2024
UM24-01: An Intersectional Approach to Retirement Expectations and Timing
Racial and ethnic health disparities and gaps in retirement wealth play an important role in retirement timing. Gendered differences in retirement timing/preparedness may also differ by race and ethnicity. Furthermore, educational and occupational level are important backdrops in considering gender,…
UM24-02: Developing a Survey to Understand Barriers to Applying for Disability Insurance
Applications for SSDI and SSI benefits have been declining by more than expected for over a decade. There are few hypotheses for this decline. In this project, we will try to understand true and perceived barriers to applying for benefits…
UM24-03: Application Decision-making for SSI for Children: A Qualitative Study with Beneficiary and Nonbeneficiary Families
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program of the Social Security Administration provides an important safety net to families of children with severe disabilities who meet specific income and asset criteria. Yet the number of children served by the program has…
UM24-04: Pathways and Persistence of Labor Force Transitions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Using new data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we will document pathways out of the labor force during the COVID-19 pandemic; estimate the persistence of transitions into retirement, disability, and other nonwork states for near retirement workers; and…
UM24-05: Inflation’s Impact on Vulnerable Older Workers’ and Retirees’ Economic Outcomes
Inflation and uncertainty over future prices recently reached their highest levels in four decades. Given lower rates of homeownership and other inflation protected assets, Black, Hispanic, and lower-income older workers and retirees may be particularly vulnerable to high inflation. Hence,…
UM24-06: Community-engaged Research into the Barriers and Communication Preferences of Rural Populations
This qualitative research project will use in-depth interviews of rural residents to understand: a) service-related barriers to seeking government benefits in rural areas and communication preferences among rural residents; b) how service-related barriers and communication preferences vary by race/ethnicity, educational…
UM24-07: The Color of Wealth in Chicago: Wealth Disparities by Race and Ethnicity
In the U.S., the average Black and Hispanic or Latino household owns about 15% to 20% as much net wealth as the average white household. An in-depth understanding of the barriers to wealth accumulation among people of color is an…
UM24-08: Race Disparities & Consequences of Cancer Diagnosis on Preretirement Work Disruption
Cancer is among the most common health problems that adults face, leading to work disruptions and, consequently, decreased economic security of workers and their families. Black adults have higher risks of cancer-related job disruptions than their white counterparts. No research…
2023
UM23-01: Who Benefits from Retirement Saving Incentives in the U.S.? Evidence on Racial Gaps in Retirement Wealth Accumulation
Retirement saving is heavily subsidized in the U.S. Employers and the federal government devote a combined $300 billion annually to encourage contributions to defined contribution (DC) schemes. This institutional design rewards those who can, and do, save more for retirement.…
UM23-02: Medical Spending Risk among the Elderly by Race and Gender
Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to administrative Medicare and Medicaid records, along with the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we estimate the stochastic process for total and out-of-pocket medical spending by race and gender. By…