Virginia EPIC

Project Overview

Funding: $4,290,000 | U.S. Department of Education (2022-2028)
Full Title: RPRJ EPIC (Real Pay for Real Jobs Education and Outreach, Partnership Development, provisions of Individualized Services and Capacity Building)
Administering Organization: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

The Virginia EPIC initiative aims to effectively eliminate subminimum wage employment (SWE) in Virginia by transitioning individuals with disabilities from segregated work settings to competitive integrated employment. This comprehensive project combines education, outreach, partnership development, individualized services, and capacity building to create sustainable pathways to economic independence for workers with disabilities.

Research & Evaluation

The Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion Lab at Northwestern University conducts comprehensive project evaluation, including:

• Baseline qualitative findings
• Interactive dashboards with education and employment outcome data
• Comparative analysis of outcomes for individuals with and without disabilities
• Data spanning 2003-2023 from Virginia AWARE database
• National-level comparative data from American Community Survey (2000-2021)

Publications & Working Papers

• Yin, M., Seo, R., & Vu, H. (2026). The labor market effects of subminimum wage elimination: Evidence from a national analysis. Labour Economics, 100, 102884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2026.102884
  First national quasi-experimental analysis using DOL 14(c) administrative records (2015–2024) and CPS data (2009–2024) across 15 states. Elimination reduces formal subminimum wage employment by ~2,000 workers per state within two years with no aggregate job loss and significant reductions in welfare dependence.
  Abstract, Key Findings & Dashboards →

Key Findings from Our National Analysis

• Elimination policies reduce formal subminimum wage employment by approximately 2,000 workers per state within two years.
• No statistically significant reductions in overall employment rates, competitive integrated employment, or hours worked.
• Economically meaningful reductions in welfare income receipt, indicating greater economic self-sufficiency.
• Results directly support Virginia's HB1924 phase-out timeline (2030) and the EPIC project's transition work.

Policy Briefs

• Eliminating Subminimum Wages Does Not Cost Workers with Disabilities Their Jobs
  Yin, M., Seo, R., & Vu, H. | RISEI Lab, Northwestern University | March 2026
  Download National Brief →
• Wage Policy Reform in Virginia: Minimum Wage, Subminimum Wage & EPIC
  Yin, M. | RISEI Lab, Northwestern University | March 2026
  Download Virginia Brief →
• Something EPIC is Happening in Virginia: Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities
  Yin, M., Seo, R., Vu, H., Shaewitz, D., Nadzam, J., & Ford, J. | Northwestern University & Third Sight | June 2024
  Download EPIC Brief →

News & Media

• RPRJ EPIC Evaluation Team Updates: MAY 2024 (May 8, 2024)
  Updates on the RPRJ EPIC project evaluation activities for the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
  Read More →
• RPRJ EPIC Project Evaluation: Baseline Qualitative Findings (March 8, 2024)
  Initial qualitative research findings from the Virginia EPIC project evaluation examining the transition from subminimum wage employment to competitive integrated employment.
  Read More →
• New Grant Assesses Ending the Subminimum Wage (September 20, 2023)
  Announcement of the Virginia EPIC grant to assess and support the elimination of subminimum wage employment in Virginia.
  Read More →

Project Contact

For more information about the Virginia EPIC project, please contact:
Email: risei@northwestern.edu

Visit RISEI Lab Project Page →