Overview
Policy researcher; co-author of Anand and Ben-Shalom (2016), which used SSA administrative data to map the 10-year milestone paths of new DI and SSI awardees. Also co-author of Stapleton, Ben-Shalom, and Mann (2019) on employment/eligibility services system design.
Key Contributions / Features
- Beneficiary pathway analysis (Anand and Ben-Shalom 2016): Documented that 80% of DI-first awardees reach no milestones beyond initial award, death, or FRA within 10 years; established quantitative baseline for work-exit rates (3.1% sustained), medical recovery rates (2.2%), and DI–SSI crossover patterns. See Disability Insurance Program and DI Beneficiary Mortality.
- Return-to-work milestone analysis (Ben-Shalom and Mamun 2013): Tracked 4.2 million DI awardees 1996–2004 through four milestones; only 5.2% achieved STW within five years; age at award and impairment type are the dominant predictors; ALJ award reduces return-to-work by 3–4 pp. See DI Return-to-Work Milestones.
- SSI longitudinal statistics (Ben-Shalom and Stapleton 2012; Ben-Shalom et al. 2012): 6-year tracking of 2001 SSI adult cohort: 9.8% NSTW in ≥1 month vs.
2% cross-sectional (4× gap); steep age gradient (18–19 → 19.2%, 50–61 → 3.7%); 46.9% of 1619(b) months involved simultaneous DI receipt. Full 11-year tracking of 1996 cohort (full report): 11.9% ever in 1619(b) (6× gap); ~40% ever received DI by year 11; 28.1% employed in ≥1 year (same as DI 1996 cohort); under-40 awardees = 78.1% of all 1619(b) months; 77% of eventual activity within first 5 years. Cross-state correlation between service enrollment and NSTW years r = 0.75. See DI Return-to-Work Milestones.
- Young awardee composition (Ben-Shalom and Stapleton 2013): Documented compositional shift in young (age 18–39) SSD awardees 1996–2007: DAC share 13% → 20%; SSI-as-child DW 1% → 9%; paradox that former SSI children are the most work-oriented subgroup despite greatest disadvantage. See Disabled Adult Children Program.
Related
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