Implementation and impacts of the Substantial Gainful Activity Project demonstration in Kentucky

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Project demonstration tested innovations to improve the employment of nonblind vocational rehabilitation (VR) clients receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. OBJECTIVE: We describe the SGA Project model components, the implementation experience in Kentucky, and the impact of the innovations on VR service and employment outcomes. METHODS: The evaluation used information from site visits and VR administrative data. We estimated impacts by comparing the outcomes of SSDI-only clients who applied for services at randomly assigned offices that implemented the SGA Project innovations to those who applied at other offices. RESULTS: Participants did not consistently receive all components of the innovations. Nevertheless, the innovations led to a 17 percentage-point increase in clients with a signed individualized plan for employment within 30 days of application, an 8 percentage-point increase in closures with competitive employment, and nearly 6 percentage-point increase in the number of clients with earnings at or above the SGA level. CONCLUSIONS: The early, positive impacts on key outcomes suggest the SGA Project innovations could hold promise for other VR agencies and for a broader set of VR clients. The evaluation illustrates the potential for random assignment demonstrations to test innovations in VR service delivery.