From a Request For Information (RFI) recently posted by the Social Security Administration:
The purpose of this study is to collect
information about the service, medical, and employment needs of individuals
exiting Social Security disability programs because of medical
improvement. It also serves to produce
testable policy recommendations that help the study population become
self-sufficient. This study will involve
conducting qualitative and quantitative data activities, including focus groups
and a survey, to gather information about the needs of Exiters and Possible
Exiters from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) disability programs after a determination of medical
improvement. Furthermore, this effort
will involve small-scale use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to gain more
insight about their needs and what motivation is necessary to promote work
activity among this population. The
ultimate goal of this information gathering is to identify potential
interventions and to inform policy recommendations that are likely to help
Exiters and Possible Exiters achieve sustainable, substantial employment
leading to self-sufficiency.
SSA expects to
make public all study data, subject to legal and privacy considerations. Any offeror delivering services under this
contract will not be barred from providing services for any subsequent Exits
demonstration.
The
purpose of this RFI is to obtain information, for planning purposes, regarding
(1) the availability and capability of potential sources that can provide the
required services described in the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) and (2)
to seek industry comments regarding the noted SOW.
3 comments:
If this study is done fairly, we will see if there is really medical 'improvement' or if people getting cut off are really able to re-enter the work force.
It won't be fair. In fact, they'll plan it out to be as unfair as possible to everybody involved except the agenda of the agency. One thing you can be sure of is that they specifically won't question the finding of "medical improvement" at any time.
And, it'll be a complete waste of money in the long run that otherwise could have been used for something actually productive. Why? Well, you think those beneficiaries whose benefits they are terminating will have any type of incentive whatsoever to cooperate with an agency study (especially one whose intention is to justify their termination)? Yeah, sure they will.
Looks like a smoke screen to hide the effects of the proposal that they published late last year and were swamped with negative comments. Clearly the people who put it forth have had an agenda of reducing those qualified by making the system harder and harder. This sounds like the cover to tell the public that they are concerned by possible "unintended consequences" when in fact the consequences are predictable already. Instead why don't we study the effectiveness of helping people who are starving when they are cut off and can't find a job?
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