WI24-04: The Relationship between Local Characteristics and Disability Applications and Awards

Although disability determination is based on criteria that pertain to individuals, where people live is not random, and there is growing research linking place of residence with health outcomes. Yet, place characteristics have received only limited attention in prior studies of disability applications and awards. This project fills this gap using restricted data from the Health and Retirement Study, matched with data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive to assess the link of various place-specific factors with disability prevalence and SSDI/SSI applications and awards. In addition to the full population, we examine the differential associations/effects across race and ethnicity. From this research, SSA will learn about the extent to which an applicant’s health status is a function of the context of their place and the extent to which different groups are differentially exposed to risks of disablement and disability applications.