The report focuses on the National Association of State Mental Retardation Program Directors' project to produce an indepth analysis of income maintenance for the developmentally disabled. The following issues were considered: the disability determination process; eligibility for rehabilitation services; incentives and disincentives to employment; the relationship between living arrangements and benefit levels; and the role and function of the representative payee. Among recommendations for each issue (which are summarized in an initial section) are that: the Social Security Administration (SSA) should issue clear, definitive standards for evaluating non-exertional as well as exertional limitations; the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare should strengthen procedures for identifying and referring Supplemental Security Income (SSI) childhood recipients to appropriate service programs by delegating case finding and referral responsibilities to the local SSA District Office rather than to the state Disability Determination Service; Congress should permit SSA to deduct job-related expenses in determining whether non-blind, disabled individuals under 65 years, are entitled to receive SSI benefits; Congress should conduct an in-depth analysis of present federal policies for financing long term care for the disabled; and SSA should strengthen its efforts to identify and recruit non-institutional representative payees, such as parents, guardians, friends, and advocates. Included are a table of SSI payment levels for disabled persons, by state and by living arrangement, July, 1976; excerpts from letters of endorsement; and tables, charts, and graphs with statistical data from the project. (SBH)