Health disparities among Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries who participate in federal rental housing assistance programs

Abstract

BackgroundApproximately 1.2 million non-elderly adults jointly participate in U.S. Department of Urban Development (HUD) rental housing assistance and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability programs (Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), yet information about the health of these program participants is limited. Objective/Hypothesis. Non-elderly DI and/or SSI participants participating in HUD-assisted rental housing programs face unique health disparities. MethodsUsing newly available 2013–2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data linked with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administrative records on public and assisted housing programs, multivariate analyses were used to highlight differences in health status, health behaviors, health care utilization, and financial worry about health and housing costs between non-elderly persons participating in HUD rental housing assistance programs who were and who were not also participating in DI and/or SSI. ResultsThe focal population had higher predicted probabilities of fair or poor health status, chronic condition diagnoses (hypertension, asthma, diabetes), and obesity than others but a lower probability of smoking (p < .05). Engagement with the health care system is high, yet 32% needed but could not afford services in the past year. ConclusionsOpportunities for joint intervention between HUD and SSA to improve the health of their program participants are discussed.