National Beneficiary Survey: Disability Statistics, 2015

Employment Activity

Table 19. Employment, by program and employment status (in percent)
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.
Table 20. Employment, by age (in percent)
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
 
Table 21. Employment rates, by program and beneficiary subgroup (in percent)
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.
Table 22. Recently employed beneficiaries' employment activities, capacity, and supports, by program (in percent)
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.
Table 23. Employment activities and expectations, by program and employment status (in percent)
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.
Table 24. Employment activities and expectations, by impairment (in percent)
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.
Table 25. Employment activities and expectations, by age (in percent)
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.
Table 26. Employment-related characteristics of beneficiary subgroup (in percent)
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.