Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program Initial Evaluation Report

SSA Demonstrations. SSA plans to implement several demonstration programs to
change employment options and the incentives for disability beneficiaries. One of these is
known as the $1 for $2, or DI Benefit Offset Demonstration. Section 234 of the Ticket Act
authorizes SSA to conduct demonstrations to evaluate the impact of altering the DI program
so that benefits are reduced by $1 for each $2 of the beneficiary’s earnings above a set level,
rather than benefits ceasing entirely once earnings exceed the SGA and the trial work period
has been completed. The Office of Policy (2001) released a draft implementation plan for
the demonstration projects in 2001, and in August 2002, the Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Advisory Panel (2002) released an advice report to the commissioner of SSA
regarding the statutory requirements and design issues related to the demonstrations. In
September 2003, SSA published a Request for Information seeking comments from firms
that might potentially implement the demonstration. Responses to this request were due to
SSA by October 15, 2003.
A second demonstration planned by SSA is the Early Intervention Demonstration
Project. Authorized by Section 301 of the Ticket Act, this demonstration will evaluate
whether providing return-to-work services to DI applicants before they are awarded benefits
increases the rate of return to work, thus offsetting the cost of service provision with the
money saved were these applicants to return to work rather than receive DI benefits. The
demonstration will provide applicants with a one-year cash stipend and three years of
Medicare benefits as well as access to employment supports and services. Three models of
intervention will be tested in New Mexico, Vermont, and Wisconsin, respectively, with
approximately 100 enrollees each. The demonstration is expected to begin in late spring or
early summer 2004. 9
A third SSA demonstration is the Youth Transition Process Demonstration. In late
September 2003, SSA funded seven cooperative agreements for demonstration projects
intended to improve employment outcomes for youth with disabilities. The purpose of the
projects is to design, implement, and evaluate approaches to improving the transition from
school to work for youth ages 14 to 25 who receive SSI, DI, or Childhood Disability
Benefits. Projects may also serve youth at risk of receiving such benefits, including those
with a progressive condition or a prognosis for decreased functioning and those who may
become eligible for benefits at age 18, when deemed parental income no longer applies. The
projects are implementing a variety of strategies intended to increase coordination between
various federal and state service, support, and benefit programs (including secondary and
postsecondary education programs) in order to effectively prepare and support youth with
disabilities to achieve maximum economic self-sufficiency through employment.
Cooperative agreements have been awarded to California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland,
Mississippi, and New York (two projects).
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9 Additional information on the Early Intervention program can be found at
www.disabilityresearch.rutgers.edu.
II: Structure and Background of the Ticket to Work Program