Wisconsin Pathways to Independence Project

Wisconsin SSDI Employment Pilot (SSDI-EP) Research Overview

Note: This document reflects changes from the 2005 document as of July 2007. This evaluation is designed and conducted by staff from the UW-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

Participants
v   Approximately 500 participants
v   Enrollment over a 15 month period (rolling baseline)
v   Enrollment through 21 service provider agencies
v   Central random assignment into intervention or control group (half into each)

Service Package
v  All participants have access on an equal basis, relative to study group assignment, to barriers
      assessment, benefits counseling to support use of work incentives, and other vocational services.
      However the SSDI-EP does not guarantee funding of services
v  Service provider agencies are required to provide or have contracted capacity to provide work
      incentive benefits counseling
v  Intervention group also receives (eligibility for) the SSDI Benefit Offset and medical Continuing
      Disability Review (CDR) protections

Process Evaluation
v      Effectiveness and efficiency of recruitment/enrollment/service delivery processes Participant
      attrition from the project
v      Participant perceptions of services and service delivery
v      Effectiveness and utility of data collection processes
v      Equivalency of service packages delivered to intervention and control groups
v      Timeliness of SSDI benefit offset administration
v      Sources of fiscal support for service package
v      Extent of recruitment/enrollment of participants in the TWP, EPE, and post EPE
v      Interaction of SSDI benefit offset and Ticket to Work

Formative Outcome Evaluation
v      Changes in employment rates, earnings, and total income
v      Differences in employment rates, earnings, and total income between groups
v      Differences between groups in sustainability of employment
v      Differences between groups in perceived barriers to employment
v      Differences between groups in perceived health status
v      Differences between groups in self-efficacy and attitudes toward work
v      Differences in outcomes based on SSDI work incentive use at enrollment
v      Differences in outcomes based on SSDI work incentive use at enrollment

Data Collection
v      Encounter Data (Web-based tool)
       ·         Enrollment information including demographics and baseline employment status
       ·         Assignment to intervention or control group
       ·         Monthly updates on service use and employment changes
       ·         Completed by trained staff at provider agencies

v      Survey Data (Study entry and two annual follow-ups)
       ·         Perceived barriers to employment
       ·         Social supports needed to sustain employment
       ·         Work motivation and interest in work
       ·         Self-efficacy
       ·         Subjective health status
       ·         Program/service satisfaction (follow-up only)
       ·         Identification of payment issues (follow-up only)
       ·         Completed by participants

v      Administrative Data
       ·         Employment status
       ·         Earnings levels
       ·         SSDI participation
       ·         SSDI benefit levels
       ·         SSDI work incentive utilization
       ·         SSI state supplement utilization
       ·         Medicaid and MAPP participation
       ·         Long term support participation
       ·         DVR eligibility and participation and service utilization

v      Interview Data
       ·         Program implementation and delivery
       ·         Informed consent process
       ·         Communication processes
       ·         Interaction of Benefit Offset Pilot with Ticket to Work

Analysis
v      Process
       ·         Describe and account for change over time
       ·         Utilize interviews and focus groups to elaborate on data collected through other means
       ·         Include document analysis of program implementation activities

v      Formative Outcomes
       ·         Interrupted time-series regression techniques
       ·         Control variables will be utilized
       ·         Analyses will be conducted in participant time relative to enrollment
       ·         Minimum analysis period of one year pre- and one year post-study entry (preferably two years
             pre- and post-)
       ·         Subgroup analysis based on MAPP participation
       ·         Subgroup analysis based on completion/non-completion of TWP and 72 month eligibility period

Last Revised:  July 14, 2010