Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program Fact Sheet
Overview
-
The American economy needs workers, people with disabilities need work, and the Federal Treasury needs taxpayers.
-
49 million Americans have a disability.
-
Unemployment for Americans with disabilities is unacceptably high, with some estimates as high as 70%.
-
The U.S. government spends approximately $200 billion a year on public assistance for persons with disabilities, but only $2.4 billion in Federal money was invested in helping consumers with disabilities get jobs and become independent members of our society.
-
Public VR is in its 82nd year helping people with disabilities enter or return to the workplace.
-
· Public VR Program counselors provide the information and services necessary to assist people with disabilities in making informed choices about their employment and career goals.
-
Overall, 1.2 million people with disabilities are served annually by the Public VR Program.
-
Assisted 233,000 individuals with disabilities across America in entering the work force last year. These individuals will continue to earn wages and pay taxes in excess of the Federal/State investment in the Public VR Program.
-
Individuals assisted last year earned $3.4 billion in wages and paid $977 million in Federal/State/Local and Social Security and Medicare taxes.
-
Despite the Program’s success, 37 state agencies restrict the provision of services to only the individuals with the most significant disabilities due to inadequate resources.
-
Program funding for FY 2002 is $2.45 billion in Federal funding and $680 million in State matching monies, resulting in a $3.1 billion National Program.
-
· It is estimated that an additional $245 million in Federal funds in FY 2003, coupled with the State match of $52 million, would serve another. 120,000 people in all states and put another 23,000 people with disabilities to work.
-
Each state’s Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program pays for itself many times over in taxes paid and human potential realized.
