Improving Return-to-Work Strategies in the United States Disability Programs, with Analysis of Program Practices in Germany and Sweden

Social Security Bulletin

Volumn 62, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 41-50

  Sim, Joann ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; COMPARATIVE STUDY; DISABLED PERSON; FORECASTING; GERMANY; HEALTH CARE QUALITY; HUMAN; LEGAL ASPECT; METHODOLOGY; ORGANIZATION; ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT; SOCIAL SECURITY; STANDARD; STATISTICS; SWEDEN; TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT; UNITED STATES; VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION;

DISABLED PERSONS; FORECASTING; GERMANY; HUMANS; ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION; PROGRAM EVALUATION; REHABILITATION, VOCATIONAL; SOCIAL SECURITY; SWEDEN; TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT; UNITED STATES;

EID: 0033287506     PISSN: 00377910     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (44)

1. U.S. Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997. Concurrently entitled beneficiaries are counted in both categories.
2. Available online at 〈http://www.ssa.gov/work/ssavrcpd.html〈
3. U.S. General Accounting Office, Social Security: Disability Programs Lag in Promoting Return to Work, Letter Report to Congressional Committees, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, United States Government Accounting Office, 1997.
4. Patricia Thornton and Neil Lunt, Employment Policies for Disabled People in Eighteen Countries: A Review, Social Policy Research Unit: University of York, 1997, p.116.
5. Ibid., pp. 241-242.
6. Ibid., p. 240.
7. Ibid., p. 114.
8. Christiane Kuptsch and Ilene R. Zeitzer, "Public Disability Programmes under New Complex Pressures," International Social Security Association, 26th Annual Assembly, Marrakech, 1998.
9. Literature in the field supports the notion that the loss of health benefit coverage in addition to cash benefits provides a disincentive to returning to work. Most of the literature presents this idea as logical, but not supported by empirical evidence. Walter Y. Oi states, "It is well known that some SSDI recipients are afraid to return to work in spite of improving health because they would have to give up Medicare." Jonathan S, Leonard states, "For many people with potentially disabling conditions (Medicare coverage) is more valuable and more difficult to replace (than cash benefits)... When (private) insurance can be bought, it sometimes costs the disabled so much that there is little financial reward to working." Friedland and Evans contend that some people "face real and perceived disincentives for leaving public programs and seeking employment, since having a job may mean losing needed coverage... private insurance is less likely to provide for chronic, long-term, or health-related needs." These authors are featured in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1996.
10. Paul O'Leary and David Dean, "International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers - Study Report - USA." International Labour Organization 1998.
11. Available online at: 〈http://www.ssa.gov/work/ssavrcpd.html〉
12. Martin Albrecht and Hans Braun, "International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers - Study Report - Germany." International Labour Organization, 1998, pp. 111-112.
13. Karlsson Anders; Martin Albrecht; and Hans Braun, "International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers - Study Report - Germany." International Labour Organization, p. 56, 1998.
14. Edward E. Palmer, "Potential Gains from Early Intervention in Sickness Absenteeism at the Workplace: An Overview of the Current State of Knowledge and Trends in Sweden," in Forging Linkages: Modifying Disability Benefit Programs To Encourage Employment, M. Berkowitz (ed.), New York: Rehabilitation International, 1990.
15. See footnote 4, p. 113.
16. Bernd Frick and Dieter Sadowski, "A German Perspective on Disability Policy," in Curing the Dutch Disease: An International Perspective on Disability Policy Reform, L. Aarts; R. Burkhauser; and P. deJong, (eds.), Vol. 1, Avebury: Ashgate Publishing Company, p. 128, 1996.
17. Ibid, p. 129.
18. See footnote 14, p. 84.
19. See footnote 4, p. 253.
20. Leo J. M. Aarts and Philip R. deJong, "European Experiences with Disability Policy," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, p. 145, 1996.
21. David H. Dean, "Vocational Rehabilitation Innovations for Disabled Persons within the Federal Republic of Germany," M. Berkowitz (ed.), Forging Linkages: Modifying Disability Benefit Programs To Encourage Employment, New York: Rehabilitation International, 1990.
22. A reformed old-age pension system was adopted by Sweden's Parliament in June 1998. Disability pensions will no longer be administered by the old-age pension system, but will be in a separate class of insurance. Finalization of the legislation by the spring of 1999. Available online at: 〈www.pension.gov.se/in%20English/final.pdf〉
23. Ewskil Wadensjo and Edward E. Palmer, "Curing the Dutch Disease from a Swedish Perspective," in Curing the Dutch Disease: An International Perspective on Disability Policy Reform, L. Aarts; R. Burkhauser; and P. deJong (eds.), Aldershot: Avebury, England, pp. 137-138, 1996.
24. See footnote 8.
25. Burt S. Barnow, "Policies for People with Disabilities in U.S. Employment and Training Programs," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques, (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1996.
26. Aaron J. Prero, "Quantitative Outcomes of the Transitional Employment Training Demonstration," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M Barques, (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1996.
27. Edward Berkowitz and David Dean, "Lessons from the Vocational Rehabilitation/Social Security Administration Experience," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, p. 239, 1996.
28. Ibid., p. 241.
29. Monroe Berkowitz, "Improving the Return to Work of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries" in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, p. 333, 1996.
30. Paul O'Leary and David Dean, "International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers - Study Report - USA," International Labour Organization, 1998.
31. See U.S. Social Security Administration, Results of 1994 Two-Day Field Office Survey of Disability Applicants, agency correspondence S5H, March 22, 1994.
32. General Accounting Office (GAO), Social Security Disability: Improving Return-to-Work Outcomes Important, but Trade-Offs and Challenges Exist, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, United States General Accounting Office.
33. Government Accounting Office (GAO), Social Security Disability Insurance: Multiple Factors Affect Beneficiaries' Ability to Return to Work, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, United States Government Accounting Office, 1998.
34. Ibid.
35. John C. Hennessey, "Factors Affecting the Work Efforts of the Disabled-Worker Beneficiaries," Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 60, No. 3, p. 18, 1997.
36. Hilary Williamson Hoynes and Robert Moffitt, "The Effectiveness of Financial Work Incentives in Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income: Lessons from Other Transfer Programs," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds.), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1996.
37. See footnote 29, p. 334.
38. U.S. Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997.
39. This rate is effective on July 1, 1999. The previous amount was $500.
40. Jonathan Leonard, "Disability Policy and the Return to Work," Disability & Work: Incentives, Rights, and Opportunities, Carolyn Weaver, ed. Washington, DC: AEI Press, p. 47, 1991.
41. H. Allan Hunt; Rochelle V. Habeck; Patricia Owens; and David Vandergoot, "Disability And Work: Lessons From The Private Sector," in Disability, Work and Cash Benefits, J. Mashaw; V. Reno; R. Burkhauser; and M. Barques (eds), Michigan: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1996.
42. John Kearney, "The Work Incapacity and Reintegration Study: Results of the Initial Survey Conducted in the United States," Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 60, No. 3, 1997, pp. 21-32 and Frank S. Bloch and Rienk Prins, "Work Incapacity and Reintegration: Theory and Design of a Cross-National Study," International Social Security Review, Vol. 50, Feb. 1997, pp. 3-23.
43. John Kearney, "The Work Incapacity and Reintegration Study: Results of the Initial Survey Conducted in the United States," Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 60, No. 3, 1997, pp. 21-32 and Frank S. Bloch and Rienk Prins, "Work Incapacity and Reintegration: Theory and Design of a Cross-National Study," International Social Security Review, Vol. 50, Feb. 1997, pp. 3-23.
44. Robert J. Kornfield; Michelle L. Wood; Larry L. Orr; and David A. Long "Impacts of the Project NetWork Demonstration: Final Report," prepared for the Social Security Administration by Abt Associates, Inc., 1999.