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HEHS-96-109R 1 (1996-03-20)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaclch0001 and id is 1 raw text is: GAO United States General Accounting Office Washington, D.C. 20548 Health, Education and Human Services Division B-271373 March 20, 1996 The Honorable William V. Roth, Jr. Chairman, Committee on Finance United States Senate Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter responds to your request for information regarding the linkage between the earnings limit for Social Security retirees and the earnings limit to determine eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) for individuals who are blind, and whether the legislative rationale for a higher earnings limit for individuals who are blind than for individuals who have other disabilities is warranted. This linkage is predicated on an assumption of greater adverse employment experiences for individuals who are blind than for persons who have other disabilities. In response to your request, we examined the history of differences between the amount of earnings used to indicate the ability to work for DI beneficiaries who are blind and for beneficiaries who have other disabilities. Specifically, we focused our work on (1) the legislative history of statutory differences in the treatment of blindness and other disabilities, and (2) identified readily available information about the costs and employment experience of people who are blind and individuals who have other disabilities. To develop this information, we reviewed legislative documents, Social Security Administration (SSA) published reports, and research literature. Further, we conducted interviews with representatives of, and collected documentation where possible from, a number of organizations involved with issues affecting people with disabilities (see enclosure). We conducted our work in March 1996, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. We found that the legislative rationale regarding the different earnings limit for blind and nonblind DI beneficiaries is based on the assumption that certain adverse economic consequences associated with blindness are unique--including high job-related costs and unemployment. However, such experiences do not appear to be GAO/HEHS-96-109R DI Substantial Gainful Activity Levels

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