Section 13 Federal Government Spending and Employment
(6 tables in this section)This section presents statistics concerning Federal government spending and employment. Specifically, these data address Federal spending on income maintenance; housing and food assistance; health care; education, training, and employment readiness; and other programs, all for people with disabilities. This section also focuses on the number of people with disabilities and people with targeted disabilities employed by the Executive Branch, including specific data on the employment of people with disabilities and people with targeted disabilities within the departments of the Executive Branch. The principal sources of this data are “Federal Expenditures on Working-age People with Disabilities” for Fiscal Year 2008, a document produced by the Center for Studying Disability Policy, a part of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Civilian Workforce Statistics Factbook—2007 Edition.
Table 13.1 - Federal Expenditures on Income Maintenance Programs
In the Federal Fiscal Year 2008, the Social Security Administration spent $136,917,000,000 on programs for working-age individuals with disabilities. That same year, $20,113,000,000 was spent on Veterans’ Programs. Table 13.1 also lists amounts spent on Means Tested Assistance Programs for individuals with disabilities and other Federal retirement and disability compensation programs for the most recent years available.
Table 13.2 - Federal Expenditures on Housing and Food Assistance
In the Federal Fiscal Year 2008, the Federal government spent $7,821,000,000 on food assistance programs for working-age individuals with disabilities. Table 13.2 also lists amounts spent on housing assistance programs for individuals with disabilities for the most recent years available.
Table 13.3 - Federal Expenditures on Health Care Programs
In the Federal Fiscal Year 2008, the Federal government spent $13,797,000,000 on Veterans’ Programs. In the Federal Fiscal Year 2007, the Federal government spent $1,051,000,000 on Workers Compensation medical costs. Table 13.3 also lists amounts spent on Technology programs, Protection and Advocacy, and other programs for individuals with disabilities for the most recent years available.
Table 13.4 - Federal Expenditures on Education, Training, and Employment Readiness
This table lists amounts spent on Vocational Rehabilitation, Education, and other employment related programs for individuals with disabilities for the most recent years available.
Table 13.5 - Federal Expenditures on Other Services
In the Federal Fiscal Year 2008, the Federal government spent $215,000,000 on transportation services and $176,000,000 on demonstrations/systems change for people with disabilities. In the Federal Fiscal Year 2007, the Federal government spent $367,000,000 on a Social Services Block Grant for people with disabilities. Table 13.5 also lists amounts spent on Medicare and Medicaid programs and for other Federal healthcare programs for individuals with disabilities for the most recent years available.
Table 13.6 - Federal Employment of People with Disabilities and People with Targeted Disabilities (PWTD): As of September 30, 2006
As of September 30, 2006, the Executive Branch of the Federal government employed a total of 123,484 people with disabilities (6.8 of total employees) and 17,711 people with targeted disabilities (1.0 percent of total employees). The Department of Veterans Affairs had the largest percentage of their employees with disabilities (9.4 percent), while the Department of Justice had the smallest percent of their employees with disabilities (3.5 percent). The Department of the Treasury had the largest percentage of their employees with targeted disabilities (1.8 percent), while the Department of Homeland Security had the smallest percentage of employees with targeted disabilities (0.4 percent).
Federal Expenditures on Working-Age People with Disabilities—“Federal Expenditures on Working Age People with Disabilities” is a collection of tables produced by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. These tables detail the amount spent on Federal programs for people with disabilities. Some of these programs exist exclusively to serve people with disabilities (such as Social Security Disability Insurance), while other programs serve a range of individuals, including people with disabilities (such as Medicare). With the latter programs, the Federal expenditures listed in the tables are just the expenditures on people with disabilities. These tables cover the following categories of programs: Income Maintenance; Housing and Food Assistance; Health Care; Education, Training, and Employment Readiness; and other services.
Federal Civilian Workforce Statistics Factbook—The Factbook is a collection of Federal employment statistics produced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The Factbook “contains descriptive statistical information, using tables and charts, about many aspects of the Executive Branch workforce.” Specifically, the Factbook contains information on the employment of people with disabilities and people with targeted disabilities by the Federal government. This document is produced by the OPM annually, the electronic versions of which are available from 1998 through 2007. The Factbook is a compilation from many different OPM sources.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—A law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
Medicaid—Medicaid is a state administered, but federally required, program to provide health insurance to certain groups of people. States determine specific eligibility requirements, but in general low income individuals, families, children, and pregnant women are eligible for health care coverage under Medicaid. In some states, other groups (such as people with disabilities) are also eligible.
Medicare—Medicare is a Federal program that provides health care services to individuals 65 or older, individuals under age 65 with disabilities, and individuals of all ages with end stage renal failure. There are three programs within Medicare: Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), and Prescription Drug Coverage (new since January 1, 2006). Individuals pay into Part A throughout their careers, and then Part A covers that individual for hospital care. People who are eligible for Medicare have the opportunity to purchase Part B, or medical insurance that covers them for more than just hospital care.
People with Targeted Disabilities (EEOC)—People with targeted disabilities (PWTD) have a disability that is considered by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to be especially severe. These include deafness, blindness, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, convulsive disorders, mental retardation, mental illness, and distortion of limb(s) and/or spine.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—The Social Security Administration pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)—Social Security Disability Insurance is a benefit paid to disabled individuals and certain family members if they worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)—Services offered to individuals with mental or physical disabilities. These services are designed to enable participants to attain skills, resources, attitudes, and expectations needed to compete in the interview process, get a job, and keep a job. These services may also help an individual retrain for employment after an injury or mental disorder has disrupted previous employment.