Lessons for US Disability Policy from Other OECD Countries

Abstract

Abstract Although industrialized countries have long provided public protection to working-age people with disabilities, their specific policies and programs have evolved over time. The impetus for change has been multifaceted: rapid growth in program costs, greater awareness that people with impairments are able and willing to work, and increased recognition that protecting the economic security of people with disabilities might best be done by maintaining their connections with the labor market. This chapter describes the evolution of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program in the United States and the importance that policy has played in its rapid growth. Based on the shared experiences of the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, and Australia, this chapter outlines lessons for US policymakers as they consider reforms to more effectively control SSDI growth.