Disability is a dynamic process that can fluctuate in breadth and severity across the life course and may or may not limit ability to work. It needs to be monitored, measured, and evaluated on a regular basis to understand the growth in the Social Security disability programs and manage them more effectively.

More people are receiving disability benefits today than ever before. The situation will get worse, not better, in light of the anticipated growth in the demands on the programs as the baby boom generation reaches the age of increased likelihood of disabilities. Major rethinking of the disability programs is required otherwise this situation will impair the ability of the Social Security Administration to meet its policy needs in the twenty-first century.

The Dynamics of Disability provides expert analysis and recommendations in key areas:

• understanding the current social, economic, and physical environmental factors in determining eligibility for disability benefits;
• developing and implementing a monitoring system to measure and track trends in work disability;
• improving the process for making decisions on disability claims;
• building Social Security's capacity for conducting needed research.

This report provides a wealth of detail on the workings of the Social Security disability program, recent and emerging disability trends, issues and previous experience in researching disability, and more. It will be of primary interest to federal policy makers, the Congress, and researchers -- and it will be useful to state disability officials, medical and rehabilitation professionals, and the disability community.