DISABILITY PROGRAM NAVIGATOR TRAINING

The SSA Perspective on the Role of the Navigator

November 3, 2003

SSA Administers Two Programs Paying Benefits to People with Disabilities

1. Social Security Disability Insurance –SSDI (Title II)

2. Supplemental Security Income Program –SSI (Title XVI)

SSDI Eligibility Covered workers--up to age 65 Who have a medical condition that

will last for at least one year or will result in death

Who cannot do the work they previously did, and

Who cannot do any other work that exists in the National economy (considering age, education, exp.)

SSI Disability Eligibility

Needs-based program Same disability definition as SSDI Income and resources must be below

specified limits

CharacteristicsofDisabilityBeneficiaries

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60*

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

<30 30-39 40-49 50-59

DI & DI/SSI SSI Only

136,000

Disabled Workers and Adult SSI by Age Groups

570,000532,000

480,000678,000

1,315,000

703,000

1,989,000

AGE

*as of July 2002

Disability Beneficiary Population

85%

12%3%

WORKERS

ADULTCHILDREN WIDOW(ER)S

DI*

83%

1%

16%

BLIND AND DISABLEDCHILDREN

DISABLED ADULTS

BLIND ADULTS

SSI*

*Beneficiaries with concurrent entitlements are in both groups.

Data as of December 2001

Adult Disability Beneficiaries

Disabled Workers and Adult SSI

DI & DI/SSISSI Only

MEN WOMEN

Avg. Ben. $405

41% 59%

MEN WOMEN

56% 44%

Average Monthly Benefit

Women $688Men $913 $531Federal

benefit rate

Time on the Rolls

Disabled Workers and Adult SSI

0 - 535.6%

6 - 1029.5%

11 - 1518.7%

16 - 208.5%

21 - 254.0%

26+3.7%

0-5 39% 29%

6-10 30% 29%

11-15 17% 21%

16-20 7% 10%

21-25 3% 5%

26+ 3% 5%

DI & SSI DI/SSI Only Years

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60

DI & SSI Combined

Primary Impairment Data

• 48% of beneficiaries have a mental disability

• 40% of DI & DI/SSI

• 60% of SSI Only

• Groupings for the most common impairments vary by age and program

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60*

*as of July 2002

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

2960 3180 2950 7240 2940 3000 7150

DI & DI/SSI SSI Only

Schizo-phrenia

Mental Retardation

Osteo

arthritis

Organic Mental Anxiety

Top 7 Primary Impairments

Affective Disorders Back

56%of Beneficiaries

Summary Profiles DI & DI/SSI

50% are 50-59

More men (56 %)

Most 12 yrs or more

66% above marginal

18% have earnings

39% on 5 yrs or less

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60

Age

Gender

Education

Prior earnings

Current earnings

Time on rolls

Impairments Mental - 40%Musculoskeletal >15%Heart & circulatory >4%

-- Most frequent

Summary Profiles SSI Only

71% under 50

More women (59%)

Most less than 12 yrs

99% marginal

17% have earnings

29% on 5 yrs or less

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60

Age

Gender

Education

Prior earnings

Current earnings

Time on rolls

ImpairmentMental - 60%Musculoskeletal > 6%-- Most frequent

SSDI & SSI BeneficiariesIn States with Navigators

STATE # of Beneficiaries

Vermont 15,427

Massachusetts 150,069

New York 417,566

Delaware 18,446

Maryland 87,619

Florida 375,409

South Carolina 126,757

Wisconsin 106,941

Illinois 225,129

Oklahoma 82,687

Iowa 59,796

Colorado 69,985

Arizona 107,372

California 536,996

SSA Return to Work Efforts

Historical rate of return-to-work success is ½ of 1% of the disabled beneficiary population

Ticket to Work and Self Sufficiency Program• Created by the Ticket to Work and Work

Incentives Improvement Act of 1999• Offers more choices to people in getting the

services they need to go to work and move toward greater self-sufficiency

• Services are provided by Employment Networks (ENs), private organizations and government agencies, at no cost to the individual

• Program savings realized from benefit cessation covers the cost of the process (payments to ENs)

New Freedom Initiative

Announced by President Bush on Feb.1, 2001

A comprehensive program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society.

New Freedom Initiative (continued)

Requires Federal agencies to collaborate in ways not previously done to make their programs more effective

The joint DOL-SSA Navigator effort has been undertaken in the spirit of the New Freedom Initiative

New Freedom InitiativeSSA Demonstration Projects

The Ticket Program works and is working for many beneficiaries

Some people need additional supports

SSA is conducting a series of Demonstration Project to help determine what else is needed to increase RTW and improve self-sufficiency for people with disabilities

SSA Demonstration Projects

Early Intervention Demonstration Project

Youth Transition Process Demonstration

Benefit Offset Process Demonstration Mental Health Treatment Study

Navigators Provide theCritical Linkage with Employers

Disability Program Navigators

Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities

Lack of Medical assistance Lack of knowledge about programs,

services and supports Housing needs Transportation needs Child care needs Lack of skills Employer attitudes

Keys to Employment for People with Disabilities

Medical benefits Skills development Housing and transportation supports Child care Assistive technologies and

accommodation Employer awareness