NY25-09: Barriers to SSI Participation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

In 2022, children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) accounted for 53.6% of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients under age 18 (SSA, 2023).  Many children with IDD who are likely eligible for SSI, however, do not receive SSI benefits (Levere and Wittenburg, 2023).  Therefore, it is important to understand how families of children with IDD learn about and decide to apply for SSI and how they experience the SSI application and appeals processes. 

In this mixed-methods study we will use data from the 2022-2023 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine SSI participation among children with IDD who are likely eligible for SSI and determine whether there are differences in SSI participation by race, ethnicity, or other socio-demographic characteristics.  We will conduct focus groups with family members of children with IDD to explore barriers to SSI participation for children with IDD in general and among those from socio-demographic backgrounds that we find have lower SSI participation rates.  The project will offer insight into whether children of color with IDD are underrepresented in SSI and will identify strategies to mitigate barriers to SSI for children with IDD in general and for those from socio-demographic backgrounds underrepresented in SSI.