The Board recognizes that few children receiving SSI will become self-supporting as adults and that some youth who leave the rolls will return. In this statement, the Board highlights what has been learned about which youth receiving SSI will likely attempt work and how they might best be assisted in doing so. This is in keeping with Congress’ intent that those receiving SSI for a disability and who can attempt work should do so.
The Statement summarizes information about youth who receive SSI and how they are re-evaluated at age 18 under the adult standard of disability. It describes the services and policies designed to assist youth with disabilities who are approaching or have reached age 18. It also addresses research and demonstrations aimed at increasing work activity among this population.
The Board concluded school-based interventions, work-based learning experiences, school or community-based service integration, and interventions involving family/parent engagement may support better outcomes. The Board anticipated that results of SSA’s PROMISE demonstration would help the agency determine how people learn about and use existing services, identify factors that improve educational attainment and employment, and consider whether additional research is needed.
The Statement is included in SSA’s 2018 Annual Report on the SSI Program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 gives Board members the opportunity, individually or jointly, to include their views on SSI in SSA’s annual report to the President and Congress on the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The Board or one of its members has submitted a statement every year since 1998, except for 2024 due to the lack of a quorum.