D. Drew et al., Effects of disability compensation on participation in and outcomes of vocational rehabilitation, PSYCH SERV, 52(11), 2001, pp. 1479-1484
Objective: The authors sought to determine the relationship between receipt
of disability compensation and participants' success in a vocational rehab
ilitation program. Methods: Administrative data for 22,515 individuals who
participated hi the Veterans Health Administration compensated work therapy
program between 1993 and 1998 were analyzed. Six dependent variables were
compared between participants who were receiving disability compensation an
d those who were not: duration of participation in compensated work therapy
, number of hours worked per week, mean hourly earnings, total income from
compensated work therapy, dropout rate, and competitive employment status a
t discharge. Regression equations were determined for each dependent variab
le to assess associations with the degree of disability, the amount of disa
bility compensation, and the type of compensation program. Results: Partici
pants who were receiving disability benefits worked fewer hours in compensa
ted work therapy each week, earned less income, had a higher dropout rate,
and were less likely to be competitively employed at discharge. The amount
of compensation and the type of program were modestly but significantly ass
ociated with participation in compensated work therapy and with outcome. Co
nclusions: Unintended effects of disability compensation programs discourag
e full participation in vocational rehabilitation and result in poorer reha
bilitation outcomes.