BOND Implementation and Evaluation: Third-Year Snapshot of Earnings and Benefit Impacts for Stage 1
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BOND Implementation and Evaluation: Third-Year Snapshot of Earnings and Benefit Impacts for Stage 1

Published: Apr 22, 2015
Publisher: Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, Office of Research, Demonstrations, and Employment Support
Human Services Disability Economic Well Being and Income Support Research and Evaluation Policy Analysis
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Associated Project

Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Implementation and Evaluation

Time frame: 2009-2021

Prepared for:

Social Security Administration

Authors

David Wittenburg

David R. Mann

David Stapleton

Daniel Gubits

David Judkins

Andrew McGuirk

Key Findings

Key Findings:

  • The BOND benefit offset did not have a statistically significant impact on total earnings in 2013—similar to previously reported findings for 2011 and 2012. In addition, we found no evidence of an increase in the proportion earning above the BOND Yearly Amount—the annualized substantial gainful activity amount.
  • There was a positive impact on total SSDI benefits paid in 2013. The impact on benefits paid in 2013 does not represent the impact on benefits that will be eventually paid for 2013, because the benefits paid in 2013 do not reflect retroactive adjustments made after 2013.
  • Several factors suggest that positive impacts on earnings might yet emerge, including growth in the number of treatment subjects whose benefits have been adjusted under the offset. These factors do not guarantee positive impacts at any point, however.

This report documents impacts on earnings and benefit outcomes during the third calendar year of implementation of the Social Security Administration's Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND). The report focuses on Stage 1, which is designed to examine how a national benefit offset would affect earnings and program outcomes for the entire SSDI population, and finds that the benefit offset administered under BOND did not have a statistically significant impact on total earnings in 2013.

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