Research Report Impact of Federal Policies on an Aging Workforce with Disabilities
Richard W. Johnson
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This review of federal policy toward older workers with disabilities highlights the work disincentives built into the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) system. For example, DI does not pay benefits or provide rehabilitation services until workers are fully disabled, by which time intervention is often too late to promote employment. Because partial benefits are unavailable, DI beneficiaries risk losing all cash benefits (and eventually Medicare coverage) by earning just a dollar more than the earnings limit, reducing the use of DI work supports. Rules governing Social Security retirement, Medicare, and phased retirement also discourage employment by older adults with disabilities.

Research and Evidence Health Policy Work, Education, and Labor Tax and Income Supports
Expertise Workforce Development Labor Markets Health Care Coverage, Costs, and Access Aging and Retirement
Tags Social Security Older workers Disability and long-term care Pensions Disabilities and employment Health insurance Retirement policy Disability equity policy Dynamic Simulation of Income Model 4 (DYNASIM4)