Publications

» Publications » Understanding the Social Security Communication Needs of Hispanics with Limited English Language Proficiency

Understanding the Social Security Communication Needs of Hispanics with Limited English Language Proficiency

Authors

Abstract

Although the Social Security Administration already provides information to the general public in Spanish, these efforts could be further bolstered by a better understanding of how best to reach the more than 20 million individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Through a mixed-methods study, we provide initial insights into the Social Security communications needs and preferences of the largest group of LEP individuals: Spanish speakers. We find a statistically significant knowledge gap about Social Security between LEP Hispanics and other population groups. A substantially higher proportion of LEP Hispanics report not having any sources of information about Social Security, which may be a consequence of LEP Hispanics having fewer people in their social network who are knowledgeable about Social Security benefits. LEP Hispanics are less likely to receive relevant information from their employers and from financial institutions or other for-profit institutions. They are slightly more likely than other groups to receive information from the media. Qualitatively, we find high transaction costs for LEP Hispanics when seeking information or applying for safety net programs due to language barriers and uncertainty about eligibility, which may chill information-seeking and program take-up. The perception of potentially fraught in-person interactions mixed with uncertainty about the accuracy of online sources limits information options for LEP individuals. Typically, participants reported learning about programs in schools, healthcare settings (especially hospitals and clinics), and through community organizations and events. Understanding the most common institutional interactions among LEP Hispanics may contribute to developing more effective outreach strategies.

Key Findings

  • There is a significant gap in knowledge about Social Security programs between Hispanics with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and other population groups. Such disparities are significantly wider than what can be accounted for by socioeconomic status (SES) and other characteristics commonly associated with having LEP.
  • The gaps in knowledge appear to be concentrated in specific areas. Particularly, LEP Hispanics exhibit a lack of understanding about Social Security benefits, while their knowledge regarding Social Security taxes aligns with that of other population groups.
  • A substantially higher proportion of LEP Hispanics report not having any sources of information about Social Security, which may be a consequence of LEP Hispanics having fewer people in their social network who are knowledgeable about Social Security benefits.
  • LEP Hispanics are less likely to receive relevant information from their employers and from financial institutions or other for-profit institutions. They are slightly more likely than other groups to receive information from the media.
  • The qualitative findings indicate that there are higher transaction costs for LEP Hispanics when seeking information or applying for Social Security and other benefits and programs due to language barriers and uncertainty about eligibility.
  • Frustration and anxiety about seeking information and conducting official transactions in English may chill information-seeking and program take-up for LEP Hispanics.
  • The perception of potentially fraught in-person interactions mixed with uncertainty about the legitimacy and accuracy of online sources limits information options for LEP individuals.
  • Participants noted reliance on social networks and institutional settings such as health care providers and schools as sources of information. However, these are not always reliable (especially social networks) or timely (especially institutional sources).

Citation

Rabinovich, Lila, and Francisco Perez-Arce. 2023. “Understanding the Social Security Communication Needs of Hispanics with Limited English Language Proficiency.” Ann Arbor, MI. University of Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center (MRDRC) Working Paper; MRDRC WP 2023-476. https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/publications/papers/pdf/wp476.pdf

Full Text

Download PDF

Project

Paper ID

WP 2023-476

Publication Type

Working Paper

Publication Year

2023