Disability Determination in Social Security and Veterans Affairs: A Comparative Analysis of Convergence

The Social Security Administration has experienced a substantial growth of disability beneficiaries, whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs faces a substantial backlog of disability compensation claims. Though both programs essentially replace lost income due to physical and/or mental disabilities, the literature tends to refer to the two largest federal disability programs separately. Likewise, the public conceptions of these programs and beneficiaries tend to differ significantly. While these agencies have taken steps for improvement in the disability determination process, scholars indicate the need for greater research on the interaction of disability with social policy and programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance and veterans compensation. Is there a significant relationship between the two principal federal disability cash benefit programs, and how do their policies, processes, and outcomes inform each other? In the current environment of government deficits, fiscal austerity, and cost savings initiatives, this thesis explores policy processes and program integrity, examines how benefits are being provided in accordance with the statutory definitions of disability, and analyzes the convergence of both disability programs, with implications of potential streamlined and cooperative disability determination systems.