Research Meeting on Racial Aspects of Health, Retiring
Researchers will present studies funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) that meet the agency’s goal of understanding and addressing the racial disparities in the economy and in federal benefit policies.
The studies will be presented over Zoom by researchers from around the country. There is no charge for attending the Aug. 3 and 4 event but registration is required.
The full agenda for the meeting is posted online.
The gap between Black and Hispanic Americans’ wealth levels and White wealth is well documented. But one study to be presented examines a specific aspect of the racial wealth gap: differences in the use of the tax deductions workers receive for putting money into an employer 401(k). White workers, for example, save a larger percentage of their income in a 401(k) than similar Black and Hispanic workers.
As people age and their medical problems compound, the risk of being hit with large medical bills increases. Another study will compare the differences in out-of-pocket spending by Black, Hispanic, and White retirees.
Research topics also include the challenge of disseminating crucial information about Social Security’s retirement and disability benefits, especially to Spanish-speaking workers, and about the agency’s delivery of services online and through its field offices.
SSA has funded all of the research studies through a consortium that includes centers at Boston College, NBER, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The research studies mentioned herein were derived in whole or in part from research activities performed pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) funded as part of the Retirement and Disability Research Consortium. The opinions and conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not represent the opinions or policy of SSA, any agency of the federal government, or Boston College. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the contents of this report. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
