Pathways: Social Security Disability Insurance Employment Pilot
(SSDI-EP)
Are You a Person with a Disability Who Wants to Work and Earn More Money?
The Wisconsin Social Security Disability Insurance Employment Pilot (SSDI-EP)
addresses one of the paramount policy barriers affecting individuals with
disabilities interested in pursuing economic self-support through employment.
Currently, SSDI beneficiaries who want to test their ability to work and earn
at higher levels are often prohibited from doing so by the all or nothing
“cash cliff” imposed through existing policy.
This pilot directly eliminates the current “cash cliff” by allowing
SSDI beneficiaries to work and earn above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
($980/month in 2009).
Rather than an immediate end to the benefit, participants in the intervention
group will experience a gradual decline in their SSDI cash payment as their
earnings increase. For every $2.00 earned above SGA these participants will
experience a $1.00 decrease in their SSDI payment rather than losing their
entire cash benefit. This is critical for individuals with disabilities who want
to work more, but cannot afford to immediately lose their entire cash benefit.
Want to learn more?
1. How do I get into the study?
Enrollment ended as of October 31st, 2006. Call
us at 1-866-278-6440 if you have any questions.
2. What is a “benefit offset”?
The “benefit offset” allows participants to keep part of their Social Security
payment when they work and increase their earnings instead of having to choose an
all or nothing cash benefit.
3. What do participants get?
People who enrolled were placed in one of two groups. One group receives a
"benefit offset" in addition to being eligible to receive benefits
counseling and employment service coordination. The other group has access only
to benefits counseling and employment service coordination.
4. How long does the study last?
Ongoing access to the "benefit offset" varies based on individual
benefit situations and participants can op out at any time, they simply need to
notify us. Data collection for the study effectively ended December 31st, 2008.
Additional Pilot Information:
List of SSDI Employment Pilot Agencies
Information on the agencies providing benefits counseling and employment
coordination supports to participants.
Four State Benefit Offset Website (exit
DHS)
The
four state benefit offset website provides information on the Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI), Employment Pilot and the four states; Connecticut,
Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin that currently operate the pilot.
Wisconsin SSDI
Employment Pilot, Phase out Plan (PDF, 25 KB)
Wisconsin
SSDI Pilot Report, Year Three (PDF, 228 KB)
Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to run a study similar to the
pilot but on a national scale in the near future. For more information, please
visit http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/offsetnational2.htm
(exit DHS)
Last Revised: December 27, 2010 |
