Exploring How People's Characteristics, Contexts, and Life Events Predict Early Adult Participation in Supplemental Security Income

Summary

This research aims to inform those who study, develop, or provide technical assistance to programs offering employment services to young adults who are potential SSI participants. We used long-term longitudinal data for youth and young adults to determine which factors predict their later participation in SSI. Several aspects of people's lives stood out as especially predictive, including low scores on an achievement test in adolescence, fair or poor health, recent unemployment, SSI participation as a child, mother's education, and family structure.