This report presents findings from a survey of 173 consumers who received services under a Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) program funded through the Social Security Administration, Utah's Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, and the state vocational rehabilitation and workforce development agencies. The program serves SSDI and SSI beneficiaries who want to learn how working will affect their cash benefits and Medicaid/Medicare coverage. It is one component of the state's WorkAbility program, which includes the state's Medicaid Buy-In, Ticket to Work, and Employment Related Personal Assistance programs.

The goal of the survey was to determine whether the BPAO program was meeting consumers' needs, if consumers felt they were more informed about how working would affect their benefits, and if the program was associated with an increase in the number of people who were employed. Among other findings, most consumers were satisfied with the services received, with those receiving more intensive services reporting greater satisfaction, and a large majority of respondents agreed that BPAO's services helped them understand how employment would affect their benefits. Although there was a 30% increase in employment, most respondents were not working. Findings indicate a need for greater outreach on WorkAbility's other programs, since relatively few BPAO consumers were making use of them.