NB-24-02: Improving Recipiency in U.S. Social Insurance: A Scoping Examination

Social protection systems offer an income to the elderly, people with disabilities, families, and survivors. Enrollment in the program is conditional upon eligibility and uptake. The recipiency of Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is notably lower than projected. This study attempts to pinpoint the obstacles to uptake rates through empirical examination and contrasting U.S. programs with those of the OECD to determine potential reform methods. It will probe whether the lack of access to social insurance benefits intersects with race, gender, age, location, and religion. Reducing the SSDI and SSI take-up rates gap is vital for qualified people experiencing poverty and policymakers.
This study will:
● Summarize the international evidence of take-up in programs like SSDI and SSI in other OECD countries.
● Estimate the population of individuals qualified for SSDI and SSI using Monte-Carlo simulations.
● Examine the factors suppressing social rights consumption using probit multivariate regressions across demographic groups (e.g., race, gender, religion, family structure).
● Mentor student research assistants (RAs) from a historically Black institution.