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Panelists: Benefit "cliff" discourages some people with disabilities from taking jobs
Summary
Speakers at a meeting said fear, confusion and the math of lost benefits can make increased earnings unattractive for people receiving public disability supports; they urged clearer rules and simplification for employers and beneficiaries.
Speakers at a meeting discussed how the "benefit cliff"—the point at which small increases in earnings lead to large reductions in public benefits—discourages some people with disabilities from accepting work or taking on more hours.
Panelists said the effect is driven by both fear and simple arithmetic: beneficiaries sometimes face a net loss or negligible gain in income when benefits are reduced, and they also receive mixed or unclear guidance from agencies. That combination, speakers said, can keep people from pursuing employment or promotions.
"Fear is definitely part of it. There's no…
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