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Center for Studying Disability at Mathematica Announces December Forum Date
Focus on the Shrinking Safety Net for Older Workers with Disabilities
Contact: Randall Blair, (202) 250-3552
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 15, 2010)—The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research announces the twelfth forum in a bimonthly lunchtime seminar series aimed at providing policymakers and others with an opportunity to hear about the latest disability policy research findings. “Social Security Reform: The Consequences of Shrinking the Safety Net for Older Workers with Disabilities,” is scheduled for Thursday, December 2, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Mathematica’s office at 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. Speakers will be Jody Schimmel, senior researcher, Mathematica; Timothy Waidmann, senior fellow, the Urban Institute; and Virginia Reno, vice president for Income Security Policy, National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI).
Because of health and longevity gains among Americans, as well as concerns about financing Social Security, some policymakers are calling for reforms that will encourage workers to retire later. One proposal is to raise the earliest eligibility age for Social Security (currently age 62). However, such changes might exacerbate the considerable financial difficulties of individuals who experience work-limiting health conditions as they approach retirement. In this forum, Jody Schimmel will present findings on the earnings lost by workers age 50 and older after the onset of disability, the extent to which households are able to adjust to those losses, and the potential for policy changes to offset losses in earnings and income. Timothy Waidmann will then present findings on the extent to which the availability of Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 provides a safety net for those who are in poor health but do not receive disability benefits. Finally, Virginia Reno will discuss the implications of these and other findings for potential reforms to the Social Security retirement and disability systems.
The disability policy forums can be attended in person or via webinar. Go to www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/researchforums.asp to register to attend or request any necessary accommodations. Lunch will be provided.
The Center for Studying Disability Policy’s mission is to inform disability policy formation with rigorous, objective research and data collected from the people disability policy aims to serve. The center was formed in 2007 to coalesce and further strengthen Mathematica’s extensive disability policy research and data collection efforts, and to ensure that the results of Mathematica’s work are accessible to the disability policy community.
Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research firm, provides a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation, and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of disability, health care, education, family support, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs.