Affiliations: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Washington, DC,
USA | Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Princeton, NJ,
USA
Note: [] Addresss for correspondence: Thomas Fraker, Mathematica Policy
Research, Inc., 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 550, Washington, DC
20024-2512, USA. Tel.: +1 202 484 4698; Fax: +1 202 863 1763; E-mail:
tfraker@mathematica-mpr.com
Abstract: The Social Security Administration (SSA) is funding Youth Transition
Demonstration (YTD) projects in multiple sites across the country. These
projects seek to improve transitions to adulthood for youth whose disabilities
are so severe that they either are currently receiving Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) or Social Security disability benefits, or are at high risk of
receiving them in the future. Youth participating in the projects are eligible
for more generous earnings disregards and other incentives under SSA waivers of
certain disability program rules. In addition, the projects provide them with
individualized employment and benefits planning services. The waivers and
services are designed to increase the likelihood that the YTD participants will
become employed, earn enough to reduce their disability benefits, and
eventually leave the disability rolls. Under contract with SSA, Mathematica
Policy Research, Inc. is conducting a rigorous random assignment evaluation of
six of the demonstration projects. Approximately 880 youth at each site who
agree to participate in the evaluation are being randomly assigned to treatment
or control groups. The treatment group members are eligible for the SSA waivers
and YTD services; the control group members are eligible for neither, but they
can receive standard disability program work incentives and whatever
alternative services may be available in their communities. Mathematica is
gathering data on the treatment and control group members for up to four years
following random assignment through surveys and SSA administrative records. By
comparing mean values of outcomes such as earnings and disability benefit
amounts for the treatment and control groups, the evaluation will assess
whether the YTD projects are successful at improving transitions to adulthood.
Findings from the evaluation will be presented in site-specific interim reports
in 2010–2012 and in a comprehensive final report in 2014.
Keywords: Transition, youth, disabilities, Social Security, SSA, demonstration, intervention, evaluation, random assignment, experimental
