Economic Outcome of Employment for Older Participants in Rehabilitation Services Funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration

The purpose of this study was to determine if persons who were age 65 or older and who participated in vocational rehabilitation programs funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) experienced an increase in earnings from paid employment at the conclusion of services. Preservice and postservice earnings for 9,787 consumers of RSA services who were age 65 or older, had a disability, and had cases closed as rehabilitated (Status 26) or as not rehabilitated (Status 28) in the year 2002 were examined. The authors found that 33.4% of participants had cases closed as not rehabilitated, 34% had cases closed as rehabilitated to unpaid work, and 32.6% had cases closed as rehabilitated to paid employment. Participants who achieved employment at the time of case closure had an average earnings increase from paid work of $4,990 a year.