An Empirical Analysis of Unemployment Duration and Disability Application Decisions

Na Yin, Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY)

The aim of this research is to examine the changes in the decision to apply and the timing of application for disability from the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program as well as from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, of the different pools of applicants in the most recent recessionary period, and their connection with unemployment duration and unemployment insurance policies. We will also analyze how the health of the applicants to the DI and SSI programs varies over the business cycle.