Waiting to Benefit: Age-Based Disability Regulations and SSI in Later Life
Author Information
Author(s): Callie Freitag
Primary Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hypothesis
If the age-based rules prevent otherwise-eligible people from receiving SSI benefits, then the consequences for this economically vulnerable group could be particularly dire.
Conclusion
The study found that age-based disability rules significantly affect SSI take-up rates, with strong evidence of increases in take-up at ages 55 and 65.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found strong evidence of discontinuous increases in SSI take-up when the disability rules are relaxed at age 55 and eliminated at age 65.
- Adults face significant financial hardship in the five years prior to receiving SSI.
- People who took up SSI between the ages of 40 and 59 were more likely to have been homeless than employed prior to receiving SSI.
Takeaway
Older people might find it easier to get help from SSI, but some rules make it hard for others to qualify, which can lead to serious money problems.
Methodology
The study used administrative microdata from multiple agencies in Washington state from 2010 to 2017 to analyze SSI take-up rates and patterns of employment and homelessness.
Limitations
The study is limited to data from Washington state and may not be generalizable to other regions.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on low-income older adults and people with disabilities, particularly those aged 40 to 59.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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