Pathways: 

Social Security Disability Insurance Employment Pilot (SSDI-EP) 

Are You a Person with a Disability Who Wants to Work and Earn More Money?

The Wisconsin Social Security Disability Insurance Employment Pilot (SSDI-EP)  addresses one of the paramount policy barriers affecting individuals with disabilities interested in pursuing economic self-support through employment.  

Currently, SSDI beneficiaries who want to test their ability to work and earn at higher levels are often prohibited from doing so by the all or nothing “cash cliff” imposed through existing policy.  This pilot directly eliminates the current “cash cliff” by allowing SSDI beneficiaries to work and earn above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) ($980/month in 2009).

Rather than an immediate end to the benefit, participants in the intervention group will experience a gradual decline in their SSDI cash payment as their earnings increase. For every $2.00 earned above SGA these participants will experience a $1.00 decrease in their SSDI payment rather than losing their entire cash benefit. This is critical for individuals with disabilities who want to work more, but cannot afford to immediately lose their entire cash benefit.

Want to learn more?

1. How do I get into the study?
Enrollment ended as of October 31st, 2006. Call us at 1-866-278-6440 if you have any questions.

2. What is a “benefit offset”?
The “benefit offset” allows participants to keep part of their Social Security payment when they work and increase their earnings instead of having to choose an all or nothing cash benefit.

3. What do participants get?
People who enrolled were placed in one of two groups. One group receives a "benefit offset" in addition to being eligible to receive benefits counseling and employment service coordination. The other group has access only to benefits counseling and employment service coordination.

4. How long does the study last?
Ongoing access to the "benefit offset" varies based on individual benefit situations and participants can op out at any time, they simply need to notify us. Data collection for the study effectively ended December 31st, 2008.

Additional Pilot Information:

List of SSDI Employment Pilot Agencies Information on the agencies providing benefits counseling and employment coordination supports to participants.

Four State Benefit Offset Website (exit DHFS) 
The four state benefit offset website provides information on the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Employment Pilot and the four states; Connecticut, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin that  currently operate the pilot.

Wisconsin SSDI Employment Pilot, Phase out Plan (PDF, 25 KB) 

Wisconsin SSDI Pilot Report, Year Three (PDF, 228 KB) 

Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to run a study similar to the pilot but on a national scale in the near future. For more information, please visit http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/offsetnational2.htm (exit DHFS)