Youth with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) face substantial barriers to economic independence in transitioning to adult life. The barriers are related to their health status, social isolation, service needs, and potential loss of disability benefits.

Jacqueline Kauff
- Evaluating programs for hard-to-employ welfare recipients and individuals living with disabilities
- Programs designed to increase access among low-income families to public assistance benefits
- Disability
- Economic Well Being and Income Support
- Early Childhood
- TANF and Employment Issues
- Nutrition
- Nutrition and Food Assistance Programs
- Human Services
- Health
Jacqueline Kauff specializes in evaluating programs for hard-to-employ welfare recipients and individuals living with disabilities, as well as programs designed to increase access to public assistance benefits among low-income families.
Kauff, who joined Mathematica in 1996, is directing an evaluation of strategies to increase access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits among the elderly and is leading the process analysis of an evaluation designed to promote positive educational and employment outcomes among youth receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and their families. She also directs a study of the current state of knowledge about the psychological processes that influence the development and attainment of goal-oriented skills in adults and the strategies that can support goal-directed behaviors in workforce programs.
Kauff’s past work includes directing an evaluation of an initiative to increase access to SSI among homeless individuals with disabilities, as well as a study of web-based tools and outreach efforts to expand access among low-income populations to range of public benefit programs.
Kauff frequently presents research findings to policy, practitioner, and professional groups. She holds an M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania.