Upstream solutions: does the supplemental security income program reduce disability in the elderly?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health Policy
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Socioeconomic factors significantly influence population health outcomes.
• Medical care, a primary focus of health policy, may not be the main driver of population health.
• Income support policies offer a promising strategy for enhancing public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program on old-age disability.
• To determine if federal cash transfers to low-income elderly individuals affect disability rates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 1990 and 2000 census data.
• Employed state and year fixed-effect models to analyze changes.
• Examined the relationship between within-state changes in maximum SSI benefits and disability among individuals aged 65 and older.

Main Results:

• Higher SSI benefit levels were associated with reduced disability rates.
• A $100 monthly increase in maximum SSI benefits correlated with a 0.46 percentage point decrease in mobility limitations among single elderly individuals.
• Findings remained robust across various sensitivity analyses, including different subgroups and disability measures.

Conclusions:

• Income support policies, such as SSI, can serve as a significant tool for improving the health of lower-income populations.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the reliability of these findings and explore other income support and social policies' health impacts.