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Is supported employment effective for Disability Insurance recipients with mental health conditions? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Belgium

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  • Fontenay, Sébastien
  • Tojerow, Ilan

Abstract

We conduct a randomized experiment (n = 600) to evaluate a Supported Employment (SE) program that, through intensive job coaching and follow-along support, aims to increase work activity of Belgian Disability Insurance (DI) recipients with mental health conditions. The control group gets regular vocational rehabilitation. After a 30-month follow-up period, we find that SE increases the probability of working while claiming DI by 7.5 percentage points and reduces the amount of DI benefit received by 110 euros per month (−9.5 percent).

Suggested Citation

  • Fontenay, Sébastien & Tojerow, Ilan, 2025. "Is supported employment effective for Disability Insurance recipients with mental health conditions? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Belgium," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:100:y:2025:i:c:s0167629624001036
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102958
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment support; Disability Insurance; Mental health; Randomized experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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