The economic well-being of applicants is measured by the material hardship experienced by the individual. Three measures of earnings based on monthly earnings are used: above $100 (minimal), above $1,040 (Substantial Gainful Activity), and above $1,870 (greater then ½ of the monthly value of SSA’s Average Wage Index). Demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic measures are also measured for a more comprehensive outlook. Health measures are also included and look at the number of hospitalizations or interactions with healthcare providers for data collection.

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Broad or limited descriptive analysis was used by policymakers to assess beneficiaries’ work capacity and thus the functioning of the SS disability program.

Beneficiary Assessment by Policymakers

Weaver, D. A. (2020). Social Security disability benefits: Characteristics of the approved and denied populations. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 32(1), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320933538 

Social Security Disability Benefits: Characteristics of the Approved and Denied Populations

An important note concerning the analyses of benefits is that they often do not direction state causation (this factor leads to this outcome). But rather, the analyses relies on the implications of connections. For instance, understanding that an individual has a certain work history implies that said individuals may or may not qualify for healthcare benefits.

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