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

Characteristics of Disability Beneficiaries

Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60* 136,000 Disabled Workers and Adult SSI by Age Groups 570, , , ,000 1,315, ,000 1,989,000 AGE *as of July 2002

Disability Beneficiary Population WORKERS ADULT CHILDREN WIDOW(ER)S DI* BLIND AND DISABLED CHILDREN 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/SSI SSI Only MEN WOMEN Avg. Ben. $405 41%59% MEN WOMEN 56%44% Average Monthly Benefit Women $688 Men $913 $531 Federal benefit rate

Time on the Rolls Disabled Workers and Adult SSI % % % % % % % 29% % 29% % 21% % 10% % 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 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 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 Impairment Mental - 60% Musculoskeletal > 6% -- Most frequent

SSDI & SSI Beneficiaries In States with Navigators STATE# of Beneficiaries Vermont15,427 Massachusetts150,069 New York417,566 Delaware18,446 Maryland87,619 Florida375,409 South Carolina126,757 Wisconsin106,941 Illinois225,129 Oklahoma82,687 Iowa59,796 Colorado69,985 Arizona107,372 California536,996

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 Initiative SSA 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 the Critical 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