ACS RISP Delaying Application of SSIs Substantial Gainful Activity Eligibility Criteria from 18 to 22
Project Description:
The SSI program provides monthly cash benefits to people with disabilities who meet 1) income and asset, 2) disability type, and 3) disability severity criteria. Applicants must document a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months (SSI, 2019). The disability severity criteria for children is marked and severe functional limitations, and for adults is inability to do any substantial gainful activity. The criteria for children differs for youth younger or older than 12 years (POMS 2017, TN 50 (07-17)). In 2015, an estimated 45% of all child SSI recipients lost eligibility at age 18 due to not having a limitation in substantial gainful employment (SSA, 2019b). Our proposal is to delay using only substantial gainful activity to assess disability severity until age 22 instead of age 18.
We recommend that SSA assess the feasibility and potential impacts associated with the proposed change using a modified Function Report to evaluate eligibility with a sample of youth undergoing an age 18 redetermination, and a sample of new applicants 18 to 21 years prior to rolling out the proposed changes. Administrative data and other secondary sources would be used to evaluate differences in applications for, approvals and denials for Section 301 exemptions for adults 18-21 years. Research questions would be:
1. In what ways and to what extent do eligibility determinations differ depending on whether the adult criteria of inability to do any substantial gainful activity or a modified youth criteria of the presence of marked and severe functional limitations in one or more of six current domains and/or in substantial gainful activity for
a. new SSI applicants ages 18 to 21 years, and
b. child SSI recipients undergoing the age 18-redetermination process.
2. To what extent do applications, approvals and denials for continuation of SSI benefits under Section 301 differ in states with different policies or programs in
a. the age at which the entitlement to special education services ends,
b. the proportion of VR applicants that have IWPs within 12 months,
c. the proportion of VR case closures that result in employment,
d. whether the state has endorsed and Employment First policy, and
e. the number of comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs (as defined by the Department of Education) operating in the state.
Keyword(s):
SSI, Transition Age Youth, Employment Outcomes
Core Function(s):
Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Employment-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
National
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
