Policy and Management Guidance on Veterans Benefits
Macro conducted a comprehensive study to help shape policy and management practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding several need-based programs for eligible veterans, surviving spouses and children, and parents. A pension program provides payments to disabled veterans with low incomes and to surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans based on need. The VA also makes payments to low-income parents of deceased service members or veterans and to survivors of veterans who died from service-related causes or who had a service-related disability.

To support decisions regarding the pension and survivors’ programs, Macro conducted a comprehensive study of their effectiveness and efficiency. The examination included a legislative and policy assessment, an outcome assessment, a nonparticipation assessment, an operational assessment, an analysis of program interrelationships, and an assessment of future needs.

To carry out this work, we analyzed administrative data from the VA and other Federal programs including Social Security, Medicare, and the IRS. We conducted a telephone survey of more than 3,000 participants in the VA programs and held focus groups with nonparticipants. We brought stakeholders together to identify needs and outcomes. In addition to presenting a written report, we briefed VA officials and Congressional staff on our findings and their implications for policy.

Evaluation of the Federal Direct Student Loan Program
To assist policymakers with decisions about Federal loan programs, Macro compared the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) with an older program that relied on private lenders to provide loan capital. To assess Federal cost savings from direct lending, we used computer-based models that projected and compared different types of loan life cycle costs of the two loan programs. We interviewed senior project staff and policymakers and reviewed records and documents on the administration of both programs. We conducted case studies at FDSLP institutions to learn about implementation. To gauge institutional satisfaction, we conducted annual mail surveys of more than 3,000 institutions. To measure borrower satisfaction, we administered computer-assisted telephone interviews to thousands of borrowers. In addition to submitting yearly reports, we disseminated our findings through briefings and presentations throughout the 5-year study.