The Transitional Employment Training Demonstration: Analysis of Program Impacts.

Spurred by the passage of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, the Social Security Administration is embarking on a number of return-to-work initiatives for disabled people on SSI or SSDI. Many of these programs will build on the lessons from this report, which examines the effectiveness of transitional employment services in enhancing the economic self-sufficiency of SSI recipients with mental retardation. The services examined include job placement assistance as well as time-limited on-the-job training and support services. The study found that the program services produced large increases in the extent of employment in jobs in the community (as opposed to sheltered workshops) and in earnings. Furthermore, a follow-up project noted that these earnings gains generally persisted for 6 years after enrollment. The demonstration, however, produced only small reductions in SSI benefit receipt.