This page is optimized for a taller screen. Please rotate your device or increase the size of your browser window.

Lessons from SSA Demonstrations for Disability Policy and Future Research

Editors: Austin Nichols, Abt Global; Jeffrey Hemmeter and Debra Goetz Engler, U.S. Social Security Administration

Book

November 24, 2021

The Social Security Administration (SSA) and Abt engaged 30 disability researchers to synthesize the lessons from three decades of demonstration research on disability policy. We convened a State of the Science Meeting on June 15, 2021, attended by more than 400 policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders. Leading disability and social policy researchers presented and discussed findings from the commissioned papers, highlighting lessons from SSA’s demonstrations and directions for the future research. Abt published recordings of the meeting proceedings on the event microsite.

The Abt published book, Lessons from SSA Demonstrations for Disability Policy and Future Research, is available for purchase here and from other booksellers.

Learn more about the project.


Volume Table of Contents:

Editors: Austin Nichols, Abt Global; Jeffrey Hemmeter and Debra Goetz Engler, U.S. Social Security Administration

Foreword
Kilolo Kijakazi, Social Security Administration

Chapter 1
An Introduction to Disability Policy and SSA’s Demonstrations
Austin Nichols and Jeffrey Hemmeter

Chapter 2
Design of Social Security Administration Demonstration Evaluations
Burt S. Barnow, The George Washington University; David H. Greenberg, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus
Comment by Jesse Rothstein, University of California, Berkeley
Comment by Jack Smalligan, The Urban Institute

Chapter 3
Improving the Use of Demonstrations
Robert R. Weathers II, Social Security Administration; Austin Nichols
Comment by Jonah B. Gelbach, University of California, Berkeley
Comment by Elizabeth H. Curda, US Government Accountability Office

Chapter 4
The Return to Work in Disability Programs: What Has Been Learned and Next Steps
Jesse Gregory, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Robert A. Moffitt, Johns Hopkins University
Comment by Hilary Hoynes, University of California, Berkeley
Comment by Kathleen Romig, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Chapter 5
Demonstration Evidence of Early Intervention Policies and Practices
Kevin Hollenbeck, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Comment by Jeffrey B. Liebman, Harvard University
Comment by Jennifer Sheehy, US Department of Labor

Chapter 6
Youth Transition
David Wittenburg and Gina Livermore, Mathematica
Comment by Lucie Schmidt, Williams College
Comment by Manasi Deshpande, The University of Chicago
Comment by Jennifer Sheehy

Chapter 7
An Overview of Current Results and New Methods for Estimating Heterogeneous Program Impacts
Till von Wachter, University of California Los Angeles
Comment by Howard H. Goldman, University of Maryland
Comment by Nick Hart, The Data Foundation

Chapter 8
Benefits Counseling and Case Management
Vidya Sundar, University of New Hampshire
Comment by John Kregel, Virginia Commonwealth University
Comment by Leslynn R. Angel, Michigan United Cerebral Palsy

Chapter 9
Lessons from Implementation
Michelle Wood, Abt Global; Debra Goetz Engler
Comment by David Stapleton, Tree House Economics
Comment by Calvin Johnson, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Appendix
Demonstration Descriptions
Sarah Prenovitz, Abt Global; Austin Nichols


Suggested citation: Nichols, Austin, Jeffrey Hemmeter, and Debra Goetz Engler. 2021. Lessons from SSA Demonstrations for Disability Policy and Future Research. Rockville, MD: Abt Press.

Focus Areas