PATHWAYS TO DISABILITY INCOME AMONG PERSONS WITH SEVERE, PERSISTENT PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS

Persons with psychiatric disorders comprise the largest diagnostic gro up of disabled recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and So cial Security Disability Income (SSDI) A 32-month prospective cohort s tudy of pathways to application for and receipt of SSI and SSDI was co nducted among 169 people with major psychiatric disorders who were at an early stage of their illness and who had never applied for or recei ved disability income. Of the three pathways that formed the conceptua l basis for the investigation-labeling, impairment, and needs/resource s-the latter two emerged as significantly associated with receipt. Ind ividuals with more severe symptoms who were African American, and who were psychologically dependent in a primary relationship and financial ly dependent on their families, were more likely to become recipients. Enabling and disabling aspects of disability income receipt suggest c hat it may be replacing prolonged hospitalization as the most enduring social role of persons with severe, persistent psychiatric disorders.