Resources for Research Development
The following are a selection of links to reports and studies that can help inform researchers considering research projects related to Social Security Retirement and Disability Research. In many cases, these links are a glimpse into a comprehensive data source; researchers are encouraged to explore further.
SSA Research Resources:
- Background on Programs
- Background on Policy
- Background on RDRC
- SSA Study Data
- SSA Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis Publications Schedule
- SSA General Statistics & Data Files by Title
SSA Data Sources:
Most SSA administrative data sources are restricted access data, but in some cases, exploring publicly-available administrative data can help to get acquainted with administrative data and variables.
- Disability Analysis File
- National Beneficiary Survey
- National Survey of SSI Children and Families
- Open Government Select Datasets
- Selected Data Descriptions
- SSA Public Use Data Files
- SSA Annual Statistical Supplement
SSA and GAO Reports
- SSA OIG Management Reports
- Social Security Technical Panel Reports
- GAO Report on Claiming OASI
- GAO Report on Opioids
- GAO Report on SSA Management
Common RDRC Data Sources:
- Add Health (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health)
- American Community Survey
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
- BLS Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS)
- Consumer Expenditure Survey
- Current Population Survey
- Health and Retirement Study
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
- National Health Interview Survey
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- National Longitudinal Surveys
- Occupational Requirements Survey
- Panel Study of Income Dynamics
- Roybal Center for Health Decision Making and Financial Independence in Old Age
- Survey of Consumer Finances
- Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making
- Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and SIPP-SSA-IRS linkages
- Understanding America Study
Researchers may also find SSA’s consumer facing tools informative, and the working papers from the other RDRC centers to be helpful:
- Boston College (BC) in partnership with the University of Massachusetts-Boston
- City University of New York (CUNY) Baruch College with partnerships at CUNY Hunter College and The New School
- National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) with partnerships at Spelman College and Howard University
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with partnerships at University of Baltimore and Brandeis University
- University of Michigan (UM)
Researachers may find the interactive data maps on our Visualizing Vulnerability page helpful in sparking ideas for your research and/or help to identify a new data source.
Page last updated June 2024