Steven H. Sandell Grant Program

The Center for Retirement Research sponsors the annual Steven H. Sandell Grant Program for scholars in the field of retirement or disability research and policy. The program is funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration to provide opportunities for junior or non-tenured scholars (within seven years of receiving their Ph.D.) from all academic disciplines to pursue cutting-edge projects on retirement or disability issues. Individuals from historically underserved or underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Research focal areas include:

Disparities by race and ethnicity;
Decline in SSDI and SSI applications;
Improving communication and outreach;
Economic security of SSA beneficiaries;
Improving service delivery;
Return-to-work; and
Informing Trust Fund projections.

Grant Awards

Up to three $45,000 grants are awarded based upon the quality of the applicant’s proposal and the proposed budget. Applicants are required to complete the research outlined in the proposal within one year of the award. Grant recipients may be required to present their work to the Social Security Administration in Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD.

Submission

The deadline for the 2023 Sandell Grant Program was January 31, 2023.

Download the proposal guidelines and budget matrix to prepare for next year. Review sample proposals that received awards: Sample 1, Sample 2.