Overview

"Over the past several decades, the Social Security Administration has tested many new policies and programs. These demonstrations have covered most aspects of the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs and populations. The demonstrations examined family supports, informational notices, changes to benefit rules, and a variety of employment services and program waivers. This volume draws out lessons from those demonstrations, both to improve work outcomes and to highlight directions for future research. The papers and discussion in this volume were originally presented at a ""State of the Science Meeting,"" held June 15, 2021."

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Reviews

This timely volume contains essays and insightful commentary from leading experts, not just about what we've learned about disability policy from past demonstration projects but also about how we can design even better demonstrations in the future to fill in the remaining gaps. -Kathleen J. Mullen, Ph.D., RAND Corporation Social Security disability programs aim to meet beneficiaries' needs for income and medical support while not hindering their work efforts. SSA demonstrations over the years have provided invaluable insight into what is and is not effective in achieving this delicate balance, and the scholars and experts contributing to this volume do a huge service in synthesizing and distilling the current state of the evidence from these demonstrations. This comprehensive volume provides a careful and honest assessment of the extent to which disability programs have achieved their central policy goals, and outlines a path forward for where research and policy attention should turn next. -Stephanie Rennane, Ph.D., RAND Corporation It is remarkable to have - in one collection - a discussion and synthesis of findings from decades of research demonstrations on issues related to disability and employment. These demonstrations, which often have the same technical rigor as experiments in the physical sciences, have revealed what works and what does not work in encouraging successful labor market outcomes for individuals with serious health impairments. This collection of papers is more than just a review of past findings, however, as it provides new ideas for research demonstrations that move beyond just labor market outcomes and that could examine the broader issues of overall income security and economic wellbeing. Papers in the collection also appropriately emphasize the diversity of the population in the United States and the need for new demonstrations to focus on understudied groups. Lessons Learned from SSA Demonstrations for Disability Policy and Future Research will prove to be an extremely valuable resource for both researchers and policymakers as they design and implement the next generation of demonstrations to guide policy on the Social Security Administration's disability programs. -David A. Weaver, Ph.D., former Associate Commissioner for Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support at the Social Security Administration This superb volume provides what has long been needed: comprehensive review and critical reflection regarding several decades of disability demonstrations. The essays are models of policy expertise and savvy, and careful and thoughtful analysis. At once sobering and inspiring, it provides the indispensable foundation for the next generation of demonstrations. -John Tambornino, Ph.D., Member, National Academy of Social Insurance

Author Information

"Austin Nichols (PhD, Economics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) is a social science economics principal associate at Abt Associates who served as principal investigator of the Lessons Learned from Social Security Administration (SSA) Demonstrations project. He is an expert methodologist with 20 years of experience in the evaluation of disability policy, labor market, and education issues. Dr. Nichols has conducted studies for U.S. federal agencies including the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Veteran's Affairs, and Education. He has also worked under contract for state and local governments, and many foundations. In addition to publishing influential papers about disability policy, health, and labor markets, and producing technical reports on related topics, Dr. Nichols has presented at numerous conferences, and served as a discussant on research on disability policy over the last 20 years. At Abt, he provides technical and methodological guidance for policy evaluations across numerous policy areas, and regularly serves as principal investigator, director of design and analysis, or project quality advisor on Abt research projects. Dr. Nichols's expertise includes random assignment, quasi-experimental, and descriptive research design; evaluation technical assistance; survey design and testing; implementation analysis; statistical analysis of survey and administrative data; and dissemination of findings to academic and policy audiences. He was also the principal investigator for the Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work project for the Department of Labor. Dr. Nichols co-authored Chapter 3 ""Use of Demonstrations"" and presented it with Robert Weathers at the Lessons Learned from SSA Demonstrations: A State of the Science Meeting. He co-authored the introductory chapter with Jeffrey Hemmeter and co-edited the Lessons from SSA Demonstrations volume with Jeffrey Hemmeter and Debra Goetz Engler. Jeffrey Hemmeter (PhD, Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) is the acting deputy associate commissioner in the Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support at the Social Security Administration (SSA) where he helps design, conduct, and oversee research, evaluation, and policies related to disability and return to work. Dr. Hemmeter's research focuses on transition-age youth and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and he has worked on several SSA demonstrations, evaluations, and studies, including as the lead on the Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI evaluation. He co-authored the introductory chapter and co-edited the Lessons from SSA Demonstrations volume with Austin Nichols and Debra Goetz Engler. Debra Goetz Engler (MPA, Policy Research and Analysis, University of Pittsburgh) is a researcher in disability policy at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Ms. Goetz Engler currently serves as a supervisor in the Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support where she leads teams conducting research and demonstration projects. She began her federal career in the research office at SSA as a Presidential Management Fellow, during which she completed an assignment at the Government Accountability Office. Prior to joining SSA, Ms. Goetz Engler worked with children, youth, and families, specializing in transition-age youth, in transitional living, foster care, and workforce development programs. Ms. Goetz Engler co-authored Chapter 9 ""Lessons from Implementation"" and presented it with Michelle Wood at Lessons from SSA Demonstrations: A State of the Science Meeting and she co-edited the Lessons from SSA Demonstrations volume with Austin Nichols and Jeffrey Hemmeter."

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