Disabled Recipients Research Articles

From the Horse’s Mouth: a focus on bread-and-butter reforms for jobseeker support recipients without dependants

Successive governments have made efforts to reduce poverty amongst some specific population groups, such as children, families and the elderly. However, their focus on poverty alleviation has not been evenly applied across the New Zealand population. Certain groups, notably single and partnered adults without dependants, are yet to receive the same level of attention. This article considers poverty amongst 18–64-year-old beneficiaries, including jobseeker support–work ready (JS–WR) and jobseeker support–health condition or disability (JS–HCD) recipients without dependants. Rather than focusing on big ticket reforms commonly put forward, this article highlights some often overlooked aspects contributing to poverty and other unnecessary hardship amongst this group, and seeks to identify some policy improvements that could be made within existing frameworks. These are discussed with examples primarily from my own experience as a JS–HCD recipient, and informed by others on JS who provided first-hand experience.

Beyond Health: Nonhealth Risk and the Value of Disability Insurance

The public debate over disability insurance has centered on concerns about individuals without severe health conditions receiving benefits. We go beyond health risk alone to quantify the overall insurance value of U.S. disability programs, including value from insuring nonhealth risk. We find that disability recipients, especially those with less‐severe health conditions, are much more likely to have experienced a wide variety of nonhealth shocks than nonrecipients. Selection into disability receipt on the basis of nonhealth shocks is so strong among individuals with less‐severe health conditions that by many measures less‐severe recipients are worse off than more‐severe recipients. As a result, under baseline assumptions, benefits to less‐severe recipients have an annual surplus value (insurance benefit less efficiency cost) over cost‐equivalent tax cuts of $7700 per recipient, about three‐fourths that of benefits to more‐severe recipients ($9900). Insurance against nonhealth risk accounts for about one‐half of the value of U.S. disability programs.

The Socioeconomic Covariates of Violent and Property Crime Rates in Azerbaijan

Abstract The majority of the studies exploring the relationship between socioeconomic factors and crime levels are confined to major industrialized nations. As a post-Soviet, transitional economy with a predominantly Muslim population, Azerbaijan provides a different setting to explore how socioeconomic indicators affect police-recorded violent and property crime levels across cities and districts. This study finds a positive relationship between GRP per capita, the proportion of pupils admitted to university and population size property crime levels. The relationship was linear in all cases. The geographical units with more social benefit (pensions, disability, and family care) recipients had lower acquisitive crime levels, though the significance was marginal. The higher the number of targeted social assistance recipients for poverty alleviation is, the higher the rate of violent crime is, which differs from the findings of similar previous studies. Overall, socioeconomic predictors were significantly better in explaining variations for offences against the property (r=.481) than violent crimes (r=.073). These findings suggest that different crime types are better explained by different economic indicators in the Azerbaijani context. Furthermore, the study shows that most of the covariates function in ways which are observed in the societies covered by the literature.

Beyond Health: Non-Health Risk and the Value of Disability Insurance

The public debate over disability insurance has centered on concerns about individuals without severe health conditions receiving benefits. We go beyond health risk alone to quantify the overall insurance value of U.S. disability programs, including value from insuring non-health risk. We find that disability recipients, especially those with less-severe health conditions, are much more likely to have experienced a wide variety of non-health shocks than non-recipients. Selection into disability receipt on the basis of non-health shocks is so strong among individuals with less-severe health conditions that by many measures less-severe recipients are worse off than more-severe recipients. As a result, under baseline assumptions, benefits to less-severe recipients have an annual surplus value (insurance benefit less efficiency cost) over cost-equivalent tax cuts of $7,700 per recipient, about three-fourths that of benefits to more-severe recipients ($9,900). Insurance against non-health risk accounts for about one-half of the value of U.S. disability programs.

Who Is Screened Out? Application Costs and the Targeting of Disability Programs

The application process is critical to the targeting of disability programs because disability, relative to other tags, is difficult to observe and costly to verify. We study the effect of application costs on the targeting of disability programs using the closings of Social Security Administration field offices, which provide assistance with filing disability applications. Using administrative data from the Social Security Administration, we find that field office closings lead to large and persistent reductions in the number of disability recipients and reduce targeting efficiency based on current eligibility standards. The number of disability recipients declines by 13% in surrounding areas, with the largest effects for applicants with moderately severe conditions, low education levels, and low pre-application earnings. Evidence on channels suggests that most of the reduction in applications is attributable to increased congestion at neighboring offices rather than increased travel times or costs of information gathering.

Who Is Screened Out? Application Costs and the Targeting of Disability Programs

We study the effect of application costs on the targeting of disability programs. We identify these effects using the closings of Social Security Administration field offices, which provide assistance with filing disability applications. Closings lead to a persistent 16 percent decline in the number of disability recipients in surrounding areas, with the largest effects for applicants with moderately severe conditions and low education levels. Disability applications fall by only 10 percent, implying that the closings reduce targeting efficiency based on current eligibility standards. Increased congestion at neighboring offices appears more important as a channel than higher travel or information costs. (JEL H55, I13, I18, J14)

Trends in labour force participation of older men: Examining the influence of policy reforms, normative change and deindustrialization in the Netherlands, 1992–2009

This study examines trends in labour force participation of older men (55–64 years) in the Netherlands between 1992 and 2009 using Dutch Labour Force Survey data. In this period, the share of early retirees and disability recipients steadily decreased, while labour force participation of Dutch older men increased. The authors characterize these developments both theoretically and empirically in terms of policy reforms, normative change and deindustrialization. More specifically, institutional early retirement arrangements were abolished due to the rising costs associated with the ageing of the Dutch population. Older men, therefore, became more likely to be employed, unemployed or disabled compared to early retired between 1992 and 2009. The authors also find that deindustrialization increases the chances of employment for older men with a university degree. Moreover, a shrinking industry sector is particularly harmful for the lowest educated older men, as their likelihood to be in unemployment increases compared to early retirement.

Towards Balanced VA and SSA Policies in Psychological Injury Disability Assessment

The area of forensic disability and related assessments requires comprehensive assessments that are scientifically-informed and impartial. This is especially true for disability assessments at public institutions that have millions of disability recipients, such as the Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, the official policies at these institutions generally preclude this type of comprehensive assessment, and this might be part of their resulting reason for the disability epidemics, for example, concerning posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper first examines these policies, and then discusses the literature in support of a more balanced approach in disability assessments, including determination of malingering. With respect to testing, the paper scrutinizes the recent research for the tests that are reliable and valid in this assessment context, especially for performance validity tests (PVTs, e.g., the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM; Tombaugh, 1996)) and tests with scales for detecting negative response bias (symptom validity tests, SVTs, e.g., the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition, Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath and Tellegen, 2008/2011)). The paper reviews the literature regarding how to combine tests in systems aimed at detecting malingering (e.g., Larrabee, 2012, Arch Clin Neuropsychol 29:364–373, 2014; Young, 2014a, Psychol Inj Law 8:169–183, 2015b), while reviewing recent research that disputes the value of certain algorithms used in the field (e.g., Odland et al., Psychol Inj Law 8:46–63, 2015). As for ethics, the paper refers to, among others, the position statement of the Association for Scientific Advancement in Psychological Injury and Law (ASAPIL) (Bush et al., Psychol Inj Law 7:197–205, 2014; Young, Psychol Inj Law 7:206–235, 2014b) on the importance of screening for malingering in these types of evaluations using PVTs and SVTs. The Institute of Medicine (2015) book on this topic is consistent with the present approach, and it is referred to throughout. Conclusions deal briefly with diagnosis and treatment, and they present a model regarding evaluation issues of intention, deception, malingering, and other problematic presentations and performances.

Anchoring Vignettes in the Health and Retirement Study: How Do Medical Professionals and Disability Recipients Characterize the Severity of Work Limitations?

PurposeRecent studies report systematic differences in how individuals categorize the severity of identical health and work limitation vignettes. We investigate how health professionals and disability recipients characterize the severity of work limitations and whether their reporting patterns are robust to demographic, education, and health characteristics. We use the results to illustrate the potential impact of reporting heterogeneity on the distribution of work disability estimated from self-reported categorical health and disability data.MethodNationally representative data on anchoring disability vignettes from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are used to investigate how respondents with an occupation background in health and Social Security disability beneficiaries categorize work limitation vignettes. Using pain, cardiovascular health, and depression vignettes, we estimate generalized ordered probit models (N = 2,660 individuals or 39,681 person-vignette observations) that allow the severity thresholds to vary by respondent characteristics.ResultsWe find that health professionals (excluding nurses) and disability recipients tend to classify identical work limitations as more severe compared to non-health professional non-disabled respondents. For disability recipients, the differences are most pronounced and particularly visible in the tails of the work limitations distribution. For health professionals, we observe smaller differences, affecting primarily the classification of mildly and moderately severe work limitations. The patterns for health professionals (excluding nurses) are robust to demographics, education, and health conditions. The greater likelihood of viewing the vignette person as more severely work limited observed among disability recipients is mostly explained by the fact that these respondents also tend to be in poorer health which itself predicts a more inclusive scale.ConclusionsKnowledge of reporting scales from health professionals and disabled individuals can benefit researchers in a broad range of applications in health and disability research. They may be useful as reference scales to evaluate disability survey data. Such knowledge may be beneficial when studying disability programs. Given the increasing availability of anchoring vignette data in surveys, this is a promising area for future evaluation research.

‘Living Well’ vs Neoliberal Social Welfare

As a disabled activist, I much prefer Aristotle's concept of ‘eu zen’, or ‘living well’ to that of ‘well-being’. ‘Eu zen’ is part of Aristotle's treatise on ‘eudaimonia’, which Grayling describes as: ‘…. a strong and satisfying sense of well-being and well-doing, of flourishing as only a rational and feeling human individual can flourish when his life and relationships are good’ (emphasis added). Aristotle's concepts are preferable because they promote ‘well-being’ through familial, social and civic activity, whilst recognising that such activity requires resources, both human and material. These concepts are akin to those advocated by disabled people within the ‘independent living movement’; i.e. that the individual's ‘choice’, ‘control’, ‘dignity’ and ‘freedom’, over their lives and lifestyles, are supported by an inclusive community. However, both sets of principles are now being undermined by neoliberal managerial social work practice, which not only deny basic human rights which underpin ‘eu zen’, but lead to fear and a sense of ‘commodification’ or de-personalisation among disabled recipients. Relevant examples will come from experience, both personal as well as that from other disabled people.

Financial Victimization of Adults With Severe Mental Illness

People with severe mental illness are vulnerable to having other people directly take or misappropriate their disability payments. This study investigated the prevalence of different types of financial victimization and the client characteristics associated with being financially victimized. Adults (N=122) receiving inpatient or intensive outpatient psychiatric treatment who received Social Security disability payments completed assessments about money management and victimization. A path model was used to estimate the association of victimization with participant characteristics. Seventy percent of participants experienced at least one type of financial victimization in the preceding 28 days; 35% ran out of money because of victimization. Victimization was significantly associated with being younger, having had more psychiatric hospitalizations, having more recent alcohol use, and, most robustly, having problems managing money (β=.52, p<.01). Financial victimization of disability recipients in acute care settings is common and more likely among people with recent substance use and difficulty managing their funds.

Simulation and Managerial Decision Making:A Double‐Loop Learning Framework

Systems approaches present opportunities for public managers and policy makers to view policies and programs in a broader context. This article presents a framework to explain how simulation modeling promotes double‐loop learning in management teams by building and exploring collective mental models as well as by enhancing accuracy of the mental models. The authors discuss the types of problems that may benefit from simulation modeling and illustrate how double‐loop learning occurs in the process of dynamic hypothesis testing. Using a case from New York State's Division of Disability Determination, the article shows how simulation modeling built confidence in a management team's decision by providing the team with tools to share and examine multiple hypotheses about a declining trend in initial disability recipients in the state between 1998 and 2004.

Filling holes in the safety net? Material hardship and subjective well-being among disability benefit applicants and recipients after the 1996 welfare reform

Some of the rapid recent growth in disability income receipt in the United States is attributable to single mothers post-welfare reform. Yet, we know little about how disability benefit receipt affects the economic well-being of single mother families, or how unsuccessful disability applicants fare. We compare disability recipients to unsuccessful applicants and those who never applied among current and former welfare recipients, and examine how application and receipt affect material hardships and subjective measures of well-being. We then examine whether alternative ways of making ends meet mediate differences in well-being. After controlling for alternative sources of support, no significant differences in overall actual hardships or difficulty living on current income remained between the three groups. However, even after controlling for these strategies, unsuccessful applicants were significantly more likely to report that they expected hardships in the next two months. Our results suggest a pervasive level of economic insecurity among unsuccessful applicants.

From the Trenches

Compensation and benefits make up over 50% of most organizations’ costs and like stars in the Heaven, exist among physical forces that can be predict future positions in the sky mathematically. The Rule of 72 (divide an interest rate into 72 to ascertain the years to double a sum) affects wages and salaries earned, college debt repayments, executive compensation, healthcare costs, America’s use of “non-employees,” wealth accumulation, disability recipients, retirement funding and a host of other compensation &amp; benefit issues. Examine and review what the future portends if no changes in policies and practices are enacted (which has been the author’s 40 year career history), as the future is already decided (because not making changes are in themselves, decisions).

Disability benefit microsimulation models in the Netherlands

Disability rates in the Netherlands used to be among the highest in the world. In 2002 the number of disability recipients approached one million. However, since then the number of disability cases has dropped remarkably due to a number of policy changes, the last of which being the new 2006 disability insurance scheme. On the other hand, in recent years the number of beneficiaries in the special scheme dedicated to the young handicapped has increased rapidly.In order to evaluate various policy alternatives and to forecast the effects of the 2006 law, a dynamic microsimulation model has been developed at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. This model has evolved into four separate forecasting models for the various disability schemes that are currently in force and are now fully integrated into the budget process. In these models, transitions within the disability schemes are estimated with multinomial logistic regression models based on administrative datasets. Current long-term forecasts show that the number of disability beneficiaries stabilizes at the current level of 800,000. The decreasing number of benefits in the employees' scheme is compensated by an increase in the scheme for the young handicapped. These long-term forecasts have been an important input for determining the focus of the new government's plans on disability insurance, namely to reduce the number of benefits of the young handicapped.

The impact of a low cost wheelchair on the quality of life of the disabled in the developing world

SummaryBackgroundPeople with disabilities in the developing world do not have equal and adequate access to education, employment, or medical care. Their physical or mental condition, compounded by a lack of financial and technological resources, imposes a burden on both the family and the State. A wheelchair is a form of assistive technology which eases that burden for many. This study examines the impact of a simple, donated chair on the health, quality of life, and function of a subject population.Material/MethodsSurveys were administered to 519 disabled recipients of a semi-rigid depot style wheelchair in 3 different countries at the time they received their chair and again after 12 months of use. Surveys evaluated physical and emotional health, functional independence, and lifestyle.ResultsOn initial reports, 46.6% of subjects said they never left home, 52.3% were hospitalized one or more days/month, 70.3% reported daily pain, and 48.7% reported a negative mood state. Following 12 months of using the wheelchair, both the reported overall health rating and mood state increased by 20%; pain was significantly diminished. Although some areas in the ICF function measure improved more than others, the overall reported level of independence rose by 11%.ConclusionsA representative sample of the disabled in 3 countries of the world is socially isolated, in poor health, and with limited function. Receipt of a simple, depot style wheelchair significantly improved their quality of life, health indicators, and the ICF function measure following 12 months of use.

Disability Benefit Microsimulation Models in the Netherlands

Disability rates in the Netherlands used to be among the highest in the world. In 2002 the number of disability recipients approached one million. However, since then the number of disability cases has dropped remarkably due to a number of very successful policy changes, the last of which being the new 2006 disability insurance scheme. On the other hand, in recent years the number of beneficiaries in the special scheme dedicated to the young handicapped has increased rapidly.In order to evaluate various policy alternatives and to forecast the effects of the 2006 law, a dynamic microsimulation model has been developed at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. This model has evolved into four separate forecasting models for the various disability schemes that are currently in force and are now fully integrated into the budget process. In these models, which are described in this paper, transitions within the disability schemes are estimated with multinomial logistic regression models based on administrative datasets as supplied by the benefit administration office. Forecasts are updated each year and are shared with all stakeholders. Current long-term forecasts show that the number of disability beneficiaries stabilizes at the current level of 800,000. The decreasing number of benefits in the employees’ scheme is compensated by an increase in the scheme for the young handicapped. These long-term forecasts have been an important input for determining the focus of the new government’s plans on disability insurance, namely to reduce the number of benefits of the young handicapped.

Take It or Leave It: Take-Up, Optimal Transfer Programs, and Monitoring

This paper studies the optimal income redistribution and optimal monitoring when disability benefits are intended for disabled people but when some able agents with high distaste for work mimic them (type II errors). Labor supply responses are at the extensive margin and endogenous take-up costs may burden disabled recipients (because of either a reputational externality caused by cheaters or a snowball effect). Under paternalistic utilitarian preferences that do not compensate for distaste for work, inactive disabled recipients should obtain strictly lower consumption than disabled workers. The cost of monitoring supports adoption of an Earned Income Tax Credit. However, and surprisingly, with or without take-up costs, even if perfect monitoring is costless, it proves optimal to have type II errors. These results are robust to a utilitarian criterion. The paper provides numerical simulations calibrated on U.S. data.

Burnout and health: expanding our knowledge

Burnout and health: expanding our knowledge

Take it or Leave it: Optimal Transfer Programs, Monitoring and Takeup

This paper studies the optimal income redistribution and monitoring when disability benefits are intended for disabled people but where some able agents with high distastes for work mimic them (type II errors). Labor supply responses are at the extensive margin and endogenous takeup costs burden disabled recipients (due to a reputational externality caused by cheaters or due to a snowball effect). Under a non-welfarist criterion which does not compensate for distaste for work, (inactive) disabled recipients get a strictly lower consumption than disabled workers. The usual conditions under which the optimal transfer program is a Negative Income Tax or an Earned Income Tax Credit are challenged, due to monitoring. We also show that even if perfect monitoring is costless, it is optimal to have type II errors. These results are robust to a utilitarian criterion. Numerical simulations calibrated on US data are provided.