Program Development & Research - Social Security Online

Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD)



YTD projects are operating in six States. Three of these projects are from the group of seven original YTD projects that began in September 2003; three are new projects that began full implementation in April 2008.

The YTD projects developed service delivery systems to assist youths with disabilities to successfully transition from school, which may include post-secondary education, to employment and economic self-sufficiency. The projects established partnerships to improve employment outcomes for youths aged 14-25 who receive SSI or SSDI payments based on their own disability, as well as youths at risk of receiving such benefits. The projects provide a broad array of transition-related services and supports to youth participants.

 

What States/Locations are involved?

Current: Colorado, Florida, New York (two projects), Maryland, and West Virginia Previous: California, Iowa, Maryland (one project), Mississippi, Vermont, and Washington

How does it work?

The YTD project staff members provide a broad array of transition-related services and supports to participants.

By waiving certain disability program rules and offering services to youth, the staff encourages youth to work and/or continue their education. Services include:

  • Individualized work-based experiences,
  • Youth empowerment and family supports,
  • System linkage facilitation services,
  • Social and health services, and
  • Benefits counseling.
We awarded a national evaluation contract to Mathematica Policy Research in September 2005. The Colorado, Florida, New York (two projects), Maryland, and West Virginia projects use a random assignment model. We will follow participants from these projects for at least four years after we recruit them into the study. We will use a variety of data sources, surveys of youth, and interviews with project staff to determine whether the intervention led to increased earnings or increased enrollment in postsecondary education for the participants.

The evaluation uses a random assignment design, which is like a lottery or picking names out of a hat. We randomly choose eligible youth either to receive YTD services or to be in the control group that will remain eligible for non-YTD services in the community. Any differences in outcomes that emerge may be attributable to the intervention.


What are SSA's Expectations?

The YTD is generating empirical evidence, based on both process and random-assignment evaluations, on the impacts of SSI waivers and enhanced coordination of services for youth with disabilities. Under this project, SSA is testing the effectiveness of altering certain SSI rules as an incentive to encourage beneficiaries to initiate work or increase their work activity and to increase their earnings.

 

For more information

If you are interested in additional information, please visit:
YTD Help (http://www.ytdhelp.info)  [Disclaimer]
YTD Project Descriptions (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/ytdprojects.htm)