Employment and Earnings Growth Among Transition-Age Supplemental Security Income Program Participants

This article examines factors that influence employment and earnings growth for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who have participated in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. Using hierarchical linear and nonlinear modeling (HLM), the authors examined the employment status of these individuals 2 years after exiting the VR program by using state-level economic and VR agency factors, as well as such individual-level factors as demographics, disabilities, and service types. HLM also was used to examine earnings growth among SSI beneficiaries who sustained employment for 5 years after exiting VR. Findings showed that SSI participants with mental retardation exhibited the highest odds of employment among other disability groups 2 years after exiting the VR program. College or university training and job placement services decreased the odds of employment, whereas supported employment demonstrated increased odds. For SSI participants with sustained employment, African American VR consumers showed higher earnings when compared to other race groups. Among selected VR services, only college or university training was positively associated with earnings growth over time. The authors discuss these and other state-level findings in the context of prior and future research, practice, and policies.