National and State Trends in autistic Adult Supplemental Security Income Awardees: 2005-2019.

This study looked at government disability payments (SSI) for autistic adults from 2005-2019. It found that more autistic adults received these payments over time, while payments for other mental health conditions went down. Most autistic adults who got payments were between 18-25 years old, and different states showed different patterns. This suggests more young autistic people need financial support as they become adults.

This study analyzed Social Security Administration data from 2005-2019 to examine trends in adult Supplemental Security Income (SSI) awards for autistic individuals compared to those with intellectual disabilities and other mental health conditions. The research revealed that while SSI awards for other mental health disorders declined, awards for autistic adults increased substantially during this period. Nearly 90% of autistic adult awardees were between ages 18-25, suggesting transitions from pediatric to adult services. State-level variations in award growth patterns were observed, indicating geographic disparities in program participation.

The findings highlight the growing recognition of autism in adult disability support systems and the need to understand underlying factors driving these trends.

Results suggest need for improved transition planning for young autistic adults entering the disability support system. Geographic variations indicate potential inequities in access to services or assessment practices that may require policy attention and standardization across states.

The abstract does not specify sample sizes, methodology details, or potential confounding factors. The study type is unknown, limiting assessment of data quality and analytical rigor.

This paper used Social Security Administration program data from 2005 to 2019 to examine national- and state-level changes in the number of new adult supplemental security income (SSI) awardees on the autism spectrum relative to awardees with intellectual disability and other mental health disorders. We identified three main findings: the number of autistic awards increased between 2005 and 2019 when awards for all other mental health disorders declined; roughly nine out of every 10 autistic adult awardees were between ages 18-25 years; there was variation in the growth of autistic awards across states. These findings support the need to consider geographic and age differences in SSI program participation among autistic adults and determine the underlying causes.