Predicting rehabilitation outcome for supplemental security income and social security disability income recipients: implications for consideration with the ticket to work program

Journal of Rehabilitation,  July-Sept, 2005  by Jackie B. Rogers,  Malachy Bishop,  Ralph M. Crystal

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Results indicate that those who received job placement services are over three times more likely to secure employment than those individuals who did not receive placement services. These results are consistent with other studies (Hennessey & Muller, 1995, Hayward & Schmidt-Davis, 2003) and support the need to emphasize such services in rehabilitation delivery.

We recognize and emphasize that the combination and types of services provided to VR consumers must be, first and foremost, based upon the individual consumer's needs. With this in mind, it must also be recognized that vocational rehabilitation has traditionally had as its primary focus a goal-directed objective of competitive employment for individuals with disabilities. Therefore, it would appear that the provision of job placement services would be appropriate in the majority of cases. The findings of this and other studies (Hayward & Schmidt-Davis. 2003; Hennessey & Mullaer, 1995), however, reveal that the vast majority of consumers do not receive job placement services.

Failure to provide job placement services could be a result of several factors. First, the consumer may not have a vocational goal of competitive employment, e.g. homemaker or unpaid family worker. Second, large counselor caseloads may preclude or impair the ability to provide job placement services that can be quite time consuming. Third, counselors may lack appropriate training in the provision of job placement services. Fourth, if counselors contract for job placement services, budgetary constraints may prevent referrals to contractors.

Job placement services may be provided to consumers by the counselor, an in-house job-placement counselor, another public agency, or a private contractor. In the case of SSI or SSDI recipients, job placement services can also be obtained through private rehabilitation agencies that are registered with the Ticket to Work program. Based upon the current study's findings, rehabilitation agencies that are participating in the Ticket to Work program may wish to consider a proactive approach to job placement to maximize successful employment outcomes.

Limitations of the Study

Nine variables, including six services accounted for approximately 14% of the variance. Fourteen percent is a relatively low figure and consideration must be given to other confounding variables not addressed. The variables considered were restricted to those variables outlined in the RSA data and did not include possible contributing factors of VR office characteristics, counselor-client relationships, urban versus rural consumer locales, community resources, or psychosocial characteristics of consumers. These factors could impact the likelihood of successful employment and are beyond the scope of the current study.

Additionally, the current study was limited to individuals who receive SSI or SSDI benefits and may not be representative of rehabilitation clients in general. In other words, individuals who receive disability benefits may be more or less inclined to actively pursue competitive employment than individuals who do not receive disability income benefits.