TN 7 (09-17)

The Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support (ORDES) provided a list of one million beneficiaries to Abt Associates (Abt). The list contains beneficiaries who:

1. are between the ages of 20 and 60,

2. are entitled to title II benefits based on disability,

3. never participated in a prior demonstration project (treatment or control group), and

4. reside in one of the following 10 sites according to our records, at the time of selection:

   • Atlanta Region, Area 1– State of Alabama

   • Atlanta Region, Area 2 – Southern Florida

   • Boston Region, Area 3 – Northern Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire

   • Chicago Region, Area 2 – Wisconsin

   • Chicago Region, Area 3 – Southeast Michigan

   • Dallas Region, Area 3 – Southeast Texas

   • Denver Region, Area 2 – Colorado and Wyoming

   • New York Region, Area 3 – Upstate New York

   • Philadelphia Region, Area 3 – Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland, and West Virginia

   • San Francisco Region, Area 8 – part of Southern California, Arizona

A. Two stage random assignment process

1. Stage 1 non-voluntary participants

Using the list provided by ORDES, Abt randomly assigned 80,000 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and concurrent beneficiaries to receive the $1 for $2 offset rules in April 2011. The remaining beneficiaries are in a control group or a solicitation pool for stage 2.

We do not permit changes to an assignment group.

2. Stage 2 voluntary participants

In stage 2, Abt solicited SSDI-only participants from the solicitation pool created from the original list. If the beneficiary consented to be a part of the project, Abt randomly assigned the beneficiary to one of three groups: (1) a treatment group, which receives the $1 for $2 offset; (2) a treatment group which receives the $1 for $2 offset with enhanced work incentives counseling; or (3) a control group which is subject to existing non-BOND rules. Enrollment for stage 2 ended in September 2012.

Individuals who completed the enrollment process received a $40.00 incentive payment in appreciation for their time. We will pay other incentive payments after completion of the 12-month survey ($25.00) and the 36-month survey ($45.00).

B. BOND beneficiary remains or moves out of BOND area

1. Beneficiary remains in the United States

A BOND participant or beneficiary remains eligible for the BOND project and offset even if the beneficiary no longer resides in the 10 original sites. If a BOND participant or beneficiary moves out of the 10 areas sites or into a different site, Abt provides the beneficiary with the name and phone number of his or her new BOND counselor and referral information pertinent to the move.

2. Beneficiary moves to a foreign country

If the beneficiary resides in a foreign country for more than 90 days, the beneficiary will remain a BOND participant, with the original start date of participation, but will be ineligible for the $1 for $2 offset.

3. Beneficiary returns to the United States

If, or when the beneficiary returns to the United States, the beneficiary can be eligible for the $1 for $2 benefit offset for any remaining months left in the original BOND participation period.

NOTE: Follow instructions in DI 60099.030 for beneficiaries not leaving the United States for more than 90 days. Send an MDW to L5R when a beneficiary leaves the US for a period longer than 90 days, and when he or she returns.