Currently, Social Security Disability
(SSDI) beneficiaries lose their entire SSDI benefit if they have
earnings and/or work activity above the threshold of Substantial
Gainful Activity (SGA). This feature of the benefit design is often
known as "the cliff." The benefit offset component of the
demonstration will allow earnings above this level, reducing
benefits by $1 for each additional $2 earned, thereby eliminating
the "cliff" currently in effect. The experimental design for BOND
will test a benefit offset alone and in conjunction with enhanced
work incentives counseling. The central research questions concern:
What is the effect of the benefit offset alone on employment and
other outcomes? What is the effect of the benefit offset in
combination with enhanced work incentives counseling, on employment
and other outcomes? The evaluation will use an experimental design
(with random assignment) to measure these effects. Random
assignment will take place at two levels, Stage 1 and Stage 2. Each
level will create a current law control group to compare to one or
more treatment group. The proposed survey data collection is the
primary source for data to measure the effects of a more generous
benefit offset and the provision of enhanced work incentives
counseling on the work effort and earnings of SSDI beneficiaries.
Ultimately, these data will benefit researchers, policy analysts,
policy makers and the United States Congress in a wide range of
program areas. The effects of BOND on the wellbeing of SSDI
beneficiaries could manifest themselves in many dimensions and
could be relevant to an array of other public programs. This
project offers the first opportunity to obtain reliable measures of
these effects. The long-term indirect benefits of this research are
therefore likely to be substantial. Respondents are SSDI
beneficiaries.
Since we last cleared this
information collection request in 2011, we increased the public
reporting burden. Upon completion of the enrollment of the Stage 2
beneficiaries, we noticed our Stage 2 outreach efforts were more
successful than originally estimated. As a result, we enrolled
12,954 beneficiaries into the study. The increase in burden shown
in #12A above is due to the overall increase in Stage 2 enrollment.
While we are reporting a larger number of total burden hours for
the Stage 2 survey efforts (participation agreement, baseline,
interim and follow-up surveys), we are basing the increase solely
on total sample size. There is no change to the burden estimates
for an individual respondent.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Addendum - 0785.docx
Supporting Statement Part B - 0785.doc
Stage 1 First Contact Letter Survey