Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Implementation and Evaluation

Last registered on December 30, 2013
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Implementation and Evaluation
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0000186
First published
December 30, 2013, 3:10 PM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
David Wittenburg
Affiliation
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Noelle Denny-Brown
PI Affiliation
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
PI Name
David Stapleton
PI Affiliation
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2009-12-07
End date
2018-12-06
Keywords
Health
Additional Keywords
Disability/Social Security
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has contracted with a team led by Abt Associates Inc. including Mathematica Policy Research to implement and evaluate the Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND), an important new policy initiative for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. This project provides funding for Mathematica to assist Abt Associates with design, implementation, and evaluation of the project. The project was implemented in 2011. BOND is testing different program variants for current SSDI beneficiaries in 10 locations around the country. In the models to be tested, benefits gradually will be reduced when the beneficiary has earnings over a specific amount, instead of being cut to $0 (as under current law). Those who earn less than that specific amount will receive the same benefit as under current law. One model will test enhanced work incentives counseling combined with the benefit offset, along with information and referral to employment supports.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Denny-Brown, Noelle, David Stapleton and David Wittenburg. 2013. "Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Implementation and Evaluation." AEA RCT Registry. December 30. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.186-1.0
Former Citation
Denny-Brown, Noelle, David Stapleton and David Wittenburg. 2013. "Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Implementation and Evaluation." AEA RCT Registry. December 30. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/186/history/783
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2011-01-01
Intervention End Date
2018-12-06

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Impacts of the program interventions on employment, SSDI benefits, beneficiary well-being, and other outcomes.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The program variants to be tested in BOND are being rigorously evaluated. SSDI beneficiaries in the 10 SSA area offices were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) a group that is notified that they are eligible for a benefit offset if they return to work, or (2) a group that can enroll in one of the program variants, or (3) a control group that—while not eligible for these changes—will remain eligible for SSDI benefits and services under existing program rules. Impacts of the program interventions on employment, SSDI benefits, beneficiary well-being, and other outcomes will be estimated by measuring differences in outcomes between the program and control groups. The operation of the program variants and their costs to federal, state, and local governments—as well as any cost savings and additional revenues—will also be evaluated. The evaluation will use data from surveys of program and control group members, SSA and other administrative records, and other information sources.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
10 large demonstration sites were selected using a randomized process that was designed to ensure that the sites would be nationally representative. With only minor exceptions, all SSDI beneficiaries age 20 to 59 in those sites were included in the demonstration’s samples. Those eligible were assigned at random to a Stage 1 group that will receive the offset, a Stage 1 control group, or a pool that was solicited as volunteers for Stage 2. Stage 2 volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups or a Stage 2 control group. Some of these groups were offered the opportunity to receive the offset and counseling services from the demonstration, while others continued under current law as a research control group.
Randomization Unit
Individual randomization into clusters/groups.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
10 SSA area offices
Sample size: planned number of observations
~12,600 beneficiaries
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
~4,800 beneficiaries receiving benefit offset only
~3,000 beneficiaries receiving benefit offset + enhanced counseling
~4,800 beneficiaries control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials