Work-Oriented Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: Characteristics and Employment-Related Activities

This brief discusses the characteristics of working-age individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits and describes their employment success. The findings suggest that beneficiaries fall into three broad groups based on work-related efforts and expectations. For 60 percent, gainful employment seems to be neither a plan nor an option. Of the 40 percent who are interested in working, about 20 percent are actively pursuing and achieving this goal.