Mission & Vision

The New York Retirement and Disability Research Center (NYRDRC) conducts interdisciplinary research aimed at identifying and addressing barriers in social insurance programs that impact well-being throughout the life course. The work focuses on improving the effectiveness of the U.S. retirement and disability systems by generating evidence that informs policy and practice.

The Center aims to foster collaboration across a broad network of students, researchers, and policymakers to advance Social Security and related programs. We work closely with communities across New York, leveraging our deep ties to local institutions and populations to identify emerging issues and develop solutions that support older and disabled workers both during their careers and in retirement. The NYRDRC’s research is rooted in community-informed approaches and seeks to illuminate the barriers and opportunities that affect old age, retirement, and economic security.

The NYRDRC’s research focuses on the following key areas:

  • Economic Security 

  • Work & Aging

  • Healthcare Costs & Caregiving

  • Health & Disability 

  • Who Does Social Security Leave Behind? 

About Our Center

The New York Retirement and Disability Research Center brings together the City University of New York (CUNY) Institute for Demographic Research (CIDR, located at Baruch College), the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College, and the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School.

The CUNY Institute for Demographic Research leads the intellectual community of demographers in the New York Metropolitan area, and fosters connections among population researchers across disciplines within CUNY and with collaborators in New York City and beyond.

The Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging has been working to improve the lives of older adults for almost 50 years. It has been committed to advancing policies and practices to promote a good old age for all through research, evaluation of demonstration projects, and public policy advocacy so everyone can age as well as anyone can.

The Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis is an economic policy think tank located in the Economics Department at The New School for Social Research. SCEPA works to elevate critical and institutional economic research to improve mainstream policymaking and focus public debate to raise living standards, create economic security, and attain full employment.

The New York Retirement and Disability Research Center (NYRDRC) is one of six centers funded by a cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration as part of its Retirement and Disability Research Consortium (RDRC).

The other five RDRC centers are:

Read more about the Consortium’s history and research contributions, as well as funding opportunities.