B. Degree of disability limits employment
Table 24 rank orders, from highest to lowest, the factors limiting respondents’ ability to work based on frequency of the items most strongly agreed upon. Respondents were most often limited in their ability to work due to a disability or condition. Other salient factors that serve as barriers to work include the inability to receive health insurance and the loss of Medicaid benefits covering Personal Care Assistance Services, prescription drug coverage, and other medical or personal benefits. A moderate amount of respondents reported not having the adequate skills required to re-enter the job force and that it was difficult to receive the vocational rehabilitation services they needed.
Table 24: Factors limiting respondents’ ability to work.
|
|
StronglyAgree |
SomewhatAgree |
SomewhatDisagree |
StronglyDisagree |
|
I am limited in my ability to work because of my disability or health problems |
189 (90%) |
16 |
0 |
6 |
|
I have a condition that will affect my ability to work. |
151 (76%) |
34 |
4 |
9 |
|
I can’t get health insurance at a job because of my disability. |
115 (65%) |
26 |
13 |
24 |
|
If I work for pay, it will be hard to earn enough money for Personal Care Assistance. |
112 (61%) |
27 |
23 |
21 |
|
I will not be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid if I return to work. |
109 (60%) |
31 |
22 |
20 |
|
Unless a job offers prescription coverage, I can’t afford to take it. |
108 (58%) |
32 |
20 |
25 |
|
Working for pay will affect my ability to keep my Personal Care Assistance. |
105 (57%) |
45 |
15 |
20 |
|
It is too hard to re-qualify for my benefits. |
98 (55%) |
40 |
16 |
23 |
|
I don’t have adequate skills or training to return to work. |
93 (50%) |
38 |
18 |
38 |
|
I feel comfortable disclosing my disability to an employer. |
80 (45%) |
40 |
23 |
35 |
|
It is difficult to get the vocational rehabilitation services I need. |
74 (40%) |
52 |
31 |
27 |
|
I have the necessary skills to be resilient when there is a major setback or change in my life. |
45 (25%) |
51 |
32 |
52 |
|
Unless a job offers mental health coverage, I can’t afford to take it. |
45 (25%) |
34 |
42 |
60 |
