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