Vocational considerations and trends in Social Security Disability

Along with health, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) evaluates work-limiting disability by considering vocational factors including age, education, and past work experience. SSDI determinations based on these factors have grown threefold since 1985. We use a unique state-level data-set to estimate how vocational demographics relate to SSDI awards and then assess the contribution of demographic change to SSDI trends. Although workers in their 50s are associated with higher SSDI award rates, secular increases in educational attainment should have offset the impact of population aging on rising SSDI claims, particularly those with vocational considerations.