Projects

SSI and SSDI uptake are important mechanisms for workers with disabilities adjusting to negative shocks in the labor market. In this project, we aim to determine the extent to which structural barriers have excluded historically disadvantaged groups disproportionately affected by…

Creating a public resource of historical occupational information from the O*NET database linked with survey data in the HRS will allow researchers to better inform policy makers about the impact of long-term exposure to different types of tasks or work…

Social Security information can be complex but crucial for financial planning. The redesigned Social Security statement aims to better inform the public. We plan to assess the impact of the redesign on people’s understanding of Social Security, their interest in…

In October 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) implemented a redesigned Social Security statement for workers being sent a statement or checking their my Social Security online accounts. Research on the prior statement has demonstrated its effect on workers’ program…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced in 1990 with the goal of protecting disabled workers. While a number of studies have examined the impact of the ADA on the employment of disabled individuals, it is also important to…

The enormous health and economic burdens imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic may impact Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application and receipt in several ways. Patients who recover from COVID-19 can have long-term health consequences that preclude work, others will delay…

Public disability insurance systems vary considerably across countries. There is variation in the benefit amounts, program administrative costs, eligibility criteria, coverage scope, accommodations such as fast-tracking of applications, and the disability determination process. The latter is of particular interest to…

This project will examine the physical/mental functioning and use of accommodations among workers in three key occupations, selected from 14 identified as physically demanding and highly prevalent among SSDI applicants. SSA’s input will be sought when selecting the three occupations.…

Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS), this project will examine the effects of physical and cognitive job demands, as well as educational requirements, on heterogeneous pathways from full-time work to retirement.…

Using administrative data, this project will quantify the incentive effects and equity of the Social Security survivor benefit. The project will first analyze incentive effects on the timing of initial claiming of retired-worker benefits by both spouses. The survivor benefit…