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Article

Do People Get the Information They Need When They Claim Social Security? Evidence from Observations of the Social Security Administration Claims Process

Laurel Beedon, Lilia Chaidez, Susan Chin, Mark Glickman and Joel Marus
The Journal of Retirement Spring 2017, 4 (4) 53-68; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3905/jor.2017.4.4.053
Laurel Beedon
is a senior analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC.
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  • For correspondence: beedonl@gao.gov
Lilia Chaidez
is a senior economist with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC.
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  • For correspondence: chaidezl@gao.gov
Susan Chin
is a senior analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC.
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  • For correspondence: chins@gao.gov
Mark Glickman
is an assistant director with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in San Francisco, CA.
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  • For correspondence: glickmanm@gao.gov
Joel Marus
is a senior analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC.
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  • For correspondence: marusj@gao.gov
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Abstract

Many individuals claim Social Security retirement benefits as soon as they are eligible for them, even though these individuals would receive higher benefits if they delayed. This study examines (1) the extent to which people understand Social Security rules affecting their retirement benefits, and (2) what information the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides to individuals to enable them to make informed claiming decisions. The authors observed 30 in-person claims at SSA field offices and found that claimants were not consistently provided the information needed to make well-informed decisions. For example, in 8 of 26 claims interviews in which the claimant could have received higher benefits by delaying a claim, the claims specialist did not discuss the advantages and disadvantages of delay. Further, only 7 of the 18 claimants for whom the retirement earnings test could potentially apply were given complete information about how the test worked. The problems the authors observed during the claims interviews occurred in part because the questions included in the claims process did not cover some key information.

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The Journal of Retirement: 4 (4)
The Journal of Retirement
Vol. 4, Issue 4
Spring 2017
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Do People Get the Information They Need When They Claim Social Security? Evidence from Observations of the Social Security Administration Claims Process
Laurel Beedon, Lilia Chaidez, Susan Chin, Mark Glickman, Joel Marus
The Journal of Retirement Apr 2017, 4 (4) 53-68; DOI: 10.3905/jor.2017.4.4.053

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Do People Get the Information They Need When They Claim Social Security? Evidence from Observations of the Social Security Administration Claims Process
Laurel Beedon, Lilia Chaidez, Susan Chin, Mark Glickman, Joel Marus
The Journal of Retirement Apr 2017, 4 (4) 53-68; DOI: 10.3905/jor.2017.4.4.053
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • BACKGROUND
    • LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF KEY SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION, ALONG WITH FINANCIAL NEED AND OTHER FACTORS, MAY CONTRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUALS CLAIMING BENEFITS EARLY
    • SSA PROVIDES KEY CLAIMING INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE AND IN PUBLICATIONS BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY DURING THE CLAIMING PROCESS
    • CONCLUSIONS
    • APPENDIX A
    • APPENDIX B
    • ENDNOTES
    • REFERENCES
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