As authorized under section 1110 of the Social Security Act, SSA announces the solicitation of competitive applications for cooperative agreements to establish a Retirement and Disability Research Consortium (RDRC). SSA seeks applications in support of the RDRC that will continue to serve as a national resource fostering high quality research on matters related to retirement and disability policy. The RDRC may consist of one or more research “centers” (see section C.1. Eligible Applicants). The RDRC’s program purpose is to benefit the public through the following activities:
a. Research, evaluation, and data development. SSA expects the RDRC to plan, initiate, and maintain a high-quality, multi-disciplinary research program that will cover issues related to Social Security programs in addition to broader retirement and disability policy. To facilitate the production of research, the RDRC can conduct data development activities including both the development of and expanded access to research data.
b. Dissemination. The RDRC will disseminate policy research findings using a variety of media to inform the academic community, policymakers, stakeholders in communitybased organizations, and the public.
c. Training. The RDRC will train and provide funding support for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postgraduates to conduct research on retirement and disability policy related matters.
The role of the centers is to build and strengthen SSA's capacity to undertake a broad range of research, evaluation, and policy analysis for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The centers must develop research, training, and dissemination plans designed to provide Social Security, disability, and retirement policy information to assist policymakers, the public, community stakeholders, and the media in understanding Social Security, retirement, and disability policy issues. Research should help improve the administration, effectiveness, and equity of programs carried on or assisted under the Social Security Act and related programs.
Deadlines:
Focal Areas for Year 1 of the Cooperative Agreement: Focal areas are more narrowly defined topics for research. In Year 1, SSA will specifically be looking for research that address six focal areas. The full list of focal area questions is located at: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/extramural/rdrc-focalareas-FY2024.pdf. Focal area summaries are included below:
Focal Area 1. Disparities by race, ethnicity, and sex. SSA continues to be very interested in research on racial, ethnic, and sex equity related to Social Security. SSA is particularly interested in the structural barriers that may contribute to disparate outcomes by race, ethnicity, and sex. We expect researchers to consider such disparities when developing proposals addressing all focal areas.
Focal Area 2. Addressing Barriers to Disability Program and SSI Program Participation. For more than a decade, applications for DI and SSI benefits have been falling at a faster pace than originally projected based on actuarial models. However, the causes of this rapid decline are less well understood. SSA encourages studies that examine the possible drivers of this decline and the impact it has had on our programs and populations. We are particularly interested in studies that identify barriers that may either keep eligible individuals from applying initially or that make it difficult for them to complete the application and appeals processes.
Focal Area 3: Economic Security of Program Applicants and Beneficiaries. SSA continues to be interested in the evolving risks to economic security and how future beneficiary cohorts will fare. Research should take a broad view, looking at all sources of economic security as well as the spectrum of resource needs to address financial risks, including long-term care. Research should also examine differences across (and within) various population subgroups (e.g., by comparing economic outcomes of women of color with those of white women).
Focal Area 4: Understanding Service Needs. In 2021, 70 million people received benefits from programs administered by SSA, of which 5.4 million were newly awarded benefits (including new entrants to the benefit rolls and persons already on the rolls who became entitled to a different benefit).1 Given the importance of Social Security to so many people, SSA is continuously looking for ways to improve how we deliver services to the public—particularly to communities facing barriers in accessing our services—to meet their changing needs. We are interested in studies that help us identify advancements in how we deliver quality, accurate, and timely service to our customers.
Focal Area 5: Understanding Communication Needs. Effective communication and outreach about Social Security is critical to enable the public to make informed decisions about their own benefits and to make them aware of benefits to which they may be entitled. Communications from SSA also affect the public’s understanding of Social Security more broadly, including the program’s longterm future and the effects of potential policy changes. We are interested in research that examines—and identifies areas of improvement—the efficacy of agency communications (including the Social Security Statement, my Social Security, and other notices2) and outreach efforts. Generally, we are interested in studies that address Question 4 in the SSA Learning Agenda, “What are the effects of changes to our communication methods on customer satisfaction, program integrity, and administrative efficiency?”
Focal Area 6: Addressing Employment Barriers for People with Disabilities. The DI program includes a set of work incentives, which are special rules, intended to help beneficiaries enter, re-enter, or continue their engagement in the workforce by protecting their eligibility for cash payments and health care coverage until their work allows them to be self-sufficient. As we look to increase the number of beneficiaries who return to work, we seek evidence on successful models for providing employment services and on barriers to employment. Studies could examine this topic both in terms of labor demand and labor supply.
Universities and other organizations, or associations of universities and/or other organizations, in the United States are eligible to apply; a limited number of individual researchers/investigators associated with international institutions may be included as key personnel.
a. We anticipate that approximately $11,990,000 will be available to fund the initial 12- month budget period of one or more five-year cooperative agreement(s) pursuant to the announcement. b. Applicants must include detailed budget estimates for the first year, assuming a funding level of up to $4.75 million. c. The amount of funds available for the cooperative agreement in future years has not been established. Legislative support for continued funding of the RDRC cannot be guaranteed and funding is subject to future appropriations and budgetary approval.
