Effective Dates: 09/29/2017 - Present Previous | Next

TN 7 (09-17)

DI 60099.010 Who is Eligible to Participate in BOND?

The Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support (ORDES) provided a list of one million beneficiaries to Abt Associates (Abt). The list contains beneficiaries who:

  1. 1. 

    are between the ages of 20 and 60,

  2. 2. 

    are entitled to title II benefits based on disability,

  3. 3. 

    never participated in a prior demonstration project (treatment or control group), and

  4. 4. 

    reside in one of the following 10 sites according to our records, at the time of selection:

    • •

      Atlanta Region, Area 1– State of Alabama

    • •

      Atlanta Region, Area 2 – Southern Florida

    • •

      Boston Region, Area 3 – Northern Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire

    • •

      Chicago Region, Area 2 – Wisconsin

    • •

      Chicago Region, Area 3 – Southeast Michigan

    • •

      Dallas Region, Area 3 – Southeast Texas

    • •

      Denver Region, Area 2 – Colorado and Wyoming

    • •

      New York Region, Area 3 – Upstate New York

    • •

      Philadelphia Region, Area 3 – Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland, and West Virginia

    • •

      San Francisco Region, Area 8 – part of Southern California, Arizona

A. Two stage random assignment process

1. Stage 1 non-voluntary participants

Using the list provided by ORDES, Abt randomly assigned 80,000 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and concurrent beneficiaries to receive the $1 for $2 offset rules in April 2011. The remaining beneficiaries are in a control group or a solicitation pool for stage 2.

We do not permit changes to an assignment group.

2. Stage 2 voluntary participants

In stage 2, Abt solicited SSDI-only participants from the solicitation pool created from the original list. If the beneficiary consented to be a part of the project, Abt randomly assigned the beneficiary to one of three groups: (1) a treatment group, which receives the $1 for $2 offset; (2) a treatment group which receives the $1 for $2 offset with enhanced work incentives counseling; or (3) a control group which is subject to existing non-BOND rules. Enrollment for stage 2 ended in September 2012.

Individuals who completed the enrollment process received a $40.00 incentive payment in appreciation for their time. We will pay other incentive payments after completion of the 12-month survey ($25.00) and the 36-month survey ($45.00).

B. BOND beneficiary remains or moves out of BOND area

1. Beneficiary remains in the United States

A BOND participant or beneficiary remains eligible for the BOND project and offset even if the beneficiary no longer resides in the 10 original sites. If a BOND participant or beneficiary moves out of the 10 areas sites or into a different site, Abt provides the beneficiary with the name and phone number of his or her new BOND counselor and referral information pertinent to the move.

2. Beneficiary moves to a foreign country

If the beneficiary resides in a foreign country for more than 90 days, the beneficiary will remain a BOND participant, with the original start date of participation, but will be ineligible for the $1 for $2 offset.

3. Beneficiary returns to the United States

If, or when the beneficiary returns to the United States, the beneficiary can be eligible for the $1 for $2 benefit offset for any remaining months left in the original BOND participation period.

NOTE: Follow instructions in DI 60099.030 for beneficiaries not leaving the United States for more than 90 days. Send an MDW to L5R when a beneficiary leaves the US for a period longer than 90 days, and when he or she returns.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0460099010
DI 60099.010 - Who is Eligible to Participate in BOND? - 09/29/2017
Batch run: 09/29/2017
Rev:09/29/2017