Section 823 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 requires SSA to carry out the Promoting Opportunity Demonstration (POD) to test a new benefit offset formula for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. Therefore, SSA is undertaking POD, a demonstration to evaluate the affect the new policy will have on SSDI beneficiaries and their families in several critical areas: (1) employment, (2) benefits, (3) earnings, and (4) income (earnings plus benefits). Under current law, Social Security beneficiaries lose their SSDI benefit if they have earnings or work activity above the threshold of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The POD evaluation will draw on previous lessons from related work incentive experiences, especially SSAâs Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND), 0960-0785, which tested a different offset formula. POD tests a different policy than BOND in two important ways: (1) A lower threshold at which point the offset is applied â increasing the likelihood of reducing benefit expenditures relative to current law expenditures; and (2) A more immediate adjustment to the benefits â to increase the salience and clarity of the offset policy for beneficiaries. The POD will test a benefit offset that will reduce benefits by $1 for every $2 in participantsâ earnings above the POD threshold, gradually reducing benefits as earnings increase. The POD threshold will equal the greater of (1) an inflation adjusted trial work period level ($840 in 2017); or (2) the amount of the participantâs itemized impairment-related work expenses up to SGA. The new rules we will test in POD also simplify work incentives and we intend them to promote employment and reduce dependency on benefits.
The design for POD will include implementation and evaluation activities designed to answer seven central research questions:
⢠What are the impacts of the two POD benefit designs on beneficiariesâ earnings, SSDI benefits, and total earnings and benefit income?
⢠Is POD attractive to beneficiaries? Do they remain engaged over time?
⢠How were the POD offset policies implemented, and what operational, systemic, or contextual factors facilitated or posed challenges to administering the offset?
⢠How successful were POD and SSA in making timely benefit adjustments, and what factors affected timeliness positively or negatively?
⢠How do the impacts of the POD offset policies vary with beneficiary characteristics?
⢠What are the costs and benefits of the POD benefit designs relative to current law, and what are the implications for the SSDI trust fund?
⢠What are the implications of the POD findings for national policy proposals that would include a SSDI benefit offset?
The public survey data collections have four components â a process analysis, a participation analysis, an impact analysis, and a cost-benefit analysis. The data collections are the primary source for data to measure the effects the benefit offset on SSDI beneficiariesâ work efforts and earnings. Ultimately, these data will benefit researchers, policy analysts, policy makers, SSA, and the state vocational rehabilitation agencies in a wide range of program areas. There are four targeted outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries under POD: (1) increased employment and earnings; (2) decreased benefits payments; (3) increased total income; and (4) impacts on other related outcomes (for example, health status and quality of life). Additionally, four outcomes of interest for system changes include: (1) reduction in overpayments; (2) enhanced program integrity; (3) stronger culture of self sufficiency; and (4) improved SSDI trust fund balance. Respondents are SSDI beneficiaries, who will provide written consent before agreeing to participate in the study and before we randomly assign them to one of the study treatment groups.
This is a non-substantive Change Request to make minor revisions to the IRWE Monthly Reporting form.
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.
POD End of Year (EOYR) Form - Online
Justification for a Non-Substantive Changes - 0809.docx
POD End of Year (EOYR) Form - Online