National Beneficiary Survey: Disability Statistics, 2015
Employment Activity
Activity | All beneficiaries | DI-only beneficiaries | Concurrent program beneficiaries | SSI-only beneficiaries | All employed beneficiaries |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number (unweighted) | 4,062 | 1,666 | 833 | 1,563 | 445 |
Number (weighted) | 12,896,735 | 7,347,758 | 1,944,622 | 3,604,355 | 1,064,064 |
Percentage (weighted) | 100.0 | 57.0 | 15.1 | 28.0 | 8.3 |
Has ever worked for pay | |||||
Yes | 83.2 | 93.5 | 75.3 | 66.5 | 100.0 |
No | 16.8 | 6.5 | 24.7 | 33.4 | . . . |
Employed in 2014 | |||||
Yes | 10.6 | 11.4 | 11.9 | 8.5 | 85.3 |
No or unknown | 89.4 | 88.6 | 88.1 | 91.5 | 14.7 |
Employed at interview | |||||
Yes | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 100.0 |
No | 91.7 | 91.4 | 91.2 | 92.8 | . . . |
Did not seek work in past 4 weeks | 86.0 | 87.0 | 82.5 | 85.8 | . . . |
Sought work in past 4 weeks | 5.7 | 4.4 | 8.6 | 7.0 | . . . |
NOTE: . . . = not applicable. |
Activity | All beneficiaries | Under 30 | 30–49 | 50 or older |
---|---|---|---|---|
Number (unweighted) | 4,062 | 1,049 | 2,146 | 867 |
Number (weighted) | 12,896,735 | 1,212,222 | 3,379,015 | 8,305,498 |
Percentage (weighted) | 100.0 | 9.4 | 26.2 | 64.4 |
Has ever worked for pay | ||||
Yes | 83.2 | 49.0 | 76.6 | 90.9 |
No | 16.8 | 50.9 | 23.4 | 9.1 |
Employed in 2014 | ||||
Yes | 10.6 | 23.0 | 13.4 | 7.7 |
No or unknown | 89.4 | 77.0 | 86.6 | 92.3 |
Employed at interview | ||||
Yes | 8.3 | 17.1 | 9.5 | 6.4 |
No | 91.7 | 82.9 | 90.5 | 93.6 |
Did not seek work in past 4 weeks | 86.0 | 66.0 | 81.9 | 90.6 |
Sought work in past 4 weeks | 5.7 | 16.8 | 8.5 | 3.0 |
Subgroup | All beneficiaries | DI-only beneficiaries | Concurrent program beneficiaries | SSI-only beneficiaries |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 7.2 |
Age | ||||
18–24 | 17.2 | 16.5 | 18.4 | 17.0 |
25–39 | 13.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 10.6 |
40–54 | 8.2 | 10.5 | 6.7 | 4.2 |
55 or older | 5.9 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 3.7 |
General health | ||||
Excellent or very good | 21.8 | 21.6 | 29.7 | 18.4 |
Good or fair | 9.3 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 8.3 |
Poor or very poor | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 |
Education level | ||||
Less than high school | 4.9 | 6.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
High school diploma or GED | 10.7 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 10.0 |
More than high school | 7.9 | 7.0 | 12.6 | 9.4 |
Self-reported condition causing limitation | ||||
Intellectual disability | 17.9 | 23.5 | 18.5 | 13.6 |
Sensory disorder | 5.0 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 4.8 |
Mental illness | 8.4 | 10.6 | 9.1 | 4.6 |
Musculoskeletal disorder | 4.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 1.5 |
Circulatory system disorder | 4.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 5.0 |
Age at disability onset | ||||
Under 18 | 15.8 | 22.9 | 15.1 | 12.0 |
18–24 | 10.6 | 14.1 | 6.5 | 9.5 |
25–39 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 1.5 |
40–54 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 5.6 |
55 or older | 3.0 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Difficulty with— | ||||
Getting along with others | 8.0 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 5.5 |
Concentrating | 7.5 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 5.7 |
Coping with stress | 6.7 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 4.0 |
Bathing or dressing | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Getting around outside the home | 5.9 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 4.4 |
NOTE: GED = General Educational Development certificate. |
Activity, capacity, or support | All beneficiaries | DI-only beneficiaries | Concurrent program beneficiaries | SSI-only beneficiaries |
---|---|---|---|---|
Number (unweighted) | 683 | 275 | 161 | 247 |
Number (weighted) | 1,529,385 | 905,134 | 258,262 | 365,989 |
Percentage (weighted) | 11.9 | 12.3 | 13.3 | 10.2 |
Worked fewer hours or earned less than was able | ||||
Yes | 29.2 | 32.4 | 27.6 | 22.3 |
No | 56.7 | 53.6 | 54.6 | 66.0 |
Unknown | 14.1 | 14.0 | 17.8 | 11.7 |
Reason for working fewer hours or earning less than able (among those who answered yes to the previous question) a | ||||
Wanted to keep cash benefit | 38.7 | 39.8 | 47.1 | 27.4 |
Wanted to keep Medicare or Medicaid | 42.2 | 45.0 | 46.7 | 28.3 |
Health | 27.4 | 29.6 | 31.6 | 16.0 |
Taking care of children or others | 27.1 | 23.9 | 48.1 | 20.2 |
Didn't want to work more | 13.9 | 15.1 | 11.9 | 11.3 |
Enrolled in school or training | 8.3 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 22.8 |
Other | 11.2 | 8.2 | 13.7 | 19.4 |
None indicated | 13.6 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 22.3 |
Support that could boost earnings (among recently employed) a | ||||
Better job skills | 28.0 | 23.8 | 29.6 | 37.1 |
Help finding a better job | 31.4 | 24.7 | 38.9 | 42.7 |
Flexible work schedule | 25.3 | 22.4 | 31.9 | 28.0 |
Reliable transportation to or from work | 21.9 | 18.3 | 29.4 | 25.5 |
Help with personal care | 10.1 | 9.2 | 13.9 | 9.6 |
Help caring for children or others | 8.8 | 6.5 | 14.6 | 10.5 |
Special equipment or devices | 1.5 | 1.7 | (X) | 1.5 |
Other | 8.8 | 10.5 | 8.0 | 5.0 |
None indicated | 43.8 | 46.2 | 43.7 | 37.8 |
NOTES: Recently employed refers to beneficiaries employed at interview or in 2014. | ||||
(X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals. | ||||
a. Multiple responses possible. |
Activity or expectation | All beneficiaries | DI-only beneficiaries | Concurrent program beneficiaries | SSI-only beneficiaries | All employed beneficiaries |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
One or more of the below | 48.8 | 46.4 | 54.1 | 50.8 | 100.0 |
Employment activity a | |||||
One or more of the below | 16.4 | 15.8 | 19.8 | 15.8 | 100.0 |
Working at interview | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 100.0 |
Worked in 2014 | 10.6 | 11.4 | 11.9 | 8.5 | 85.3 |
Looked for work in past 4 weeks | 5.7 | 4.4 | 8.6 | 7.0 | . . . |
Employment service and training activity a | |||||
One or more of the below | 11.4 | 9.1 | 16.2 | 13.3 | 24.1 |
Not working because waiting to finish school or training program | 2.8 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.3 | . . . |
Used employment-specific service in 2014 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 13.3 | 8.4 | 23.0 |
Used employment or other service in 2014 to get a job or to increase income | 2.9 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 10.3 |
Goal or expectation a | |||||
One or more of the below | 45.2 | 42.4 | 49.4 | 48.6 | 91.7 |
Goals include getting a job, new skills, or career advancement | 37.2 | 34.0 | 41.8 | 41.3 | 62.7 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 2 years b | 25.3 | 23.1 | 30.1 | 27.4 | 83.1 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 2 years c | 11.2 | 9.2 | 12.5 | 14.4 | 22.2 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 5 years | 28.1 | 24.2 | 34.5 | 32.8 | 65.8 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 5 years | 16.7 | 13.8 | 19.4 | 21.2 | 29.3 |
NOTE: . . . = not applicable. | |||||
a. Multiple responses possible. | |||||
b. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. | |||||
c. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. |
Activity or expectation | All beneficiaries | Beneficiaries reporting— | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Musculoskeletal impairments | Mental impairments | Intellectual disability | ||
One or more of the below | 48.8 | 39.8 | 53.4 | 50.8 |
Employment activity a | ||||
One or more of the below | 16.4 | 11.1 | 18.1 | 24.2 |
Working at interview | 8.3 | 4.4 | 8.4 | 17.9 |
Worked in 2014 | 10.6 | 6.6 | 11.7 | 20.1 |
Looked for work in past 4 weeks | 5.7 | 4.3 | 7.0 | 3.7 |
Employment service and training activity a | ||||
One or more of the below | 11.4 | 8.8 | 17.0 | 18.9 |
Not working because waiting to finish school or training program | 2.8 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
Used employment-specific service in 2014 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 14.2 | 16.2 |
Used employment or other service in 2014 to get a job or to increase income | 2.9 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
Goal or expectation a | ||||
One or more of the below | 45.2 | 35.9 | 49.1 | 45.8 |
Goals include getting a job, new skills, or career advancement | 37.2 | 28.8 | 41.0 | 41.9 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 2 years b | 25.3 | 17.8 | 24.8 | 28.5 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 2 years c | 11.2 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 4.0 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 5 years | 28.1 | 20.9 | 31.0 | 24.8 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 5 years | 16.7 | 12.4 | 16.7 | 6.6 |
a. Multiple responses possible. | ||||
b. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. | ||||
c. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. |
Activity or expectation | All beneficiaries | Under 30 | 30–49 | 50 or older |
---|---|---|---|---|
One or more of the below | 48.8 | 76.9 | 60.9 | 39.8 |
Employment activity a | ||||
One or more of the below | 16.4 | 39.0 | 21.2 | 11.2 |
Working at interview | 8.3 | 17.1 | 9.5 | 6.4 |
Worked in 2014 | 10.6 | 23.0 | 13.4 | 7.7 |
Looked for work in past 4 weeks | 5.7 | 16.8 | 8.5 | 3.0 |
Employment service and training activity a | ||||
One or more of the below | 11.4 | 26.6 | 15.0 | 7.7 |
Not working because waiting to finish school or training program | 2.8 | 10.8 | 3.3 | 1.5 |
Used employment-specific service in 2014 | 8.8 | 17.1 | 11.5 | 6.4 |
Used employment or other service in 2014 to get a job or to increase income | 2.9 | 9.2 | 4.7 | 1.3 |
Goal or expectation a | ||||
One or more of the below | 45.2 | 72.9 | 58.1 | 35.9 |
Goals include getting a job, new skills, or career advancement | 37.2 | 65.6 | 49.5 | 28.1 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 2 years b | 25.3 | 49.9 | 32.4 | 18.9 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 2 years c | 11.2 | 24.1 | 15.4 | 7.5 |
Sees self working for pay in the next 5 years | 28.1 | 57.5 | 37.9 | 19.9 |
Sees self working and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next 5 years | 16.7 | 34.1 | 23.5 | 11.4 |
a. Multiple responses possible. | ||||
b. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. | ||||
c. Previous rounds of the NBS asked if the respondent saw himself or herself working for pay and earning enough to stop receiving disability benefits in the next year. The question was changed to the next 2 years in the 2015 NBS. |
Characteristic | Work-oriented a | Used employment services in 2014 | Ever worked for pay | Disability prevents work b | Median hourly reservation wage c ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 45.2 | 8.8 | 83.2 | 90 | 10.50 |
Age | |||||
18–24 | 74.5 | 18.8 | 40.9 | 66.0 | 8.50 |
25–39 | 66.6 | 15.5 | 64.6 | 78.1 | 9.95 |
40–54 | 48.5 | 9.1 | 83.7 | 91.2 | 11.00 |
55 or older | 33.8 | 5.5 | 92.7 | 94.7 | 12.00 |
General health | |||||
Excellent or very good | 65.1 | 17.5 | 67.8 | 72.6 | 10.00 |
Good of fair | 51.2 | 8.7 | 81.1 | 88.2 | 10.00 |
Poor or very poor | 32.8 | 6.6 | 89.7 | 95.6 | 12.00 |
Education level | |||||
Less than high school | 36.8 | 5.0 | 75.6 | 92.3 | 10.00 |
High school diploma or GED | 47.5 | 9.4 | 82.2 | 89.0 | 10.00 |
More than high school | 49.9 | 11.5 | 92.1 | 89.2 | 12.02 |
Self-reported condition causing limitation | |||||
Intellectual disability | 45.8 | 16.2 | 46.8 | 92.6 | 9.00 |
Sensory disorder | 37.8 | 10.9 | 78.3 | 88.6 | 10.00 |
Mental illness | 49.1 | 14.2 | 81.9 | 90.7 | 10.50 |
Musculoskeletal disorder | 35.9 | 6.8 | 91.6 | 94.1 | 11.50 |
Circulatory system disorder | 37.3 | 7.3 | 90.1 | 96.6 | 13.00 |
Age at disability onset | |||||
Under 18 | 56.8 | 13.5 | 46.8 | 80.2 | 9.00 |
18–24 | 59.1 | 13.4 | 83.2 | 83.5 | 10.00 |
25–39 | 43.1 | 7.9 | 91.7 | 90.7 | 10.00 |
40–54 | 39.0 | 5.6 | 95.0 | 94.2 | 12.00 |
55 or older | 35.5 | 7.4 | 97.4 | 97.2 | 10.00 |
Difficulty with— | |||||
Getting along with others | 45.9 | 12.5 | 79.4 | 90.6 | 10.00 |
Concentrating | 43.7 | 9.8 | 80.6 | 91.1 | 11.00 |
Coping with stress | 44.4 | 10.6 | 81.6 | 91.5 | 10.34 |
Bathing or dressing | 33.8 | 8.0 | 81.0 | 95.1 | 11.25 |
Getting around outside the home | 39.1 | 9.9 | 79.1 | 92.4 | 11.00 |
NOTE: GED = General Educational Development certificate. | |||||
a. Work-oriented beneficiaries are those who indicated that their personal goals included getting a job, moving up in a job, or learning new job skills or who saw themselves working for pay in the next 2 years or the next 5 years. | |||||
b. Percentage among beneficiaries not working at time of interview. | |||||
c. The hourly reservation wage is the lowest hourly wage for which the respondent would be willing to work. Only nonproxy respondents who were not working at interview and were either seeking work or indicated a nonhealth reason for not working were asked the hourly reservation wage question. |