Understanding the Recent Rise in Employment among People with Disabilities
This research study will investigate the causal role of four policies that represent especially promising potential explanations for the increase in the employment of people with disabilities: (1) the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded access to public and private health insurance for PWD; (2) state investments in Home and Community Based Services, which make available essential services and supports that may enable employment by PWD; (3) changes in state vocational rehabilitation policies, intended to expand use of supported employment services and serve previously underrepresented disability groups; and (4) the 1619(b) work incentive program, which enables SSI recipients to maintain Medicaid coverage as their earnings rise.