Rights of Older Persons

Over 10 percent of the U.S. state prison population is 55 years and older and has a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and disability compared to the general population. Upon release from prison, many are unable to work and face myriad barriers in receiving disability benefits.

A lifecourse perspective on incarceration using a cumulative disadvantage framework is needed to illuminate unanswered questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits eligibility and access barriers for formerly incarcerated older adults to support their re-entry to society.

This community-based participatory research study aims to understand life course trajectories for incarceration and access to benefits upon release. Findings from this study will be used to advise the SSA on how to reduce barriers and increase uptake of Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program benefits and advise organizations that provide services to people released from prison on how to facilitate access to these benefits.

This project is funded by the SSA through the New York Retirement and Disability Research Center (NY-RDRC), which is part of the SSA’s Retirement and Disability Research Consortium. The NY-RDRC, led by Na Yin, Ruth Finkelstein, and Teresa Ghilarducci, is a collaboration of the CUNY Institute for Demographic Research at Baruch College, the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, and the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School.

Visit our Elder Justice project area for more of Brookdale’s work on the issue of justice-involved older adults.