Disability program growth and implications for vocational rehabilitation: results from Social Security's Survey of Field Office Managers

Abstract

The Social Security Administration's Survey of Field Office (FO) Managers polled the managers of all the local Social Security Offices nationwide about the recent increase in applications for disability benefits. From managers' perspectives, local economic conditions have a significant impact on applications for disability benefits in their area, as do information and referral by welfare agencies and other sources, and financial incentives. Financial incentives to submit Social Security applications included benefits of other programs that are payable while disability applications are pending and requirements by insurance companies, or others, that a Social Security application be filed as a condition for receiving, or continuing to receive, another benefit.