Mathematica issued an information brief entitled, "Ticket to Work Participants: Then and Now." Created by Congress to help beneficiaries with disabilities find employment, the Ticket to Work (TTW) program was revised in 2008 to make it more attractive to employment service providers. This brief discusses how the TTW participant population has changed under the revised regulations, and examines how the regulations may have affected beneficiaries' service use, employment outcomes, and satisfaction with TTW.

MDRC released a policy brief describing an innovative program designed to target the psychological and social behaviors that contribute to pain, disability, and inactivity among veterans with disabilities. The goal is to help these veterans resume daily activities and get on a path to work.

The Center for Studying Disability Policy released an issue brief discussing the Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD). This study analyzes the interim findings of the YTD project evaluation, and the impact the project evaluation had on paid employment and earnings of youth with disabilities. The study identifies key components of the YTD project and further provides insight into the project for young people with disabilities.

The U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, released an article presenting an overview of two projects in the Social Security Administration's Youth Transition Demonstrations: California's Bridges to Youth Self-Sufficiency and Mississippi's Model Youth Transition Innovation. These programs provided transitional assistance for youth with disabilities who are entitled to Social Security benefits. Key outcomes are reported in the article, along with highlights from two youth who successfully completed the programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Campaign for Disability Employment Policy released a new video public service announcement (PSA) titled "Because." This PSA features real people with disabilities who are pursuing their goals and passions, and intends to replace myths and misperceptions about disability employment with new views of what people with disabilities can do. This campaign aims to serve as an outreach effort to promote the hiring, retention and the advancement of people with disabilities.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued Training and Employment Notice (TEN) No. 14-12, "Receiving Ticket to Work Payments as an Employment Network." The purpose of this TEN is to announce a streamlined process for the American Job Centers, State workforce agencies, and workforce investment boards to become Employment Networks (ENs) under the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket to Work (TTW) Program. The following are a few highlights from the EN Payment Agreement: 1) it simplifies and reduces paperwork for public workforce entities to become EN's, 2) it permits the use of an Individual Employment Plan to receive payment as EN's, 3) it provides two options for payments, and 4) it permits the use of electronic tools.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for low-income disabled children are back in the news. Unfortunately, the program is being subject to some sharp criticism that is based on misunderstanding of key issues related to SSI for poor children with disabilities. Discussion and debates concerning this program should be rooted in facts and data; therefore, the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities presents in this report basic facts about the program and try to clear up some significant misunderstandings.

The United States Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense's Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, launched the 2013 Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) database, a recruitment resource for employers seeking a diverse workforce that includes employees with disabilities. The database contains profiles of postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities, including veterans, representing a wide variety of academic backgrounds and degree levels. More than 20 federal government agencies regularly utilize the WRP as a recruiting source, with more than 6,500 students obtaining federal employment since 1995.

ExploreVR (vocational rehabilitation) is a web application that provides State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies easy and convenient access to a range of VR and related data for planning, evaluation, and decision-making. Overall, this data-sharing effort seeks to increase knowledge about the public VR program and its role within the larger employment and disability service system within and across States and territories.

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), through its "Pathways Initiative," is forging a vision for a transformed human service system. This policy brief is one of a series from APHSA addressing specific policies and recommendations that support the four outcome impact areas identified under their Pathways Initiative: participating in community life, earning income, reducing dependence on public benefits, and contributing to communities by becoming workers and taxpayers. This brief supports the outcome of Gainful Employment and Independence, for persons with disabilities.