Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program, Implementation ...

194. Primary Impairment CategoryThe initial evaluation report indicated that participation rates vary substantially byprimary impairment category, and the updated findings are very similar. Beneficiary groupsin Phase 1 states with March 2004 participation rates that were at least half a percentagepoint above or below the overall value of 1.0 percent are shown in Table II.2. As indicatedby the statistics in the second column, some of these groups are very large, but others arequite small. Also, while some participation rates are high relative to the overall average, forexample, the rate for those with hearing impairments (5.9 percent) is almost six times theoverall participation rate, they are not high in an absolute sense. Impairment categoriescontaining relatively large numbers of beneficiaries and participation rates above the 1.0percent average rate include schizophrenia/psychoses/neuroses (1.5 percent), majoraffective disorders (1.3 percent), nervous system disorders (1.3 percent), and mentalretardation (1.2 percent). The impairment category with the largest percentage ofbeneficiaries, musculoskeletal (16 percent of beneficiaries) has the third lowest participationrate (0.5 percent).5. Race and EthnicityHispanic beneficiaries participate at a lower rate than other racial/ethnic groups (0.7percent in Phase 1 states), and the rate for those requesting that SSA send them all writteninformation in Spanish is even lower, 0.4 percent. African Americans participate at a higherrate (1.3 percent in Phase 1 states). Participation rates for whites, Asians/Pacific Islanders,and Native Americans are very close to the overall rate.6. Time Since Disability Program EntryAs documented in the initial evaluation report, the participation rate in Phase 1 statesincreased with time from the point of entry into a disability program up through month 24and then is stable through 120 months (10 years) before declining somewhat. A differentfinding emerged from our analysis of more recent data. Participation rates are lower thanaverage for those who have been on the rolls for six or fewer months (.77 percent), the raterises to 1.00 percent for those on the rolls from seven to 12 months, and there is nosubstantial variation with additional months on the rolls.7. State of ResidenceLike our initial analysis, the recent analysis shows that participation rates varysubstantially across the Phase 1 states, although even the highest rate as of March 2004 rate(2.3 percent for Vermont) was low (top of Figure II.6). The lowest rate, 0.4 percent, was inOregon.Participation rates also vary substantially across Phase 2 states (bottom of Figure II.6).As of March 2004, South Dakota had the highest rate (1.6 percent,) and New Hampshirehad the lowest (0.1 percent).II: Beneficiary Participation in Ticket to Work