Disability

Federal disability programs, which provide services such as cash support, health care coverage, and direct supportive services to eligible people with disabilities, are typically limited to people under the age of 65.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation sponsored an expert meeting to advise DALTCP on policy issues and available data related to several populations of persons with disabilities: working age adults, children, persons age 65 and older, and special populations (e.g., persons with developmental disabilities, persons with mental illness).

A large minority of Americans (42.7 million or 17.2%) have disabilities, 12.7 million of whom need long-term care. About 29.7% of all people with disabilities and 5% of the entire population need long-term care.

Most adults with disabilities are in their working (not their elderly) years. According to the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation, among the civilian non-institutionalized population, 20,266,000 adults in their working years (18-64) and 15,413,000 elderly persons (65+) reported a disability.

According to the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and data from institutions, 4,536,000 children under 18 were reported as having a disability, with 4,444,500 living in the community and 91,800 residing in institutions.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The Disabled Elderly and Their Use of Long-Term Care

According to the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey, elderly persons with severe disabilities (defined as needing assistance with one or more activities of daily living) had out-of-pocket health care expenses nearly four times greater than persons without disabilities. Approximately 9% of the elderly population was categorized as having a severe disability.

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services   Disability, Health Insurance Coverage, and Utilization of Acute Health Services in the United States Executive Summary

Since 1984, a number of welfare reform proposals intended to lessen dependence on AFDC have been enacted. The current Administration is continuing to address welfare dependency. The purpose of this paper is to update results on the disability status of women of AFDC based on the 1990 SIPP with welfare reform in mind.