Work ability and the social insurance safety net in the years prior to retirement
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Center for Retirement Research working paper
- Contributor(s):
- Johnson, Richard W. Favreault, Melissa M. Mommaerts, Corina. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
- Publication:
- Chestnut Hill, MA : Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, c2009
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Employment Government Programs -- economics Insurance, Disability -- economics Public Assistance -- economics Retirement -- economics Social Security -- economics Workers' Compensation Age Factors Disabled Persons Eligibility Determination Middle Aged Poverty -- economics Severity of Illness Index Socioeconomic Factors Humans United States United States. Social Security Administration.
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- A patchwork of public programs--primarily Social Security Disability Insurance (DI), workers' compensation, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and veterans' benefits--provides income supports to people unable to work. Yet, questions persist about the effectiveness of these programs. This report examines the economic consequences of disability for a sample of Americans observed from age 51 to 64. The results underscore the precarious financial state for most people approaching traditional retirement age with disabilities. Disability rates roughly double from age 55 to 64. Fewer than half who meet our disability criteria ever receive disability benefits in their fifties or early sixties. Benefit receipt rates are much higher among those with the most severe disabilities, suggesting that benefits are targeted to those least able to work. However, even when models control for disability severity, women are less likely than men to receive benefits. Those with cancer and heart problem diagnoses are more likely to receive DI, suggesting that DI favors workers with certain medical diagnoses. Poverty rates for people who collect disability benefits in their fifties and early sixties more than triple following benefit receipt.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 56 p.
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101542195 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101542195