.51 6.36 6.70 . . . . . .
57 5.02 4.86 5.86 7.24 7.25 6.17 6.59 6.42 6.77 . . . . . .
58 5.17 4.94 5.92 7.37 7.35 6.30 6.66 6.49 6.81 . . . . . .
59 5.25 5.07 6.07 7.39 7.48 6.33 6.68 6.58 6.92 . . . . . .
60 5.32 5.11 6.18 7.45 7.60 6.36 6.81 6.71 6.99 . . . . . .
61 5.42 5.28 6.28 7.52 7.65 6.49 6.89 6.78 7.06 . . . . . .
62 5.47 5.37 6.43 7.56 7.73 6.64 6.97 6.84 7.13 . . . . . .
63 5.59 5.54 6.51 7.61 7.76 6.67 7.04 6.87 7.21 . . . . . .
64 5.70 5.62 6.68 7.63 7.89 6.74 7.10 6.94 7.32 . . . . . .
65 5.81 5.68 6.73 7.81 7.94 6.89 7.21 6.94 7.39 . . . . . .
66 5.85 5.83 6.79 7.85 8.04 6.95 7.29 6.97 7.43 . . . . . .
67 5.91 5.90 6.89 7.91 8.15 7.02 7.33 7.12 7.47 . . . . . .
68 5.95 5.94 7.02 7.96 8.27 7.05 7.43 7.22 7.47 . . . . . .
69 6.05 6.04 7.04 8.02 8.35 7.27 7.56 7.28 7.47 . . . . . .
70 6.12 6.15 7.04 8.11 8.45 7.46 7.60 7.36 7.50 . . . . . .
71 6.18 6.24 7.13 8.20 8.48 7.49 7.68 7.41 . . . . . . . . .
72 6.25 6.34 7.13 8.20 8.55 7.49 7.74 7.46 . . . . . . . . .
73 6.32 6.41 7.17 8.24 8.65 7.55 7.77 7.50 . . . . . . . . .
74 6.36 6.43 7.23 8.27 8.70 7.64 7.81 7.61 . . . . . . . . .
75 6.47 6.47 7.27 8.31 8.75 7.80 7.93 7.70 . . . . . . . . .
76 6.58 6.51 7.38 8.35 8.81 7.80 8.03 7.75 . . . . . . . . .
77 6.61 6.53 7.48 8.38 8.89 7.80 8.05 7.78 . . . . . . . . .
78 6.71 6.55 7.53 8.49 8.98 7.87 8.09 7.83 . . . . . . . . .
79 6.77 6.64 7.57 8.53 9.01 7.96 8.17 7.83 . . . . . . . . .
80 6.86 6.70 7.67 8.59 9.08 7.99 8.25 7.92 . . . . . . . . .
81 6.88 6.72 7.72 8.68 9.14 7.99 8.27 7.94 . . . . . . . . .
82 6.95 6.74 7.76 8.97 9.26 8.06 8.29 7.94 . . . . . . . . .
83 7.02 6.77 7.80 8.99 9.32 8.09 8.35 7.94 . . . . . . . . .
84 7.08 6.89 7.84 9.06 9.39 8.18 8.41 7.97 . . . . . . . . .
85 7.10 7.00 7.93 9.12 9.42 8.18 8.45 . . . . . . . . . . . .
86 7.14 7.04 8.05 9.14 9.49 8.25 8.47 . . . . . . . . . . . .
87 7.16 7.11 8.08 9.19 9.52 8.31 8.47 . . . . . . . . . . . .
88 7.21 7.17 8.12 9.21 9.59 8.38 8.51 . . . . . . . . . . . .
89 7.25 7.23 8.16 9.25 9.64 8.38 8.55 . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 7.32 7.30 8.20 9.34 9.75 8.48 8.57 . . . . . . . . . . . .
91 7.42 7.38 8.26 9.36 9.79 8.51 8.57 . . . . . . . . . . . .
92 7.45 7.42 8.26 9.39 9.82 8.54 8.57 . . . . . . . . . . . .
93 7.46 7.49 8.35 9.41 9.92 8.54 8.64 . . . . . . . . . . . .
94 7.47 7.53 8.37 9.41 9.94 8.58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
95 7.51 7.59 8.43 9.47 9.95 8.61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96 7.57 7.72 8.43 9.47 9.97 8.68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97 7.66 7.78 8.45 9.50 10.02 8.74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98 7.73 7.83 8.50 9.50 10.16 8.74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99 7.76 7.89 8.64 9.58 10.17 8.78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100 7.79 7.98 8.69 9.67 10.29 8.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101 7.79 8.04 8.73 9.74 10.36 8.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
102 7.83 8.08 8.77 9.76 10.36 8.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103 7.87 8.12 8.77 9.83 10.38 8.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104 7.98 8.17 8.86 9.92 10.41 8.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105 8.02 8.21 8.86 9.98 10.50 8.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
106 8.10 8.25 8.90 10.05 10.51 8.91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107 8.17 8.29 8.94 10.07 10.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108 8.25 8.36 9.00 10.12 10.53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
109 8.31 8.38 9.03 10.19 10.57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
110 8.34 8.44 9.15 10.19 10.58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111 8.35 8.53 9.15 10.23 10.62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
112 8.38 8.63 9.22 10.28 10.64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
113 8.41 8.70 9.24 10.28 10.64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114 8.45 8.72 9.28 10.28 10.65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115 8.47 8.74 9.32 10.30 10.65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
116 8.52 8.78 9.36 10.34 10.67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
117 8.57 8.89 9.41 10.43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118 8.60 8.91 9.43 10.46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119 8.63 8.95 9.47 10.48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120 8.65 8.97 9.51 10.53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
121 8.71 9.00 9.58 10.55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

Non-LBW Child CDRs

About 81 percent of the non-LBW child SSI recipients receiving a CDR during 1998–2008 were originally assigned the MIP diary type (Table 2). Among age groups, most CDRs were decided for children aged 5–12, and the second-largest proportion was decided for those aged 13–17.11 Mental disorders are highly prevalent among the general non-LBW SSI children's population; similarly, intellectual disabilities and “other mental disorders” together accounted for 60 percent of the primary impairments in our study population. We also find that about nine out of ten non-LBW child CDR cases had been awarded payments at the initial application level, and almost three-quarters had not undergone a prior CDR.

Table 2. Selected characteristics of non-LBW child SSI recipients who received CDRs during 1998–2008 that resulted in eligibility cessation, and cumulative incidence of DI and SSI program return
Characteristic All CDRs CDRs resulting in cessation
Number Percentage distribution Number As a percentage of— Percentage returning within 10 yearsa to— Percentage returning to SSI before age 18
All cessations All CDRs in category DI SSI Either program
Total 992,362 100.0 181,286 100.0 18.3 1.1 13.4 13.6 9.6
Diary type (expected likelihood of medical improvement)
MIE 176,644 17.8 50,249 27.7 28.4 0.6 12.4 12.5 9.8
MIP 807,037 81.3 130,343 71.9 16.2 1.3 13.7 13.9 9.5
MINE 8,681 0.9 694 0.4 8.0 5.1 28.3 28.9 15.7
Age at initial CDR decision
Younger than 5 85,471 8.6 22,387 12.3 26.2 0.0 12.7 12.7 11.7
5–12 616,754 62.2 112,205 61.9 18.2 0.4 13.7 13.7 4.3
13–17 289,207 29.1 46,355 25.6 16.0 3.1 13.2 13.7 0.0
18 930 0.1 339 0.2 36.5 1.6 11.6 11.9 . . .
Years in program
Fewer than 2 11,265 1.1 2,172 1.2 19.3 0.6 13.3 13.3 10.1
2–3 249,366 25.1 46,954 25.9 18.8 0.5 14.4 14.4 12.3
4–5 294,189 29.6 62,168 34.3 21.1 0.8 13.8 13.9 11.1
6–9 328,323 33.1 57,536 31.7 17.5 1.5 12.3 12.6 7.7
10 or more 109,219 11.0 12,456 6.9 11.4 3.1 13.0 13.5 4.8
Diagnosis
Intellectual disabilities 297,764 30.0 38,789 21.4 13.0 1.8 17.3 17.5 11.1
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders 3,471 0.3 517 0.3 14.9 2.7 15.4 15.6 6.9
Other mental disorders 292,874 29.5 49,501 27.3 16.9 1.0 13.1 13.3 9.7
Neoplasms 16,049 1.6 8,674 4.8 54.0 0.8 8.1 8.2 5.9
Diseases of the—
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic system 9,733 1.0 2,055 1.1 21.1 2.0 15.9 16.1 10.0
Nervous system and sense organs 106,478 10.7 9,663 5.3 9.1 1.9 17.5 17.8 11.4
Circulatory system 8,887 0.9 2,898 1.6 32.6 0.7 13.5 13.7 10.5
Respiratory system 44,990 4.5 21,628 11.9 48.1 0.4 8.6 8.7 6.6
Digestive system 6,798 0.7 2,244 1.2 33.0 1.1 13.6 13.9 10.2
Genitourinary system 4,035 0.4 1,072 0.6 26.6 3.5 20.5 20.8 11.4
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 11,732 1.2 2,639 1.5 22.5 1.5 10.3 10.5 6.1
Injuries 6,638 0.7 1,149 0.6 17.3 1.3 13.2 13.3 9.2
Other 129,957 13.1 26,299 14.5 20.2 0.7 13.3 13.4 10.9
Unknown 52,956 5.3 14,158 7.8 26.7 0.8 11.3 11.5 8.6
Adjudication level of program award
Initial application 882,259 88.9 158,559 87.5 18.0 1.1 13.5 13.7 9.7
Reconsideration 50,336 5.1 9,820 5.4 19.5 1.1 14.1 14.3 10.2
ALJ or higher 21,787 2.2 5,175 2.9 23.8 1.6 11.8 12.0 8.2
Unknown 37,980 3.8 7,732 4.3 20.4 1.2 11.3 11.6 7.6
Any prior CDR
No 725,038 73.1 147,399 81.3 20.3 1.1 14.2 14.3 10.4
Yes 267,324 26.9 33,887 18.7 12.7 1.1 10.1 10.3 6.5
Consultative examination requested
No 494,413 49.8 70,762 39.0 14.3 1.1 14.5 14.7 10.5
Yes 497,949 50.2 110,524 61.0 22.2 1.1 12.7 12.9 9.1
Year of initial CDR decision
1998 123,418 12.4 25,159 13.9 20.4 1.2 13.2 13.4 9.2
1999 176,609 17.8 40,095 22.1 22.7 1.2 14.0 14.1 9.9
2000 135,622 13.7 25,218 13.9 18.6 1.7 15.8 16.1 10.6
2001 98,737 9.9 16,386 9.0 16.6 1.4 13.3 13.5 8.5
2002 175,830 17.7 26,349 14.5 15.0 0.8 11.7 11.8 7.9
2003 109,919 11.1 17,021 9.4 15.5 0.6 10.9 11.1 8.3
2004 99,440 10.0 16,791 9.3 16.9 0.1 11.7 11.7 10.9
2005 52,952 5.3 10,253 5.7 19.4 0.0 11.9 12.0 11.6
2006 12,013 1.2 2,508 1.4 20.9 0.0 11.2 11.3 11.1
2007 5,094 0.5 996 0.5 19.6 0.1 8.2 8.2 7.9
2008 2,728 0.3 510 0.3 18.7 0.0 6.7 6.7 6.5
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTES: Rounded components of percentage distributions do not necessarily sum to 100.0.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

The overall cessation rate (after appeals) for non-LBW child CDRs was 18.3 percent. The childhood CDR cessation rate was higher for those for whom SSA expected medical improvement (28.4 percent) than it was for those whose medical improvement was considered possible (16.2 percent) or was not expected (8.0 percent). Of the non-LBW child CDR age groups, the youngest (younger than 5) and oldest (18) had the highest cessation rates (26.2 percent and 36.5 percent, respectively); among diagnosis types, the highest cessation rates were for those with neoplasms (54.0 percent), respiratory system diseases (48.1 percent), circulatory system diseases (32.6 percent), and digestive system diseases (33.0 percent).

We estimate that 13.4 percent of non-LBW children returned to SSI and 1.1 percent had become DI disabled-worker beneficiaries within 10 years of a CDR cessation decision (Table 2 and Chart 3a).12 Because the estimates show that 13.6 percent returned to either program, many children who went on to qualify for DI benefits were actually concurrent DI and SSI beneficiaries. For brevity, we focus on return to SSI, noting that the results for each program are similar in relative importance, if not in magnitude. CDR cases for children who were deemed the least likely to medically improve (the MINE diary type) have a higher estimated return rate (28.3 percent) than do those in the other diary categories (12.4–13.7 percent). The variation in program return rates by age at CDR decision and by years in the program is less pronounced. Former non-LBW child recipients with intellectual disabilities, nervous system and sense organ diseases, and genitourinary system diseases show somewhat higher estimated rates of return (17–21 percent) than do those with other impairments.

Chart 3a.
Estimated program return rate within 10 years for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by disability program and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 3a. Estimated program return rate within 10 years for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by disability program and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation DI entry SSI reentry Either
1 0 0 0
2 0 0.15 0.15
3 0 0.31 0.31
4 0 0.57 0.57
5 0.00 0.84 0.84
6 0.00 1.11 1.11
7 0.00 1.35 1.35
8 0.00 1.60 1.60
9 0.00 1.83 1.83
10 0.01 2.05 2.05
11 0.01 2.27 2.27
12 0.01 2.50 2.50
13 0.01 2.73 2.73
14 0.01 2.93 2.93
15 0.01 3.14 3.14
16 0.01 3.33 3.33
17 0.01 3.52 3.52
18 0.01 3.71 3.72
19 0.01 3.90 3.90
20 0.01 4.08 4.08
21 0.01 4.23 4.24
22 0.02 4.40 4.40
23 0.02 4.55 4.56
24 0.02 4.70 4.71
25 0.02 4.85 4.86
26 0.02 5.00 5.01
27 0.02 5.15 5.15
28 0.03 5.30 5.31
29 0.03 5.44 5.44
30 0.03 5.60 5.60
31 0.04 5.74 5.75
32 0.04 5.88 5.89
33 0.04 6.01 6.02
34 0.04 6.14 6.15
35 0.05 6.27 6.28
36 0.05 6.41 6.42
37 0.05 6.54 6.55
38 0.06 6.66 6.67
39 0.06 6.78 6.79
40 0.06 6.90 6.91
41 0.07 7.03 7.04
42 0.07 7.14 7.15
43 0.07 7.27 7.28
44 0.08 7.39 7.40
45 0.08 7.49 7.51
46 0.09 7.61 7.63
47 0.09 7.73 7.75
48 0.10 7.85 7.87
49 0.10 7.96 7.98
50 0.11 8.07 8.09
51 0.11 8.17 8.19
52 0.12 8.27 8.30
53 0.12 8.39 8.41
54 0.13 8.50 8.52
55 0.14 8.59 8.61
56 0.14 8.68 8.70
57 0.15 8.78 8.81
58 0.16 8.89 8.92
59 0.17 9.00 9.03
60 0.18 9.09 9.12
61 0.18 9.18 9.21
62 0.19 9.27 9.30
63 0.20 9.36 9.40
64 0.21 9.46 9.50
65 0.22 9.56 9.60
66 0.22 9.65 9.68
67 0.23 9.75 9.79
68 0.24 9.84 9.88
69 0.25 9.93 9.97
70 0.26 10.02 10.06
71 0.28 10.10 10.15
72 0.29 10.18 10.22
73 0.30 10.25 10.30
74 0.31 10.33 10.38
75 0.32 10.43 10.48
76 0.34 10.49 10.54
77 0.36 10.56 10.62
78 0.37 10.64 10.71
79 0.39 10.72 10.78
80 0.40 10.79 10.86
81 0.41 10.86 10.92
82 0.42 10.92 10.99
83 0.44 11.00 11.07
84 0.45 11.07 11.14
85 0.47 11.15 11.22
86 0.48 11.22 11.30
87 0.50 11.29 11.37
88 0.51 11.36 11.45
89 0.53 11.43 11.52
90 0.54 11.49 11.58
91 0.56 11.58 11.67
92 0.57 11.64 11.74
93 0.59 11.70 11.81
94 0.61 11.77 11.88
95 0.62 11.82 11.93
96 0.63 11.89 12.00
97 0.65 11.96 12.08
98 0.67 12.02 12.13
99 0.68 12.08 12.20
100 0.70 12.15 12.27
101 0.72 12.21 12.33
102 0.74 12.28 12.40
103 0.76 12.34 12.47
104 0.77 12.41 12.54
105 0.79 12.47 12.60
106 0.81 12.52 12.66
107 0.82 12.59 12.73
108 0.84 12.65 12.79
109 0.86 12.72 12.87
110 0.88 12.78 12.93
111 0.90 12.85 13.00
112 0.92 12.92 13.06
113 0.94 12.97 13.12
114 0.96 13.01 13.17
115 0.98 13.08 13.24
116 1.00 13.14 13.30
117 1.02 13.19 13.35
118 1.04 13.25 13.41
119 1.06 13.30 13.47
120 1.09 13.37 13.55
121 1.11 13.43 13.60
 
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

We estimate that about 10 percent of children with CDR cessation decisions returned to SSI before age 18 (Table 2 and Chart 3b). The rankings among the various characteristics for program-return percentages by age 18 are similar to those for program return within 10 years. Across CDR cohorts, the range of return rates within a given year since the cessation decision is wider for return by age 18 than it is for return within 10 years (Charts 4a and 4b). For example, for a pre-age-18 program return occurring within 7 years of a final CDR decision, the greatest difference between any two cohorts (2002 and 2005) is 4.5 percentage points (Chart 4b); yet for program return within 10 years, the widest range at this point is 3.2 percentage points (between the 2000 and 2002 cohorts, Chart 4a). In this instance, however, a trend related to supplemental funding for CDRs is not apparent.

Chart 3b.
Estimated SSI program return rate before age 18 for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 3b. Estimated SSI program return rate before age 18 for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by years since cessation decision
Months after cessation SSI reentry
1 0
2 0.15
3 0.31
4 0.57
5 0.85
6 1.12
7 1.36
8 1.62
9 1.85
10 2.08
11 2.29
12 2.52
13 2.74
14 2.93
15 3.13
16 3.31
17 3.50
18 3.68
19 3.85
20 4.02
21 4.16
22 4.31
23 4.45
24 4.58
25 4.71
26 4.85
27 4.98
28 5.11
29 5.23
30 5.36
31 5.47
32 5.59
33 5.70
34 5.81
35 5.93
36 6.03
37 6.13
38 6.23
39 6.32
40 6.41
41 6.51
42 6.59
43 6.68
44 6.77
45 6.85
46 6.94
47 7.03
48 7.11
49 7.20
50 7.26
51 7.34
52 7.41
53 7.49
54 7.57
55 7.63
56 7.69
57 7.75
58 7.82
59 7.88
60 7.94
61 8.00
62 8.06
63 8.10
64 8.17
65 8.22
66 8.27
67 8.34
68 8.39
69 8.44
70 8.48
71 8.52
72 8.57
73 8.60
74 8.63
75 8.68
76 8.71
77 8.74
78 8.78
79 8.82
80 8.85
81 8.87
82 8.90
83 8.93
84 8.96
85 8.99
86 9.03
87 9.06
88 9.08
89 9.11
90 9.13
91 9.16
92 9.18
93 9.20
94 9.22
95 9.24
96 9.26
97 9.29
98 9.31
99 9.33
100 9.35
101 9.36
102 9.39
103 9.40
104 9.42
105 9.44
106 9.46
107 9.48
108 9.49
109 9.50
110 9.51
111 9.53
112 9.54
113 9.55
114 9.56
115 9.57
116 9.58
117 9.59
118 9.61
119 9.62
120 9.63
121 9.64
 
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.
Chart 4a.
Estimated SSI program return rate within 10 years for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 4a. Estimated SSI program return rate within 10 years for non-LBW children whose SSI eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided during 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0.13 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.10 0.11 0.21 0.15 0.28 0.20 0
3 0.27 0.32 0.35 0.34 0.22 0.27 0.41 0.33 0.60 0.30 0
4 0.49 0.57 0.67 0.63 0.48 0.45 0.70 0.60 0.92 0.70 0.40
5 0.70 0.85 1.00 0.95 0.67 0.68 0.98 0.93 1.24 0.80 0.59
6 0.92 1.12 1.30 1.21 0.93 0.89 1.30 1.23 1.56 1.20 0.79
7 1.11 1.36 1.57 1.44 1.18 1.06 1.55 1.54 1.96 1.51 1.19
8 1.32 1.63 1.88 1.68 1.42 1.27 1.84 1.86 2.24 1.91 1.19
9 1.45 1.86 2.18 1.92 1.61 1.49 2.13 2.09 2.56 2.31 1.38
10 1.65 2.07 2.45 2.12 1.83 1.65 2.41 2.37 2.76 2.91 1.58
11 1.87 2.27 2.72 2.35 2.04 1.86 2.59 2.64 2.88 3.01 1.78
12 2.05 2.52 2.99 2.58 2.27 1.96 2.88 2.87 3.24 3.11 2.57
13 2.22 2.74 3.30 2.83 2.46 2.13 3.13 3.11 3.76 3.21 2.96
14 2.44 2.92 3.55 3.02 2.60 2.33 3.28 3.34 4.08 3.61 3.56
15 2.63 3.15 3.79 3.24 2.73 2.56 3.52 3.58 4.20 3.82 3.56
16 2.82 3.36 3.99 3.40 2.93 2.74 3.72 3.78 4.40 3.92 3.75
17 3.03 3.55 4.22 3.55 3.08 2.86 3.92 4.03 4.60 4.02 4.15
18 3.16 3.73 4.44 3.78 3.28 3.01 4.16 4.25 4.92 4.12 4.55
19 3.35 3.91 4.67 3.99 3.45 3.13 4.37 4.44 5.12 4.52 4.74
20 3.53 4.09 4.89 4.11 3.62 3.28 4.55 4.66 5.44 4.62 4.94
21 3.68 4.22 5.06 4.24 3.76 3.43 4.75 4.85 5.56 4.82 5.14
22 3.81 4.41 5.25 4.39 3.89 3.53 4.91 5.10 5.76 5.12 5.34
23 3.92 4.58 5.42 4.58 4.01 3.68 5.07 5.28 5.92 5.42 5.53
24 4.05 4.74 5.60 4.69 4.18 3.81 5.22 5.42 6.20 5.42 5.53
25 4.18 4.93 5.78 4.81 4.30 3.91 5.37 5.63 6.40 5.42 5.93
26 4.32 5.08 5.96 5.00 4.40 4.08 5.50 5.81 6.60 5.42 5.93
27 4.46 5.21 6.19 5.15 4.50 4.19 5.63 5.96 6.92 5.42 5.93
28 4.58 5.39 6.38 5.26 4.66 4.35 5.77 6.16 7.04 5.52 5.93
29 4.73 5.52 6.55 5.38 4.75 4.50 5.88 6.33 7.12 5.62 5.93
30 4.92 5.66 6.75 5.55 4.91 4.64 6.02 6.45 7.40 5.72 5.93
31 5.04 5.82 6.90 5.69 5.03 4.76 6.16 6.67 7.56 5.82 5.93
32 5.14 5.95 7.09 5.82 5.17 4.88 6.31 6.83 7.72 5.92 6.13
33 5.24 6.08 7.24 5.96 5.27 5.03 6.43 6.94 7.84 6.02 6.13
34 5.37 6.22 7.39 6.09 5.38 5.14 6.57 7.07 8.04 6.12 6.13
35 5.51 6.34 7.57 6.22 5.50 5.24 6.69 7.30 8.20 6.12 6.32
36 5.64 6.49 7.76 6.37 5.59 5.39 6.82 7.45 8.24 6.22 6.32
37 5.78 6.64 7.88 6.48 5.70 5.47 6.95 7.58 8.40 6.33 6.32
38 5.90 6.75 8.01 6.60 5.80 5.58 7.14 7.66 8.48 6.33 6.52
39 6.04 6.87 8.14 6.73 5.87 5.68 7.35 7.76 8.56 6.33 6.52
40 6.18 6.98 8.29 6.83 5.95 5.77 7.47 7.97 8.72 6.33 6.52
41 6.30 7.11 8.42 6.93 6.05 5.85 7.62 8.19 8.96 6.74 6.52
42 6.42 7.24 8.55 7.00 6.12 5.92 7.80 8.30 9.09 7.05 6.52
43 6.51 7.35 8.72 7.12 6.25 6.08 7.96 8.45 9.17 7.16 6.52
44 6.62 7.49 8.82 7.24 6.35 6.17 8.08 8.67 9.21 7.26 6.74
45 6.77 7.61 8.95 7.29 6.44 6.24 8.19 8.79 9.21 7.26 . . .
46 6.90 7.73 9.10 7.37 6.56 6.32 8.31 8.96 9.30 7.37 . . .
47 7.04 7.85 9.21 7.48 6.68 6.38 8.43 9.12 9.43 7.70 . . .
48 7.18 7.96 9.34 7.58 6.79 6.52 8.51 9.29 9.56 7.70 . . .
49 7.34 8.06 9.47 7.66 6.88 6.60 8.62 9.46 9.69 7.81 . . .
50 7.47 8.16 9.60 7.76 6.97 6.67 8.70 9.63 9.69 7.81 . . .
51 7.56 8.29 9.72 7.84 7.05 6.76 8.79 9.76 9.78 7.81 . . .
52 7.68 8.40 9.85 7.97 7.10 6.88 8.90 9.83 9.91 7.93 . . .
53 7.79 8.53 9.97 8.09 7.16 7.01 8.97 9.99 10.05 7.93 . . .
54 7.90 8.67 10.08 8.13 7.27 7.10 9.12 10.10 10.14 8.05 . . .
55 8.00 8.76 10.17 8.22 7.36 7.18 9.19 10.20 10.27 8.05 . . .
56 8.12 8.86 10.25 8.32 7.42 7.27 9.28 10.27 10.32 8.05 . . .
57 8.22 8.99 10.35 8.38 7.53 7.40 9.36 10.42 10.41 8.18 . . .
58 8.33 9.11 10.47 8.49 7.62 7.51 9.46 10.55 10.41 . . . . . .
59 8.45 9.22 10.58 8.57 7.73 7.64 9.55 10.68 10.60 . . . . . .
60 8.55 9.31 10.67 8.64 7.81 7.72 9.64 10.84 10.65 . . . . . .
61 8.63 9.41 10.79 8.72 7.88 7.85 9.70 10.95 10.65 . . . . . .
62 8.74 9.48 10.89 8.81 7.96 7.93 9.78 11.00 10.75 . . . . . .
63 8.85 9.60 10.98 8.85 8.05 8.03 9.85 11.08 10.89 . . . . . .
64 8.97 9.72 11.11 8.93 8.10 8.11 9.98 11.16 10.94 . . . . . .
65 9.08 9.83 11.19 9.02 8.19 8.24 10.09 11.26 11.04 . . . . . .
66 9.15 9.92 11.25 9.13 8.29 8.34 10.14 11.30 11.14 . . . . . .
67 9.30 10.02 11.33 9.24 8.39 8.43 10.25 11.35 11.19 . . . . . .
68 9.41 10.11 11.42 9.36 8.47 8.53 10.33 11.39 11.19 . . . . . .
69 9.52 10.17 11.54 9.45 8.55 8.61 10.43 11.45 11.19 . . . . . .
70 9.60 10.26 11.63 9.55 8.65 8.71 10.51 11.58 11.24 . . . . . .
71 9.68 10.34 11.73 9.60 8.72 8.84 10.61 11.63 . . . . . . . . .
72 9.78 10.40 11.82 9.71 8.81 8.94 10.66 11.66 . . . . . . . . .
73 9.85 10.46 11.86 9.82 8.89 9.02 10.72 11.70 . . . . . . . . .
74 9.93 10.55 11.98 9.94 8.95 9.11 10.78 11.73 . . . . . . . . .
75 10.03 10.63 12.11 10.02 9.06 9.19 10.83 11.79 . . . . . . . . .
76 10.10 10.71 12.19 10.07 9.11 9.25 10.91 11.81 . . . . . . . . .
77 10.16 10.77 12.29 10.15 9.20 9.31 10.99 11.84 . . . . . . . . .
78 10.22 10.85 12.37 10.23 9.31 9.41 11.08 11.87 . . . . . . . . .
79 10.29 10.93 12.49 10.30 9.37 9.52 11.10 11.89 . . . . . . . . .
80 10.36 11.03 12.57 10.36 9.43 9.59 11.16 11.91 . . . . . . . . .
81 10.43 11.10 12.67 10.41 9.49 9.69 11.20 11.92 . . . . . . . . .
82 10.51 11.16 12.72 10.50 9.56 9.74 11.24 11.93 . . . . . . . . .
83 10.61 11.23 12.79 10.60 9.66 9.79 11.30 . . . . . . . . . . . .
84 10.72 11.30 12.85 10.67 9.73 9.89 11.34 . . . . . . . . . . . .
85 10.79 11.39 12.94 10.77 9.82 9.95 11.39 . . . . . . . . . . . .
86 10.86 11.46 13.03 10.84 9.92 10.03 11.45 . . . . . . . . . . . .
87 10.93 11.54 13.09 10.97 9.99 10.08 11.47 . . . . . . . . . . . .
88 10.99 11.64 13.19 11.05 10.06 10.11 11.53 . . . . . . . . . . . .
89 11.05 11.71 13.28 11.09 10.13 10.21 11.56 . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 11.10 11.78 13.35 11.15 10.21 10.29 11.58 . . . . . . . . . . . .
91 11.19 11.86 13.47 11.24 10.32 10.34 11.62 . . . . . . . . . . . .
92 11.26 11.92 13.56 11.31 10.39 10.42 11.63 . . . . . . . . . . . .
93 11.34 11.98 13.62 11.38 10.45 10.51 11.65 . . . . . . . . . . . .
94 11.41 12.05 13.69 11.46 10.53 10.55 11.66 . . . . . . . . . . . .
95 11.46 12.09 13.77 11.55 10.57 10.56 11.67 . . . . . . . . . . . .
96 11.50 12.18 13.87 11.65 10.64 10.62 11.68 . . . . . . . . . . . .
97 11.61 12.25 13.92 11.76 10.75 10.65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98 11.65 12.32 13.97 11.81 10.82 10.71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99 11.70 12.39 14.03 11.91 10.91 10.74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100 11.80 12.47 14.12 12.00 10.94 10.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101 11.87 12.52 14.21 12.03 11.00 10.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
102 11.96 12.60 14.29 12.11 11.07 10.84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103 12.03 12.65 14.38 12.17 11.13 10.86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104 12.11 12.75 14.46 12.25 11.19 10.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105 12.18 12.80 14.54 12.32 11.23 10.90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
106 12.24 12.86 14.61 12.39 11.27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107 12.29 12.94 14.71 12.45 11.33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108 12.36 13.02 14.78 12.53 11.39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
109 12.43 13.12 14.87 12.62 11.42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
110 12.48 13.16 14.98 12.67 11.48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111 12.56 13.26 15.08 12.76 11.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
112 12.63 13.33 15.17 12.80 11.54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
113 12.69 13.40 15.23 12.85 11.56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114 12.74 13.45 15.31 12.90 11.58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115 12.80 13.56 15.38 12.94 11.62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
116 12.86 13.63 15.46 13.01 11.63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
117 12.92 13.68 15.51 13.07 11.66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118 12.99 13.75 15.59 13.14 11.66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119 13.06 13.81 15.67 13.17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120 13.11 13.90 15.79 13.22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
121 13.19 13.98 15.83 13.26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.
Chart 4b.
Estimated SSI program return rate before age 18 for non-LBW SSI recipients whose eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 4b. Estimated SSI program return rate before age 18 for non-LBW SSI recipients whose eligibility was ceased in a CDR decided 1998–2008, by CDR cohort and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0.12 0.17 0.13 0.16 0.10 0.11 0.22 0.18 0.31 0.22 0
3 0.25 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.19 0.26 0.40 0.40 0.58 0.33 0
4 0.49 0.60 0.66 0.60 0.46 0.43 0.71 0.64 0.90 0.76 0.42
5 0.70 0.88 1.00 0.92 0.65 0.69 1.00 0.99 1.21 0.87 0.63
6 0.93 1.17 1.31 1.18 0.89 0.90 1.32 1.29 1.48 1.30 0.84
7 1.10 1.43 1.59 1.39 1.13 1.07 1.62 1.61 1.84 1.63 1.26
8 1.31 1.71 1.91 1.61 1.35 1.26 1.95 1.94 2.15 1.96 1.26
9 1.42 1.94 2.21 1.86 1.55 1.50 2.26 2.16 2.51 2.39 1.47
10 1.63 2.15 2.46 2.06 1.76 1.66 2.56 2.44 2.74 3.04 1.68
11 1.85 2.35 2.74 2.28 1.97 1.84 2.74 2.68 2.87 3.15 1.89
12 2.05 2.60 3.00 2.50 2.18 1.94 3.05 2.91 3.27 3.26 2.73
13 2.23 2.81 3.29 2.73 2.37 2.07 3.29 3.15 3.86 3.37 3.14
14 2.45 2.99 3.51 2.90 2.48 2.28 3.44 3.39 4.17 3.80 3.56
15 2.61 3.21 3.76 3.09 2.58 2.52 3.67 3.64 4.30 3.91 3.56
16 2.80 3.41 3.95 3.23 2.76 2.71 3.84 3.81 4.53 4.02 3.77
17 3.00 3.60 4.18 3.38 2.88 2.83 4.06 4.06 4.71 4.13 4.19
18 3.13 3.79 4.38 3.62 3.07 2.98 4.28 4.25 5.07 4.24 4.61
19 3.30 3.94 4.60 3.76 3.21 3.11 4.49 4.47 5.29 4.67 4.82
20 3.48 4.12 4.80 3.87 3.36 3.23 4.68 4.67 5.61 4.78 5.03
21 3.61 4.25 4.93 3.94 3.47 3.37 4.89 4.88 5.74 5.00 5.24
22 3.73 4.44 5.10 4.06 3.56 3.45 5.03 5.15 5.96 5.11 5.45
23 3.84 4.61 5.25 4.19 3.67 3.56 5.21 5.34 6.10 5.43 5.66
24 3.95 4.75 5.40 4.25 3.80 3.67 5.38 5.47 6.32 5.43 5.66
25 4.06 4.92 5.54 4.34 3.90 3.79 5.51 5.70 6.50 5.43 5.87
26 4.20 5.07 5.69 4.49 3.98 3.94 5.63 5.89 6.73 5.43 5.87
27 4.33 5.20 5.86 4.61 4.07 4.02 5.78 6.05 7.04 5.43 5.87
28 4.45 5.35 6.00 4.70 4.17 4.16 5.90 6.24 7.13 5.54 5.87
29 4.59 5.45 6.11 4.83 4.25 4.29 6.03 6.46 7.22 5.65 5.87
30 4.75 5.56 6.27 4.95 4.37 4.41 6.16 6.58 7.49 5.76 5.87
31 4.84 5.69 6.37 5.05 4.47 4.50 6.28 6.82 7.67 5.87 5.87
32 4.93 5.81 6.51 5.13 4.58 4.60 6.41 7.00 7.80 5.98 6.08
33 5.02 5.91 6.63 5.26 4.69 4.69 6.52 7.10 7.94 5.98 6.08
34 5.14 6.02 6.77 5.35 4.77 4.81 6.67 7.24 8.12 6.09 6.08
35 5.25 6.11 6.94 5.47 4.85 4.88 6.78 7.47 8.25 6.09 6.29
36 5.36 6.23 7.10 5.57 4.90 4.99 6.88 7.60 8.30 6.20 6.29
37 5.46 6.34 7.18 5.64 4.98 5.05 7.01 7.73 8.48 6.30 6.29
38 5.56 6.43 7.29 5.73 5.06 5.13 7.18 7.81 8.57 6.30 6.29
39 5.68 6.53 7.38 5.82 5.11 5.18 7.35 7.89 8.66 6.30 6.29
40 5.79 6.62 7.45 5.89 5.17 5.25 7.48 8.12 8.79 6.30 6.29
41 5.89 6.73 7.55 5.96 5.23 5.30 7.61 8.30 8.97 6.53 6.29
42 5.98 6.83 7.62 5.98 5.28 5.35 7.78 8.43 9.02 6.86 6.29
43 6.02 6.90 7.74 6.08 5.35 5.46 7.93 8.58 9.07 6.97 6.29
44 6.09 7.01 7.78 6.14 5.43 5.54 8.03 8.83 9.11 7.09 6.52
45 6.21 7.10 7.86 6.18 5.50 5.60 8.14 8.94 9.11 7.09 . . .
46 6.30 7.18 7.97 6.25 5.59 5.66 8.25 9.09 9.21 7.20 . . .
47 6.39 7.26 8.04 6.33 5.64 5.70 8.36 9.21 9.35 7.56 . . .
48 6.51 7.36 8.12 6.38 5.71 5.80 8.43 9.36 9.50 7.56 . . .
49 6.62 7.44 8.18 6.44 5.78 5.85 8.51 9.54 9.64 7.68 . . .
50 6.70 7.50 8.24 6.50 5.83 5.90 8.58 9.72 9.64 7.68 . . .
51 6.78 7.59 8.31 6.55 5.88 5.94 8.67 9.84 9.74 7.68 . . .
52 6.85 7.65 8.39 6.63 5.91 6.05 8.77 9.92 9.84 7.80 . . .
53 6.92 7.74 8.47 6.70 5.94 6.13 8.85 10.08 9.99 7.80 . . .
54 7.01 7.84 8.54 6.73 6.02 6.21 9.00 10.19 10.09 7.93 . . .
55 7.10 7.90 8.60 6.78 6.05 6.26 9.06 10.29 10.19 . . . . . .
56 7.16 7.95 8.66 6.81 6.09 6.33 9.14 10.35 10.24 . . . . . .
57 7.22 8.04 8.71 6.83 6.15 6.41 9.23 10.44 10.35 . . . . . .
58 7.28 8.09 8.76 6.87 6.20 6.50 9.31 10.55 10.35 . . . . . .
59 7.36 8.15 8.82 6.90 6.24 6.60 9.38 10.67 10.55 . . . . . .
60 7.42 8.20 8.89 6.94 6.29 6.66 9.48 10.80 10.60 . . . . . .
61 7.48 8.26 8.93 6.97 6.35 6.74 9.53 10.88 10.60 . . . . . .
62 7.57 8.30 9.00 7.00 6.38 6.82 9.63 10.93 10.71 . . . . . .
63 7.64 8.34 9.05 7.01 6.43 6.86 9.66 10.99 10.76 . . . . . .
64 7.73 8.41 9.13 7.05 6.44 6.90 9.81 11.05 10.82 . . . . . .
65 7.78 8.46 9.16 7.12 6.46 6.98 9.88 11.13 10.92 . . . . . .
66 7.84 8.53 9.20 7.16 6.53 7.04 9.92 11.15 10.98 . . . . . .
67 7.91 8.61 9.22 7.23 6.62 7.10 9.99 11.19 11.03 . . . . . .
68 7.98 8.66 9.26 7.30 6.65 7.15 10.04 11.22 11.03 . . . . . .
69 8.02 8.70 9.33 7.34 6.70 7.17 10.11 11.28 11.03 . . . . . .
70 8.05 8.74 9.39 7.37 6.77 7.22 10.17 11.36 11.09 . . . . . .
71 8.08 8.78 9.43 7.39 6.79 7.31 10.24 11.39 . . . . . . . . .
72 8.15 8.82 9.47 7.42 6.82 7.38 10.25 11.40 . . . . . . . . .
73 8.19 8.84 9.50 7.48 6.85 7.43 10.28 11.43 . . . . . . . . .
74 8.22 8.87 9.55 7.54 6.87 7.48 10.30 11.43 . . . . . . . . .
75 8.26 8.91 9.61 7.58 6.91 7.54 10.35 11.48 . . . . . . . . .
76 8.30 8.94 9.64 7.60 6.92 7.56 10.42 11.50 . . . . . . . . .
77 8.33 8.97 9.67 7.64 6.96 7.57 10.48 11.51 . . . . . . . . .
78 8.36 9.02 9.71 7.68 7.00 7.64 10.52 11.53 . . . . . . . . .
79 8.38 9.05 9.76 7.71 7.04 7.69 10.55 11.54 . . . . . . . . .
80 8.41 9.09 9.79 7.73 7.06 7.73 10.58 11.54 . . . . . . . . .
81 8.44 9.11 9.81 7.75 7.08 7.76 10.61 11.54 . . . . . . . . .
82 8.47 9.13 9.84 7.80 7.11 7.79 10.64 11.56 . . . . . . . . .
83 8.50 9.15 9.85 7.84 7.15 7.83 10.69 . . . . . . . . . . . .
84 8.55 9.19 9.87 7.88 7.19 7.87 10.70 . . . . . . . . . . . .
85 8.57 9.21 9.91 7.92 7.23 7.90 10.73 . . . . . . . . . . . .
86 8.60 9.26 9.95 7.95 7.26 7.91 10.79 . . . . . . . . . . . .
87 8.64 9.28 9.96 8.01 7.30 7.96 10.79 . . . . . . . . . . . .
88 8.66 9.32 9.98 8.05 7.30 7.97 10.83 . . . . . . . . . . . .
89 8.67 9.35 10.00 8.07 7.34 8.02 10.83 . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 8.68 9.38 10.03 8.09 7.38 8.06 10.83 . . . . . . . . . . . .
91 8.71 9.41 10.06 8.10 7.43 8.06 10.86 . . . . . . . . . . . .
92 8.73 9.43 10.08 8.13 7.45 8.11 10.86 . . . . . . . . . . . .
93 8.75 9.45 10.10 8.14 7.48 8.14 10.87 . . . . . . . . . . . .
94 8.79 9.47 10.11 8.14 7.51 8.16 10.88 . . . . . . . . . . . .
95 8.80 9.48 10.15 8.18 7.52 8.16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96 8.82 9.50 10.19 8.20 7.55 8.17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97 8.87 9.52 10.21 8.23 7.59 8.19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98 8.89 9.53 10.22 8.25 7.63 8.22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99 8.90 9.55 10.23 8.26 7.65 8.22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100 8.93 9.58 10.26 8.29 7.65 8.23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101 8.94 9.60 10.29 8.29 7.66 8.24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
102 8.97 9.62 10.32 8.31 7.69 8.26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103 8.98 9.63 10.34 8.31 7.69 8.26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104 9.00 9.67 10.37 8.36 7.70 8.27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105 9.02 9.68 10.39 8.38 7.73 8.27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
106 9.04 9.69 10.41 8.38 7.75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107 9.06 9.71 10.44 8.40 7.77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108 9.06 9.72 10.45 8.42 7.79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
109 9.08 9.74 10.46 8.42 7.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
110 9.09 9.75 10.47 8.42 7.82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111 9.10 9.76 10.49 8.44 7.82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
112 9.12 9.78 10.50 8.45 7.83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
113 9.13 9.79 10.51 8.46 7.83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114 9.13 9.80 10.53 8.46 7.84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115 9.14 9.82 10.55 8.47 7.85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
116 9.15 9.84 10.55 8.47 7.86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
117 9.16 9.84 10.56 8.47 7.88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118 9.18 9.85 10.57 8.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119 9.19 9.87 10.59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120 9.19 9.88 10.61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
121 9.21 9.89 10.62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with CDR cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with CDR cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

Age-18 Redeterminations

More than three-quarters of the age-18 redetermination cases in our study had been assigned the MIP diary type (Table 3). As expected, most (82.2 percent) of the redeterminations were decided when the recipient was aged 18, but the other 17.8 percent were not decided until after the individual turned 19, consistent with findings of SSA's Office of the Inspector General (SSA 2011). As might be expected for program participants who had reached age 18, durations of participation were typically longer than were those for the two types of childhood CDRs covered in this note. About 68 percent of redetermination cases involved youths who had been in the program for 6 or more years, and only 6.1 percent involved youths who had been in for less than 2 years. The most common primary diagnoses were intellectual disabilities (42.9 percent) and “other mental disorders” (30.5 percent). Very few age-18 redetermination cases had proceeded beyond the initial level in the original application process (7.2 percent), although the adjudication level is unknown for 12.5 percent of cases. Less than half of the age-18 redetermination cases had undergone a prior CDR; in a majority of cases, SSA requested a consultative examination.

Table 3. Selected characteristics of SSI youth recipients who received an age-18 redetermination during 1998–2008 that resulted in eligibility cessation, and cumulative incidence of DI and SSI program return
Characteristic All redeterminations Redeterminations resulting in cessation
Number Percentage distribution Number As a percentage of— Percentage returning within 10 yearsa to—
All cessations All redeterminations in category DI SSI Either program
Total 579,325 100.0 198,723 100.0 34.3 5.0 14.4 15.3
Diary type (expected likelihood of medical improvement)
MIE 33,282 5.7 16,310 8.2 49.0 5.1 14.3 15.1
MIP 450,836 77.8 169,400 85.2 37.6 4.9 14.1 15.0
MINE 95,207 16.4 13,013 6.5 13.7 6.7 19.2 20.4
Age at initial CDR decision
18 475,954 82.2 157,941 79.5 33.2 5.0 14.3 15.2
Older than 18 103,371 17.8 40,782 20.5 39.5 5.3 14.9 16.0
Years in program
Fewer than 2 35,544 6.1 6,468 3.3 18.2 8.1 22.0 23.4
2–3 69,036 11.9 25,559 12.9 37.0 6.0 17.5 18.6
4–5 78,560 13.6 35,610 17.9 45.3 5.5 16.0 16.9
6 or more 396,185 68.4 131,086 66.0 33.1 4.6 13.0 13.9
Diagnosis
Intellectual disabilities 248,330 42.9 69,910 35.2 28.2 5.1 16.9 17.6
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders 8,933 1.5 2,217 1.1 24.8 6.7 21.0 22.1
Other mental disorders 176,408 30.5 89,354 45.0 50.7 3.7 11.3 12.0
Neoplasms 4,363 0.8 2,327 1.2 53.3 5.4 10.6 11.6
Diseases of the—
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic system 4,039 0.7 1,819 0.9 45.0 11.9 21.5 23.9
Nervous system and sense organs 53,636 9.3 6,732 3.4 12.6 10.0 19.6 21.9
Circulatory system 1,743 0.3 577 0.3 33.1 6.7 15.2 17.3
Respiratory system 5,859 1.0 4,237 2.1 72.3 3.1 6.6 7.5
Digestive system 1,234 0.2 593 0.3 48.1 9.8 18.8 21.4
Genitourinary system 2,260 0.4 715 0.4 31.6 16.4 32.6 36.5
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 6,518 1.1 2,797 1.4 42.9 7.8 15.1 16.6
Injuries 4,035 0.7 817 0.4 20.2 5.8 16.0 17.3
Other 27,255 4.7 5,705 2.9 20.9 8.8 17.0 19.0
Unknown 34,712 6.0 10,923 5.5 31.5 6.2 16.6 17.7
Adjudication level of program award
Initial application 465,290 80.3 162,014 81.5 34.8 5.0 14.5 15.4
Reconsideration 24,360 4.2 10,785 5.4 44.3 4.6 12.8 13.7
ALJ or higher 17,482 3.0 9,811 4.9 56.1 4.3 11.0 11.8
Unknown 72,193 12.5 16,113 8.1 22.3 6.2 16.5 17.9
Any prior CDR
No 312,094 53.9 116,697 58.7 37.4 6.2 17.4 18.4
Yes 267,231 46.1 82,026 41.3 30.7 3.2 9.9 10.7
Consultative examination requested
No 222,199 38.4 55,898 28.1 25.2 5.5 15.4 16.5
Yes 357,126 61.6 142,825 71.9 40.0 4.9 14.0 14.9
Year of redetermination decision
1998 41,555 7.2 14,045 7.1 33.8 7.4 18.6 19.7
1999 48,878 8.4 17,414 8.8 35.6 7.4 19.7 20.8
2000 51,492 8.9 18,226 9.2 35.4 6.8 18.9 19.9
2001 49,252 8.5 16,143 8.1 32.8 5.7 16.3 17.4
2002 56,213 9.7 18,026 9.1 32.1 4.4 13.4 14.3
2003 52,418 9.0 16,345 8.2 31.2 3.8 10.8 11.9
2004 52,860 9.1 16,586 8.3 31.4 3.0 10.1 10.7
2005 54,631 9.4 18,746 9.4 34.3 2.4 8.9 9.4
2006 30,959 5.3 11,830 6.0 38.2 1.7 7.7 8.0
2007 89,292 15.4 32,981 16.6 36.9 1.3 7.3 7.6
2008 51,775 8.9 18,381 9.2 35.5 0.9 7.2 7.5
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Rounded components of percentage distributions do not necessarily sum to 100.0.
a. Former recipients with age-18 redetermination cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with age-18 redetermination cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

SSA ceased eligibility in about 34 percent of age-18 redeterminations, which is notably higher than the cessation rates for our populations of LBW and non-LBW childhood CDRs, but is consistent with other studies of redeterminations (for example, Hemmeter and Gilby 2009). The cessation rate varied greatly by diary type, with almost half of MIE cases resulting in cessation compared with only 13.7 percent of MINE cases. Although medical improvement is not considered during the age-18 redetermination, that outcome is not surprising because the MIE cases are deemed more likely to improve (and MINE cases are deemed less likely to) based on the last favorable review by a disability examiner. Thus, one might reasonably expect that MIE cases are less likely than MINE cases to meet the adult definition of disability, all else equal. The cessation rate also appears to be slightly higher for youths whose redeterminations took place after age 18 than it is for those who were 18 at the time of decision. SSI recipients who had been in the program for less than 2 years at the time of their redetermination had a much lower cessation rate (18.2 percent) than did those with longer program durations. Across diagnosis categories, the cessation rates were highest for recipients with respiratory system diseases (72.3 percent), neoplasms (53.3 percent), and “other mental disorders” (50.7 percent) and were lowest for those with diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (12.6 percent). We find that the cessation rate increased with the level of adjudication for the initial award, with a 21.3 percentage point difference in the cessation rate between initial-application awardees and those who were awarded at the ALJ level or higher; however, the 12.5 percent of age-18 redeterminations with an unknown level of initial adjudication had the lowest rate of cessation (22.3 percent).

As one might expect, among SSI recipients whose eligibility was ceased in an age-18 redetermination and who returned to program participation within 10 years, more reentered SSI (14.4 percent) than entered DI as disabled-worker beneficiaries (5.0 percent, Table 3 and Chart 5). We estimate that most of the individuals who entered DI after an age-18 redetermination cessation actually returned to SSI as well (as evidenced by the small differences between the either-program and SSI return rates), implying that they were concurrent DI and SSI beneficiaries. As we did in discussing the findings for the childhood CDR populations, we focus here on return to SSI. We estimate relatively higher return rates for former recipients with the MINE diary type, without a prior CDR, and with shorter program participation periods. Although 22.0 percent of those who were in the program for less than 2 years returned, only 13.0 percent of those who participated for 6 or more years returned to SSI within 10 years. Among primary diagnoses, those with relatively higher estimated return rates—ranging between 21.0 percent and 32.6 percent—were schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; diseases of the endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic system; and genitourinary system diseases.

Chart 5.
Estimated program return rate for youths whose SSI eligibility was ceased in an age-18 redetermination decided during 1998–2008, by disability program and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 5. Estimated program return rate for youths whose SSI eligibility was ceased in an age-18 redetermination decided during 1998–2008, by disability program and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation DI entry SSI reentry Either
1 0 0 0
2 0.01 0.11 0.11
3 0.02 0.25 0.26
4 0.03 0.50 0.51
5 0.04 0.74 0.75
6 0.06 0.99 1.01
7 0.08 1.25 1.27
8 0.10 1.49 1.52
9 0.11 1.71 1.75
10 0.14 1.94 1.98
11 0.16 2.15 2.20
12 0.18 2.37 2.42
13 0.20 2.57 2.63
14 0.23 2.77 2.84
15 0.26 2.99 3.06
16 0.29 3.17 3.25
17 0.32 3.38 3.46
18 0.35 3.56 3.65
19 0.38 3.74 3.85
20 0.42 3.94 4.04
21 0.45 4.12 4.24
22 0.50 4.30 4.43
23 0.53 4.46 4.59
24 0.57 4.63 4.77
25 0.62 4.79 4.95
26 0.65 4.95 5.11
27 0.69 5.11 5.27
28 0.74 5.26 5.44
29 0.78 5.42 5.60
30 0.82 5.58 5.77
31 0.86 5.72 5.92
32 0.91 5.88 6.09
33 0.95 6.03 6.24
34 1.00 6.18 6.40
35 1.05 6.31 6.54
36 1.10 6.45 6.70
37 1.15 6.59 6.85
38 1.20 6.72 6.98
39 1.25 6.85 7.12
40 1.30 6.97 7.26
41 1.36 7.11 7.41
42 1.40 7.22 7.53
43 1.44 7.34 7.65
44 1.48 7.45 7.77
45 1.53 7.57 7.90
46 1.58 7.69 8.03
47 1.62 7.80 8.15
48 1.67 7.91 8.27
49 1.72 8.01 8.38
50 1.77 8.12 8.49
51 1.82 8.22 8.60
52 1.86 8.32 8.71
53 1.89 8.42 8.82
54 1.93 8.52 8.92
55 1.97 8.62 9.03
56 2.02 8.72 9.13
57 2.06 8.80 9.21
58 2.10 8.88 9.31
59 2.14 8.97 9.40
60 2.18 9.06 9.50
61 2.22 9.15 9.60
62 2.26 9.25 9.70
63 2.31 9.35 9.81
64 2.35 9.44 9.91
65 2.39 9.54 10.01
66 2.45 9.64 10.12
67 2.50 9.75 10.24
68 2.55 9.85 10.34
69 2.59 9.95 10.45
70 2.64 10.05 10.56
71 2.69 10.15 10.66
72 2.74 10.24 10.77
73 2.78 10.33 10.86
74 2.83 10.42 10.96
75 2.88 10.51 11.06
76 2.93 10.61 11.17
77 2.99 10.72 11.28
78 3.03 10.80 11.37
79 3.07 10.89 11.48
80 3.11 10.98 11.57
81 3.17 11.08 11.68
82 3.22 11.18 11.78
83 3.27 11.28 11.89
84 3.33 11.37 12.00
85 3.38 11.47 12.11
86 3.43 11.57 12.21
87 3.47 11.65 12.30
88 3.52 11.73 12.40
89 3.57 11.81 12.48
90 3.61 11.89 12.58
91 3.66 11.98 12.67
92 3.71 12.07 12.77
93 3.78 12.18 12.89
94 3.83 12.26 12.98
95 3.87 12.35 13.08
96 3.92 12.44 13.18
97 3.97 12.53 13.27
98 4.03 12.62 13.37
99 4.07 12.70 13.46
100 4.11 12.79 13.55
101 4.15 12.88 13.65
102 4.19 12.95 13.73
103 4.23 13.02 13.81
104 4.27 13.12 13.91
105 4.32 13.19 13.99
106 4.37 13.28 14.08
107 4.40 13.34 14.16
108 4.43 13.40 14.23
109 4.49 13.48 14.31
110 4.54 13.55 14.40
111 4.60 13.64 14.49
112 4.64 13.70 14.56
113 4.69 13.79 14.66
114 4.74 13.87 14.74
115 4.79 13.96 14.85
116 4.83 14.04 14.94
117 4.86 14.11 15.01
118 4.91 14.18 15.09
119 4.95 14.27 15.18
120 5.00 14.35 15.27
121 5.04 14.42 15.35
 
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with age-18 redetermination cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with age-18 redetermination cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

Across redetermination cohorts, SSI program return peaked for the 1999 cohort (19.7 percent); however, Chart 6 shows that the estimated SSI return rate for many of the cohorts apparently has not leveled off, suggesting that return rates are likely to continue to increase in later years. This outcome contrasts with that shown in Charts 1–4b for LBW and non-LBW child CDR cases, in which the program-return trajectories appear more concave over time.

Chart 6.
Estimated SSI program return rate for youths whose SSI eligibility was ceased in an age-18 redetermination conducted during 1998–2008, by redetermination cohort and years since cessation decision
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 6. Estimated SSI program return rate for youths whose SSI eligibility was ceased in an age-18 redetermination conducted during 1998–2008, by redetermination cohort and years since cessation decision
Months after cessation 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0.15 0.14 0.14 0.04 0.11 0.08 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.12 0.10
3 0.32 0.34 0.33 0.17 0.24 0.18 0.18 0.19 0.25 0.27 0.24
4 0.57 0.65 0.61 0.42 0.42 0.32 0.37 0.46 0.46 0.50 0.65
5 0.74 0.92 0.97 0.69 0.60 0.46 0.55 0.70 0.70 0.73 1.00
6 1.05 1.14 1.37 1.03 0.87 0.64 0.69 0.85 0.99 0.96 1.34
7 1.37 1.50 1.62 1.31 1.12 0.87 0.89 1.02 1.18 1.20 1.63
8 1.65 1.83 1.91 1.61 1.33 1.05 1.02 1.21 1.39 1.42 1.94
9 1.91 2.19 2.25 1.85 1.49 1.21 1.15 1.41 1.54 1.66 2.17
10 2.14 2.49 2.62 2.07 1.70 1.38 1.36 1.58 1.71 1.86 2.40
11 2.44 2.68 2.86 2.38 1.89 1.52 1.48 1.76 1.92 2.08 2.61
12 2.70 3.00 3.20 2.65 2.05 1.72 1.65 1.90 2.05 2.29 2.87
13 2.97 3.25 3.46 2.85 2.31 1.89 1.81 2.06 2.16 2.42 3.11
14 3.24 3.53 3.73 3.00 2.55 2.05 1.98 2.21 2.26 2.62 3.31
15 3.55 3.82 4.02 3.24 2.73 2.21 2.23 2.34 2.35 2.80 3.60
16 3.77 4.07 4.30 3.44 2.89 2.32 2.38 2.51 2.45 2.96 3.79
17 4.03 4.41 4.54 3.65 2.99 2.48 2.51 2.67 2.61 3.17 4.04
18 4.24 4.67 4.83 3.80 3.15 2.59 2.73 2.80 2.73 3.36 4.19
19 4.50 4.92 5.10 4.04 3.33 2.73 2.86 2.91 2.85 3.54 4.35
20 4.73 5.13 5.33 4.28 3.54 2.86 2.98 3.06 3.03 3.73 4.56
21 4.96 5.32 5.59 4.48 3.75 3.02 3.19 3.16 3.18 3.92 4.72
22 5.18 5.54 5.87 4.72 3.88 3.15 3.35 3.32 3.31 4.09 4.87
23 5.42 5.74 6.06 4.94 4.03 3.29 3.43 3.40 3.42 4.24 5.04
24 5.71 5.97 6.26 5.14 4.23 3.42 3.58 3.49 3.52 4.41 5.17
25 5.90 6.16 6.46 5.29 4.40 3.54 3.73 3.58 3.73 4.56 5.33
26 6.10 6.37 6.63 5.46 4.55 3.65 3.85 3.73 3.84 4.72 5.46
27 6.30 6.60 6.89 5.62 4.74 3.73 3.96 3.85 3.96 4.89 5.58
28 6.52 6.89 7.11 5.82 4.85 3.84 4.05 3.97 4.07 5.03 5.69
29 6.69 7.12 7.28 6.01 4.98 3.97 4.21 4.12 4.19 5.15 5.84
30 6.89 7.37 7.50 6.18 5.16 4.12 4.33 4.23 4.34 5.28 5.98
31 7.07 7.55 7.71 6.38 5.32 4.18 4.47 4.37 4.50 5.39 6.07
32 7.28 7.72 7.93 6.63 5.45 4.40 4.61 4.51 4.63 5.49 6.16
33 7.48 7.92 8.10 6.81 5.58 4.51 4.75 4.65 4.78 5.64 6.25
34 7.55 8.18 8.32 6.96 5.76 4.63 4.88 4.79 4.92 5.75 6.35
35 7.69 8.34 8.52 7.14 5.86 4.79 4.98 4.87 5.05 5.86 6.44
36 7.92 8.57 8.75 7.28 6.05 4.89 5.12 4.99 5.20 5.95 6.52
37 8.07 8.81 9.00 7.42 6.19 4.99 5.23 5.10 5.26 6.06 6.63
38 8.21 8.99 9.10 7.52 6.30 5.14 5.34 5.25 5.38 6.19 6.70
39 8.32 9.18 9.28 7.69 6.42 5.30 5.45 5.38 5.50 6.28 6.80
40 8.52 9.34 9.43 7.83 6.54 5.38 5.52 5.55 5.61 6.37 6.87
41 8.71 9.58 9.60 7.98 6.65 5.45 5.73 5.73 5.72 6.45 6.94
42 8.86 9.70 9.75 8.12 6.75 5.55 5.86 5.87 5.82 6.52 6.99
43 9.04 9.89 9.89 8.22 6.90 5.63 6.02 5.98 5.94 6.59 7.02
44 9.18 10.06 10.07 8.34 7.02 5.71 6.15 6.13 6.04 6.65 7.07
45 9.34 10.24 10.25 8.52 7.16 5.81 6.24 6.29 6.13 6.72 7.09
46 9.49 10.43 10.34 8.64 7.33 5.93 6.35 6.40 6.25 6.81 7.13
47 9.68 10.58 10.50 8.78 7.48 6.00 6.47 6.48 6.35 6.89 7.17
48 9.81 10.81 10.66 8.90 7.58 6.11 6.55 6.58 6.44 6.94 7.20
49 9.95 10.92 10.78 9.03 7.70 6.20 6.66 6.73 6.53 6.98 . . .
50 10.15 11.07 10.89 9.14 7.83 6.31 6.76 6.85 6.62 7.05 . . .
51 10.26 11.22 11.00 9.29 7.92 6.45 6.89 6.95 6.66 7.11 . . .
52 10.44 11.40 11.17 9.37 8.04 6.55 6.98 7.04 6.76 7.15 . . .
53 10.61 11.56 11.29 9.49 8.12 6.68 7.10 7.15 6.81 7.19 . . .
54 10.72 11.70 11.44 9.58 8.22 6.79 7.25 7.27 6.94 7.22 . . .
55 10.90 11.85 11.59 9.75 8.29 6.87 7.38 7.40 6.98 7.24 . . .
56 11.05 11.98 11.70 9.85 8.39 7.02 7.53 7.46 7.02 7.26 . . .
57 11.19 12.10 11.80 9.94 8.45 7.13 7.61 7.54 7.08 7.28 . . .
58 11.37 12.24 11.92 10.02 8.54 7.22 7.68 7.65 7.14 7.28 . . .
59 11.46 12.35 12.09 10.11 8.60 7.33 7.80 7.72 7.17 7.29 . . .
60 11.64 12.47 12.19 10.25 8.68 7.45 7.90 7.81 7.26 . . . . . .
61 11.79 12.60 12.32 10.40 8.77 7.56 7.98 7.88 7.33 . . . . . .
62 11.90 12.72 12.44 10.48 8.89 7.64 8.11 7.97 7.41 . . . . . .
63 12.03 12.83 12.59 10.62 9.01 7.77 8.21 8.05 7.43 . . . . . .
64 12.19 13.02 12.66 10.68 9.10 7.85 8.30 8.15 7.53 . . . . . .
65 12.32 13.17 12.78 10.80 9.21 7.99 8.37 8.22 7.57 . . . . . .
66 12.40 13.27 12.89 10.92 9.35 8.13 8.48 8.29 7.61 . . . . . .
67 12.59 13.45 13.03 11.08 9.41 8.27 8.57 8.42 7.63 . . . . . .
68 12.67 13.60 13.14 11.15 9.52 8.39 8.69 8.47 7.65 . . . . . .
69 12.80 13.73 13.26 11.27 9.65 8.53 8.81 8.53 7.65 . . . . . .
70 12.94 13.85 13.39 11.39 9.75 8.60 8.92 8.56 7.67 . . . . . .
71 13.09 13.93 13.52 11.52 9.86 8.73 8.97 8.62 7.68 . . . . . .
72 13.24 14.06 13.62 11.62 9.97 8.81 9.02 8.68 . . . . . . . . .
73 13.38 14.15 13.71 11.75 10.05 8.92 9.08 8.71 . . . . . . . . .
74 13.46 14.28 13.85 11.86 10.15 9.01 9.16 8.71 . . . . . . . . .
75 13.59 14.41 13.93 11.98 10.26 9.11 9.25 8.74 . . . . . . . . .
76 13.74 14.54 14.05 12.10 10.40 9.19 9.29 8.79 . . . . . . . . .
77 13.84 14.72 14.16 12.22 10.53 9.31 9.36 8.82 . . . . . . . . .
78 13.91 14.90 14.27 12.31 10.61 9.38 9.42 8.85 . . . . . . . . .
79 13.99 15.04 14.36 12.47 10.72 9.44 9.54 8.85 . . . . . . . . .
80 14.11 15.14 14.46 12.56 10.82 9.52 9.61 8.86 . . . . . . . . .
81 14.26 15.29 14.62 12.66 10.94 9.60 9.67 8.88 . . . . . . . . .
82 14.40 15.46 14.74 12.76 11.01 9.69 9.73 8.88 . . . . . . . . .
83 14.55 15.52 14.86 12.92 11.19 9.79 9.75 8.90 . . . . . . . . .
84 14.64 15.64 14.95 13.06 11.35 9.85 9.78 . . . . . . . . . . . .
85 14.78 15.76 15.07 13.22 11.41 9.96 9.81 . . . . . . . . . . . .
86 14.89 15.91 15.20 13.34 11.53 10.00 9.87 . . . . . . . . . . . .
87 14.98 16.04 15.28 13.44 11.63 10.04 9.92 . . . . . . . . . . . .
88 15.13 16.15 15.39 13.56 11.71 10.08 9.93 . . . . . . . . . . . .
89 15.20 16.22 15.52 13.68 11.81 10.15 9.96 . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 15.32 16.34 15.66 13.74 11.89 10.18 10.00 . . . . . . . . . . . .
91 15.41 16.44 15.77 13.85 12.00 10.22 10.04 . . . . . . . . . . . .
92 15.55 16.52 15.90 13.95 12.08 10.29 10.04 . . . . . . . . . . . .
93 15.69 16.65 16.03 14.10 12.20 10.36 10.05 . . . . . . . . . . . .
94 15.84 16.75 16.10 14.22 12.27 10.44 10.06 . . . . . . . . . . . .
95 15.98 16.83 16.22 14.35 12.37 10.49 10.06 . . . . . . . . . . . .
96 16.10 16.96 16.36 14.46 12.41 10.53 10.07 . . . . . . . . . . . .
97 16.18 17.09 16.48 14.58 12.45 10.56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98 16.26 17.16 16.65 14.65 12.56 10.65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99 16.36 17.27 16.77 14.75 12.62 10.69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100 16.49 17.41 16.85 14.83 12.68 10.73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101 16.63 17.54 16.97 14.94 12.73 10.75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
102 16.71 17.65 17.06 15.01 12.79 10.75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103 16.83 17.71 17.17 15.07 12.85 10.78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104 17.02 17.83 17.24 15.19 12.93 10.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105 17.08 17.94 17.32 15.22 13.03 10.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
106 17.21 18.07 17.44 15.31 13.07 10.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107 17.31 18.17 17.50 15.37 13.13 10.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108 17.37 18.26 17.60 15.41 13.15 10.82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
109 17.45 18.37 17.71 15.47 13.19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
110 17.51 18.47 17.85 15.56 13.21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111 17.63 18.55 17.97 15.66 13.25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
112 17.67 18.64 18.05 15.74 13.28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
113 17.82 18.73 18.15 15.82 13.33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114 17.90 18.87 18.24 15.92 13.35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115 18.02 19.00 18.34 16.00 13.37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
116 18.11 19.14 18.42 16.09 13.37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
117 18.20 19.22 18.52 16.13 13.38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118 18.28 19.30 18.63 16.16 13.40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119 18.42 19.44 18.71 16.20 13.41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120 18.50 19.58 18.83 16.22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
121 18.57 19.72 18.90 16.27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
SOURCE: Authors' calculations using administrative records from SSA.
NOTE: Former recipients with age-18 redetermination cessations in 1998–2002 were followed for the full 10 years; those with age-18 redetermination cessations in later years were followed through 2012.

Conclusion

In this note, we present statistics on the characteristics of SSI recipients who undergo childhood CDRs (with LBW and non-LBW children considered separately) and age-18 redeterminations. We also present statistics on the outcomes of those reviews and on estimated program return rates of youths for up to 10 years after a cessation decision. We note differences in program-return trends between yearly cohorts across the three groups, particularly for the age-18 redetermination group. Although we do not explore possible reasons for those differences, or the differences in return rates across certain characteristics, we hope our findings will inform the discussion about the SSI program for children and its impact on participants' lives. Future research could explore whether the different post-CDR outcomes are the result of population differences, changes in CDR policy, changes in the availability of resources with which SSA conducts CDRs, or other causes. Additionally, the need, availability, and coordination of services for children and youths exiting SSI merit further exploration.

Notes

1 That estimate excludes adult SSI recipients who concurrently received Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

2 For more information on childhood CDRs, see Public Law (P.L.104-193 (§ 212) and P.L. 105-33 (§ 5522).

3 For CDR and MIRS policy details, see SSA's Program Operations Manual System, section DI 28000 (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0428000000).

4 For age-18 redetermination policy details, see SSA's Program Operations Manual System, section DI 11070 (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0411070000).

5 For a description of the disability determination processes, see Wixon and Strand (2013).

6 The profile sample consists of CDRs that SSA uses to track the performance of its predictive models. The profile sample includes non-LBW child CDRs, but not LBW child CDRs or age-18 redeterminations. Profile-sample cases account for less than 2 percent of the childhood CDRs in our study period.

7 Note that several years may pass between application and cash award. For example, SSA's Office of the Inspector General found that cases appealed in calendar year 2010 and ultimately decided at the administrative law judge level took an average of 730 days to conclude (SSA 2013).

8 In our sample, 0.2 percent of LBW children, 0.7 percent of non-LBW children, and 1.4 percent of 18-year-olds died during the follow-up period.

9 The data include only 13 cases with a MINE diary type. We removed those records from the diary-type analysis, but retained them for the other subgroup analyses. As a result, the sum of the cases by diary type in Table 1 does not equal the total number of cases.

10 SSA usually requests consultative examinations to gather additional (or more detailed) medical evidence to inform the disability determination.

11 For a few years in the mid-2000s, SSA stopped releasing CDRs for children aged 13–16. The agency generally does not release CDRs for 17-year-olds because they will be due for an age-18 redetermination in the following year. However, many cases do not receive an initial CDR decision until age 17 or later.

12 Note that entry to either program is dominated by return to SSI; thus, the lines in Chart 3a tracking “SSI” and “either program” overlap substantially.

References

Davies, Paul S., Kalman Rupp, and David Wittenburg. 2009. “A Life-Cycle Perspective on the Transition to Adulthood Among Children Receiving Supplemental Security Income Payments.” Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 30(3): 133–151.

Government Accountability Office. 2012. Students With Disabilities: Better Federal Coordination Could Lessen Challenges in the Transition From High School. GAO-12-594. Washington, DC: GAO.

Hemmeter, Jeffrey, and Elaine Gilby. 2009. “The Age-18 Redetermination and Postredetermination Participation in SSI.” Social Security Bulletin 69(4): 1–25.

Hemmeter, Jeffrey, and Michelle Stegman. 2013. “Subsequent Program Participation of Former Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income Recipients Whose Eligibility Ceased Because of Medical Improvement.” Social Security Bulletin 73(2): 1–38.

Social Security Administration. 2011. Follow-Up: Childhood Continuing Disability Reviews and Age 18 Redeterminations. Audit Report No. A-01-11-11118. Baltimore, MD: SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

———. 2013. Overall Processing Times for 2010 Childhood Supplemental Security Income Claims. Audit Report No. A-04-12-11230. Baltimore, MD: SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

———. 2014a. Annual Report of the Supplemental Security Program. Baltimore, MD: SSA.

———. 2014b. SSI Annual Statistical Report, 2013. SSA Publication No. 13-11827. Washington, DC: SSA.

Wixon, Bernard, and Alexander Strand. 2013. “Identifying SSA's Sequential Disability Determination Steps Using Administrative Data.” Research and Statistics Note No. 2013-01. Washington, DC: SSA.