Skip to content
CRR logo
Submit Search
Advanced Search
Join E-mail List | Contact Us
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Initiatives
  • Data
  • Sponsors
  • Opportunities
  • About Us
  • Search

The Relationship between Occupational Requirements and SSDI Activity

February 13, 2019
Share
Mobile Share Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Working Paper by Matthew S. Rutledge, Alice Zulkarnain, and Sara Ellen King

Abstract

Evaluations of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications are based not just on poor health, but in most cases consider the vocational factors of age, education and work experience to determine whether individuals can work.  These criteria indicate that SSDI applicants must not only be in poor health, but in poor health that actually conflicts with the requirements of their occupation (and other occupations).  Yet little is known about the relationship between SSDI activity and the ability to meet occupational requirements.  This study devises a Health Mismatch Index, which is the share of workers in an occupation citing health-related difficulties in the Survey of Income and Program Participation that would prevent them from performing at least one requirement marked as essential for their occupation in the Occupational Requirement Survey.

The results show that the most common difficulties in required abilities that result in health mismatch are lifting 25 lbs., standing for one hour, or hearing well in a conversational setting.  Furthermore, occupations with a high Index have lower earnings, are more exposed to hazardous environments, and place less emphasis on high performance and problem-solving.  Jobs with higher rates of workers who experience at least one difficulty with a job requirement have a higher share of workers receiving SSDI benefits within a 16-month period.  Although the share of the population receiving SSDI increased from 1997 to 2010, the Index fell from 7.4 to 6.1 percent, suggesting that the increase could have been higher if not for the decline in health mismatch.

Senior man working at laptop at home
Senior man working at laptop at home
Author(s)
Headshot of Matthew S. Rutledge
Matthew S. Rutledge
Headshot of Alice Zulkarnain
Alice Zulkarnain
Headshot of Sara Ellen King
Sara Ellen King
Downloads
PDF Version
Figure .xls file
Citation

Rutledge, , Alice Zulkarnain, and Sara Ellen King. 2019. "The Relationship between Occupational Requirements and SSDI Activity" Working Paper 2019-5. Chestnut Hill, MA: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Copy citation to clipboard
Topics
Social Security
Education
Publication Type
Working Paper
Publication Number
WP#2019-5
Related Articles
Mallet of judge with scales and blurry person in back

A Major Factor Behind the Drop in Disability Rolls Is “Retraining” of Judges

MarketWatch Blog by Alicia H. Munnell

August 31, 2023
Disability claim form on a clipboard next to a pair of glasses

Why Did Disability Insurance Rolls Drop from 2015 to 2019?

Issue Brief by Siyan Liu and Laura D. Quinby

August 29, 2023
natur of work

What Happens When Federal Disability Benefits Stop?

Squared Away Blog by Kimberly Blanton

July 27, 2023
About us
Contact
Join e-mail list
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube RSS

© 2023 Trustees of Boston College, Center for Retirement Research|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy|Accessibility

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We also use IP addresses, domain information and other access statistics to administer the site and analyze usage trends. If you prefer to opt out, you can select Update settings. Read our Privacy Policy. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT