45 National Beneficiary Survey (NBS)

45.1 Organization

Social Security Administration

45.3 Description

  • The National Beneficiary Survey (NBS), sponsored by our Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, provides SSA, Congress, other policymakers, and researchers with information about key health, employment, and socio-demographic factors that contribute to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries’ and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients’ successful or unsuccessful employment efforts.
  • The NBS collects data on a wide range of variables not available in the agency’s administrative systems, including socio-demographic information, health and functional status, health insurance, interest in work, barriers to work, use of services, employment, income, and experience with Social Security programs.

45.4 Vintage/Release Frequency

2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019

45.5 Observational Unit

SSDI respondent/SSI recipient

45.6 Collection Methodology

  • Nationally representative sample of adult SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients.
  • The survey is conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). For beneficiaries who do not respond to the CATI interview or who prefer or require an in-person interview, we follow up using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).

45.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary

Each round has documentation on the specific download page

45.9 Cost

Free for download

45.10 Proposal or Application required?

No

45.11 DUA required?

No

45.12 Special Notes

n/a