Demographic factors in the disability determination process: a logistic approach

Identifying the demographic factors that affect the likelihood of being allowed disability insurance benefits under the social security program is important in assessing the operation of that program and has been the focus of continuing research. Previous studies in this area, which have been limited to cross-tabular analyses of aggregated data and the examination of a few variables at a time, have uncovered apparently sizable differences in the probability of allowance by age, sex, race, and other demographic characteristics. This article uses a much more rigorous statistical technique--a logit maximum likelihood procedure--to examine the same question. That technique permits exploration of the relationship between a particular characteristic and the probability of allowance while controlling for the effect of other characteristics considered in the analysis. The findings show that cardiovascular primary diagnoses had a higher probability of allowance than did almost all other primary diagnoses. Mobility restrictions, older age at the onset of disability, and residence in States with temporary disability programs also were associated with a higher probability of allowance. Applicants who were black or from the South were found to have a lower probability of allowance. In general, those results applied to both men and women.