Administrative data link

Using Administrative Data to Validate HRS Survey Responses on Application for DI and SSI Disability Benefits

• July 7, 2023
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Disability insurance, Health and Retirement Study, Supplemental Security Income

In this paper, we use administrative data from the Social Security Administration to validate survey responses for the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) regarding the application for disability benefits from Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI),…

Job Demands and Social Security Disability Insurance Applications

• July 7, 2023
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Disability insurance, Health and Retirement Study

We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to identify the effect of job demands on applications for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits and to assess whether these job demands have been changing among older…

Explanations for the Decline in Spending at Older Ages

• February 24, 2023
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, Health and Retirement Study, retirement savings

How Redistributive Is the U.S Social Security System Today?

• October 25, 2022
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, benefit claiming, Demographic trends, Disparities, Social Security, Social Security spousal benefits, Survivor benefit

This project will quantify the extent of current redistribution within the United States Social Security program, incorporating mortality, marriage, and claiming age differentials by minority status, lifetime earnings, and marital status.

Explanations for the Decline in Spending at Older Ages

• August 2, 2022
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, Health and Retirement Study, retirement savings

We use new data from the 2019 wave of the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey to help interpret the observed decline in spending as individuals age. At one extreme, forward-looking individuals optimally chose the decline; at the other, myopic individuals…

Is the Adjustment of Social Security Benefits Actuarially Fair, and If So, for Whom?

• October 22, 2021
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, benefit claiming, Disparities

Disparities in Social Security claim ages have risen since the early 1990s. With high earners increasingly likely to delay claiming, and also living longer on average than lower earners, late claimants may differ in critical ways from early claimants. Using…

Work and Retirement for Older Black and Hispanic Adults

• October 15, 2021
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Disparities, Health and Retirement Study, Retirement

Growing United States income inequality and the increasing aging of Black and Hispanic populations point to greater risks of financial insecurity for older populations in coming years. Research on retirement determinants for Blacks and Hispanics is limited. We propose to…

Tracking Changes in the Composition of Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplement Security Income Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

• October 15, 2021
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, COVID-19, Disability, Disability insurance

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered Americans’ health and work in ways that may trigger significant changes in the size and composition of disability program participation. In this project, we use Social Security Administration data to study trends in beneficiary…

Consumer Credit Events Before and After Dementia Diagnosis

• July 21, 2021
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Cognition, Financial well-being, Fraud

Anecdotal evidence suggests that changes in thinking and memory due to dementia can lead to large financial losses.  We test this using linked Medicare claims and FRBNY/Equifax CCP data.  We find that missed payments increase up to 4 years prior…

2019 Key Findings

• May 26, 2021
• Susan Barnes
• Administrative data link, Disparities, Financial well-being, Interest Rates, International, Labor Supply, Long-term care, Medicaid, Medicare, Mortality trends, OASDI trust funds, Occupational Requirements Survey, pensions, Totalization