The National Survey of SSI Children and Families (NSCF) will collect data on children with disabilities and their families who are receiving or have applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The survey, sponsored by the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, has two major objectives: (1) to provide information on the characteristics, experiences, and needs of current SSI child recipients and their families, and (2) to evaluate the effects of welfare reform on SSI children. The NSCF, planned for administration in 2001, will be the first national survey of SSI children since 1978. Since then, many changes have taken place in the SSI program for children. In 1990-1991, as a result of the Supreme Court's Zebley decision, regulatory changes were introduced that led to a large-scale growth in the number of children receiving SSI benefits. In 1996, welfare reform made eligibility for childhood SSI benefits more restrictive and about 100,000 children lost SSI benefits. Aside from SSA's administrative data, there is little information for evaluating the effects of these changes on SSI children. Further, competing views about how best to structure the childhood SSI program require timely, credible data. The NSCF will fill a critical data need by providing current information on the health and well-being of SSI children and their families. Survey data will be used by SSA for policymaking and program planning, and by external researchers interested in children's health and disability issues.
Learning Objectives: (1) To gain familiarity with the National Survey of SSI Children and Families, including the survey's background and objectives, content and data collection procedures, sample design, data products, and potential use by external researchers. (2) To learn about complex survey designs involving multiple objectives and low-income families with disabled children.
Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Disability Studies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Social Security Administration, Mathematica Policy Research
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by Social Security Administration