Geographic patterns of disability in the United States

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Policy
• Geographic Analysis

Background:

• Understanding the geographic distribution of disability benefit receipt is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
• The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two primary disability programs: Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Previous research has highlighted regional disparities in socioeconomic factors influencing disability, but detailed geographic mapping of benefit receipt is less common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map and analyze the county-level prevalence rates of disability benefit receipt for the DI and SSI programs across the United States.
• To identify geographic areas with the highest concentrations of DI and SSI beneficiaries.
• To examine prevalence rates by sex and across different U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administrative regions.

Main Methods:

• Prevalence rates were calculated by dividing the number of DI and SSI beneficiaries in each county by the population aged 18-64 in that county for December 1990.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were utilized to create visual maps of prevalence rates.
• Analyses were conducted for the overall population and separately for men and women recipients.

Main Results:

• High DI prevalence rates were observed in Appalachia, the Southeast Coastal Plains, the Mid-south, northwestern Montana, coastal Washington, and parts of the Southwest.
• Highest SSI prevalence rates were found in the Mississippi Delta, Oklahoma, the Missouri "Boot Heel," parts of Appalachia, North and South Dakota, the Southwest "Four Corners" region, California's Central Valley, the upper Great Lakes, northern Maine, and coastal Alaska.
• Distinct geographic patterns emerged for DI and SSI, as well as for male and female recipients across various regions.

Conclusions:

• Significant geographic variations exist in the prevalence of DI and SSI receipt across U.S. counties.
• The identified high-prevalence areas may indicate underlying socioeconomic or health challenges requiring targeted interventions.
• These findings provide a spatial evidence base for understanding disability program utilization and informing regional public health and social service strategies.