National Beneficiary Survey: Disability Statistics, 2015

Participation in Government Programs or Other Services

Table 9. Program participation, by program and employment status (in percent)
Characteristic 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
SSA program at sampling
DI-only beneficiaries 57.0 100.0 . . . . . . 59.4
Concurrent program beneficiaries 15.1 . . . 100.0 . . . 16.2
SSI-only beneficiaries 28.0 . . . . . . 100.0 24.4
Monthly SSA program benefit in month before interview
Less than $500 7.7 3.1 4.0 19.3 18.8
$500–$1,000 49.7 27.0 81.9 78.6 44.2
$1,001 or more 42.6 70.0 14.1 2.1 36.9
Average ($) 1,065.62 1,345.03 805.75 636.24 982.63
Source of income and assistance in month before interview a
SSA program benefits 95.4 97.1 97.4 90.8 87.6
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 35.5 21.2 54.5 54.6 18.2
Earnings b 6.6 7.0 7.0 5.6 73.9
Pensions 7.4 11.9 2.3 1.0 4.4
Veterans' benefits 3.4 5.1 1.1 1.0 0.8
Private disability insurance 3.0 3.9 3.3 0.9 3.0
Public cash assistance or welfare 2.1 0.2 5.2 4.3 1.9
Workers' compensation 0.9 1.5 (X) (X) 0.4
Unemployment Insurance 0.2 0.2 (X) 0.1 0.7
Other 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.9 4.0
Monthly non-SSA program benefit in month before interview
None 57.0 65.0 44.9 47.2 74.2
$1–$199 25.1 17.6 33.9 35.5 12.8
$200–$499 6.9 4.6 10.8 9.7 4.7
$500 or more 11.0 12.8 10.4 7.5 8.3
Average ($) 210.94 264.53 156.98 130.80 223.27
Months since initial SSA award
Fewer than 24 4.1 4.1 4.5 3.9 1.8
24–59 19.7 22.0 17.7 16.0 10.9
60–119 26.9 32.4 17.6 20.8 26.7
120 or more 49.0 41.3 60.1 58.7 60.4
Average 150.3 129.7 187.4 172.2 183.8
NOTES: . . . = not applicable; (X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
a. Multiple responses possible.
b. These percentages do not match those shown in other tables for beneficiaries working/employed at interview because the reference month differs.
Table 10. Service use, by program and employment status (in percent)
Type or reason All beneficiaries DI-only beneficiaries Concurrent program beneficiaries SSI-only beneficiaries All employed beneficiaries
  Beneficiaries who ever used services
Number (unweighted) 2,221 982 453 786 286
Number (weighted) 6,768,635 3,909,536 1,054,917 1,804,182 731,229
Percentage (weighted) 52.5 53.2 54.2 50.1 68.7
Service ever used a
Mental health therapy or counseling 58.1 53.2 67.5 63.2 57.1
Medical services to improve functioning 57.3 65.1 51.3 44.0 44.6
Education or schooling 12.6 10.2 14.6 16.5 21.9
Training for new skills, job, or career 13.5 12.2 22.0 11.3 25.0
  Beneficiaries who used services in 2014
Number (unweighted) 1,485 678 305 502 197
Number (weighted) 4,362,173 2,530,677 676,028 1,155,468 473,626
Percentage (weighted) 33.8 34.4 34.8 32.1 44.5
Reason for using service in 2014 a
To improve health or well-being 76.7 78.7 76.4 72.5 62.2
To improve ability to do daily activities 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.0 18.1
To find a job or get a better job 8.0 5.5 10.2 12.2 22.2
To access specific service 5.5 4.3 7.3 6.9 2.2
Pressured by someone to use 3.6 2.6 4.4 5.5 2.9
To increase income 1.7 1.0 3.6 2.1 2.2
To avoid a continuing disability review 0.5 0.5 (X) 0.6 (X)
Other 12.9 12.6 10.6 14.8 17.3
Unknown 1.3 1.0 3.2 0.9 1.9
Service used in 2014 a
Medical services 71.9 74.6 68.4 68.1 57.5
Personal counseling or group therapy 64.1 62.4 70.8 63.8 63.7
Occupational, physical, or speech therapy 34.9 36.8 32.1 32.4 30.3
Special equipment or device 30.1 33.3 27.7 24.8 19.5
Training, job modification advice, or on-the-job training 18.6 15.0 32.2 18.3 47.9
Work assessment or help finding a job 18.8 16.0 29.0 18.9 34.6
Other 4.6 5.3 5.2 2.7 3.0
NOTES: Services include any employment services, job training, medical services, or mental health services.
(X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
a. Multiple responses possible.
Table 11. Service needed but not received, by program and employment status (in percent)
Unmet need or reason All beneficiaries DI-only beneficiaries Concurrent program beneficiaries SSI-only beneficiaries All employed beneficiaries
  All 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
Service needed but not received, 2014
Yes 10.8 9.7 14.4 11.3 5.3
No 87.1 88.4 81.9 87.1 92.9
Unknown 2.1 1.9 3.6 1.6 1.8
  Beneficiaries with unmet service needs
Number (unweighted) 497 205 104 188 41
Number (weighted) 1,397,213 711,062 280,543 405,608 56,463
Reason why service was not received
Could not afford 22.8 32.6 6.4 16.8 20.4
Problems with service or agency 9.1 4.0 10.5 17.0 21.8
Wasn't eligible or request refused 12.6 11.7 16.7 11.5 5.6
Too difficult or confusing 3.8 5.9 (X) 2.3 (X)
Lack of information 17.9 12.3 22.1 24.9 14.5
Did not try to get service 1.3 (X) (X) 2.3 (X)
Other 29.8 31.1 38.9 21.3 20.0
Unknown 2.7 (X) 3.2 3.9 7.2
NOTE: (X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
Table 12. Service use, by impairment (in percent)
Type or reason All beneficiaries Beneficiaries reporting—
Musculoskeletal impairments Mental impairments Intellectual disability
  Beneficiaries who ever used services
Number (unweighted) 2,221 691 1,144 175
Number (weighted) 6,768,635 2,870,003 3,169,270 293,648
Percentage (weighted) 52.5 52.9 69.5 44.0
Service ever used a
Mental health therapy or counseling 58.1 55.6 83.4 47.7
Medical services to improve functioning 57.3 71.8 44.5 34.8
Education or schooling 12.6 11.0 15.8 15.7
Training for new skills, job, or career 13.5 8.6 13.1 26.7
  Beneficiaries who used services in 2014
Number (unweighted) 1,485 483 849 116
Number (weighted) 4,362,173 1,895,928 2,290,224 189,644
Percentage (weighted) 33.8 34.9 50.2 28.4
Reason for using service in 2014 a
To improve health or well-being 76.7 83.8 79.0 57.9
To improve ability to do daily activities 23.3 24.0 24.0 23.8
To find a job or get a better job 8.0 4.3 6.5 11.8
To access specific service 5.5 6.4 5.9 5.0
Pressured by someone to use 3.6 2.7 4.2 4.5
To increase income 1.7 1.8 1.9 (X)
To avoid a continuing disability review 0.5 0.3 0.7 0.0
Other 12.9 8.7 12.6 18.7
Unknown 1.3 1.7 1.1 3.2
Service used in 2014 a
Medical services 71.9 79.1 73.4 51.8
Personal counseling or group therapy 64.1 64.8 80.7 54.8
Occupational, physical, or speech therapy 34.9 38.1 26.8 32.5
Special equipment or device 30.1 37.8 22.8 18.7
Training, job modification advice, or on-the-job training 18.6 12.6 20.2 54.2
Work assessment or help finding a job 18.8 13.3 19.8 42.1
Other 4.6 3.7 5.4 4.1
NOTES: Services include any employment services, job training, medical services, or mental health services.
(X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
a. Multiple responses possible.
Table 13. Service use, by age (in percent)
Type or reason All beneficiaries Under 30 30–49 50 or older
  Beneficiaries who ever used services
Number (unweighted) 2,221 546 1,234 441
Number (weighted) 6,768,635 626,081 1,943,837 4,198,717
Percentage (weighted) 52.5 51.7 57.5 50.6
Service ever used a
Mental health therapy or counseling 58.1 57.1 64.6 55.2
Medical services to improve functioning 57.3 32.5 48.8 64.9
Education or schooling 12.6 30.2 17.1 7.9
Training for new skills, job, or career 13.5 22.2 15.9 11.0
  Beneficiaries who used services in 2014
Number (unweighted) 1,485 370 848 267
Number (weighted) 4,362,173 424,660 1,334,411 2,603,102
Percentage (weighted) 33.8 35.0 39.5 31.3
Reason for using service in 2014 a
To improve health or well-being 76.7 59.6 76.3 79.7
To improve ability to do daily activities 23.3 24.6 25.8 21.8
To find a job or get a better job 8.0 24.5 11.1 3.8
To access specific service 5.5 4.4 5.6 5.6
Pressured by someone to use 3.6 6.4 3.6 3.2
To increase income 1.7 3.5 2.1 1.2
To avoid a continuing disability review 0.5 1.4 1.2 0.0
Other 12.9 14.0 11.0 13.7
Unknown 1.3 3.5 1.6 0.8
Service used in 2014 a
Medical services 71.9 49.3 67.3 78.0
Personal counseling or group therapy 64.1 65.8 71.6 59.9
Occupational, physical, or speech therapy 34.9 29.8 31.0 37.8
Special equipment or device 30.1 12.9 21.9 37.2
Training, job modification advice, or on-the-job training 18.6 39.7 20.8 14.0
Work assessment or help finding a job 18.8 39.7 22.3 13.5
Other 4.6 4.7 5.2 4.3
NOTE: Services include any employment services, job training, medical services, or mental health services.
a. Multiple responses possible.