Social Security

How Does Social Security Affect the Racial Wealth Gap?

May 25, 2023
Susan Barnes
Disparities, Financial well-being, Social Security

The large and persistent gap by race in U.S. household wealth is a well-established empirical fact, though the causal mechanisms for wealth differentials are still a subject of much debate. Previous research on wealth inequality has shown that expanding the…

Barriers and Communications Preferences of Rural Populations: A Scoping Review

April 9, 2023
Susan Barnes
benefit claiming, Disparities, Social Security, Social Security program communications, Survivor benefit

This scoping review of the literature on communications and service-related barriers faced by individuals living in rural areas when seeking government benefits will examine the current research on this topic and identify differences by sociodemographic groups within rural populations.

Mixed-method Study on Information, Communications, and Access to Government Benefit among Rural Populations

April 9, 2023
Susan Barnes
benefit claiming, Social Security program communications, Survivor benefit

Federal and state benefits provide essential assistance to reduce urban-rural inequities and indirectly contribute to the rural economy. Yet, while participation in benefits programs is higher among rural than urban residents, gaps remain in benefit access in rural areas. Little…

The Effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Social Security Disability Insurance

March 1, 2023
Susan Barnes
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability insurance, Social Security

Understanding Racial Disparities in Financial Preparedness for Retirement

February 24, 2023
Susan Barnes
Disparities, Financial well-being, Labor force participation, Social Security

Understanding Racial Disparities in Financial Preparedness for Retirement

January 31, 2023
Susan Barnes
Disparities, Financial well-being, Labor force participation, Social Security

We estimate a model of labor supply and savings over the life cycle where key parameters — including the interest rate, the degree of risk aversion and the fixed cost of working, and the stochastic processes of health, mortality, and…

Equity Implications of the Rising Full Retirement Age and Social Security Communications: An Analysis of Past and Future Disparities in the Economic Security of Retirees

October 25, 2022
Susan Barnes
benefit claiming, Disparities, Financial well-being, retirement savings

The Social Security Amendments of 1983 raised the Full Retirement Age (FRA), the age at which claimants receive an unreduced monthly benefit, from 65 to 67. However, this change was set to be gradually implemented, with the first increase from…

The Lifetime Earnings Effects of the Social Security Student Benefit

In 1981, Congress voted to eliminate the “student benefit” of Social Security, which allowed for the continuation of child benefits past the age of 18 for those enrolled in schooling full-time. We compare the lifetime earnings of eligible children who…

Social Security’s Role in Economic Security: Evidence and Insight from an Analysis of Multiprogram Participation

October 25, 2022
Susan Barnes
Disparities, Program interaction, Social Security

We estimate individual participation in 18 separate spending programs and construct measures of nonparticipation and density of participation (which we call multiprogram participation) by age, race, ethnicity, and gender groups. We then use regression analysis to predict non- and multiprogram…

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.