Health and Labor Markets: Exploring Short and Long-term Income Support Programs

Monday, June 13, 2016: 8:30 AM-10:00 AM
G50 (Huntsman Hall)
Chair:
Marguerite Burns

Cash assistance for adults with disabilities and paid sick leave for employees with acute illnesses provide income support for individuals when they are unable to work. However, these programs can also create work disincentives resulting in potentially avoidable costs for public payers and employers. In this session, the panelists examine factors that contribute to receipt of long-term income support for disability, and the consequences of short-term income support -- through paid sick leave-- on productivity. In the first paper, the authors assess the relative value of health insurance coverage and cash benefits on participation in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program by evaluating the effects of decoupling Medicaid eligibility from SSI eligibility. In the second paper, the authors estimate the effects of labor market conditions over a twenty-year period on participation in the Social Security Disability Insurance program including applications, allowances and denials. The final paper evaluates the effects of paid sick leave on absenteeism.

8:30 AM
The effect of expanding Medicaid eligibility on SSI program participation

Author(s): Marguerite Burns; Laura Dague

Discussant: Kathryn L. Wagner

8:50 AM
The effect of labor market conditions on disability applications and awards

Author(s): Nicole Maestas; Kathleen J Mullen; Alexander Strand

Discussant: Thomas DeLeire

9:10 AM
Paid sick leave and absenteeism: The first evidence from the U.S

Author(s): Aaron Yelowitz; Tom Ahn

Discussant: Lauren Hersch Nicholas