New article: “Promoting Work Among Disability Beneficiaries.”

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has published an article by my former SSA colleague Kathleen Romig looking at the potential for promoting work by Social Security disability beneficiaries.

Here’s the money graph (from my perspective):

We can do much more to support workers with disabilities long before they apply for DI, but it costs money.  Expanding Medicaid in those states that haven’t yet done so would improve access to needed health care and ease the financial burden of disability.  Improving access to the long-term services and supports that many people with disabilities need in order to work could help some of them rise above poverty.  Boosting the Earned Income Tax Credit, particularly for childless workers, could benefit workers with disabilities.  Other possibilities outside Social Security are adequately funding vocational rehabilitation, creating subsidized employment opportunities, and updating the asset limits in Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and other public programs. 

Check out the whole article here.