United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-05-23 monographic deposited born digital 20 p. GA 1.13:T-HEHS-96-147 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147 P0b002ee18039dbd7 f:he96147t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147 T-HEHS-96-147 Disability insurance Vocational rehabilitation Eligibility determinations Social security benefits Handicapped persons Federal social security programs Income maintenance programs Education or training Disability benefits Beneficiaries Social Security Disability Insurance Program Supplemental Security Income Program Social Security Trust Fund Testimony HEHS GAO discussed Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program weaknesses that impede the Social Security Administration (SSA) from requiring beneficiaries to work. GAO noted that: (1) between 1985 and 1994, the combined DI and SSI beneficiary population increased 70 percent and the cost of cash benefits grew 66 percent; (2) these increases were due to eligibility expansion, program outreach, fewer continuing disability reviews, economic factors, and demographic changes; (3) the beneficiary population is growing younger, and more beneficiaries have long-term impairments; (4) the development of effective return-to-work strategies for people with severe disabilities is challenging because individuals require various levels of support, remedial training, and education; (5) technological and medical advances and economic and social changes have created more potential for some individuals with disabilities to return to work; (6) the SSI and DI benefit structure further complicates disability and work capability determinations; and (7) although SSI and DI programs offer such work incentives as trial work periods, extended eligibility, earned income exclusion, work expense subsidies, continued health insurance coverage, and reentitlement, they are not appropriately designed or implemented to motivate beneficiaries to return to work. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147/html/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147.pdf GAO/T-HEHS-96-147 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-96-147 Testimony GAO/T-HEHS-96-147; Social Security: Disability Programs Lag in Promoting Return to Work; Disability insurance Vocational rehabilitation Eligibility determinations Social security benefits Handicapped persons Federal social security programs Income maintenance programs Education or training Disability benefits Beneficiaries Social Security Disability Insurance Program Supplemental Security Income Program Social Security Trust Fund