Older age predicted receiving disability benefits within a year of completing rehabilitation

Abstract Background Work disability has both individual and work-related causes. Maintaining work ability is crucial because disability incurs significant costs for individuals, workplaces, and society. Vocational rehabilitation is a key means to promote return-to-work, improve work ability, and prevent disability. Methods The data consisted of persons who had been granted the right to vocational rehabilitation by a pension insurance company in 2014-2020, who had a rehabilitation plan drawn up and whose rehabilitation process had ended by 31.12.2021 (N = 7 142). This high-quality data covers approximately 30% of rehabilitation patients, with the Finnish system providing comprehensive monitoring for all individuals. As a modelling method, we used logistic regression. Results The older age was the strongest predictor of the likelihood of receiving disability benefits after vocational rehabilitation. Among the 51-56 age group, the odds ratio (OR) was 2.53 and among rehabilitants aged 56 years or over, the OR was 7.33. In addition, statistically significant predictors of receiving disability benefits included diseases assessed as medically serious (OR 3.16), applications for disability pension rights with granted rehabilitation allowance (OR 1.88), previous rehabilitation allowance periods (1-2 periods OR 1.69; over 2 periods OR 2.08) and main diagnosis of mental health disorders (OR 1.83), nervous system (OR 1.82) or circulatory system (OR 1.53) diseases. Conclusions Many factors affect return-to-work which should be considered already when applying for or planning rehabilitation. Older rehabilitators with prolonged allowance periods should be targeted with enhanced programs which better support return-to-work. Key messages • Older age and more serious illnesses increase the likelihood of receiving disability benefits within a year of completing vocational rehabilitation.