title: Employment among Social Security disability program beneficiaries, 1996-2007.
abstract: We use linked administrative data from program and earnings records to summarize the 2007 employment rates of Social Security disability program beneficiaries at the national and state levels, as well as changes in employment since 1996. The findings provide new information on the employment activities of beneficiaries that should be useful in assessing current agency policies and providing benchmarks for ongoing demonstration projects and future return-to-work initiatives. The overall employment rate--which we define as annual earnings over $1,000--was 12 percent in 2007. Substantial variation exists within the population. Disability Insurance beneficiaries and those younger than age 40 were much more likely to work relative to other Social Security beneficiaries. Additionally, substantial regional variation exists across states; employment rates ranged from 7 percent (West Virginia) to 23 percent (North Dakota). Moreover, we find that the employment rates among beneficiaries were sensitive to the business cycle and persistent over time.
authors.affiliation: Mathematica Policy Research Disability Policy, Social Security Administration, USA.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mamun
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wittenburg
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D019131:United States Social Security Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult