Technology and Disability: The Relationship Between Broadband Access and Disability Insurance Awards

This paper examines the association between Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) awards, disability, and technology access. The paper found that:  

• There is a negative relationship between DI award rates and computer, internet, and broadband access. Counties with a high proportion of DI beneficiaries have less access to computers, internet, and broadband than those with fewer DI beneficiaries, even after controlling for county-level characteristics such as age, race, housing prices, and rural/non-rural status;
• The technology gap is not limited to rural areas. Although people in non-rural areas have greater access to technology (e.g., computers, internet, and broadband) than those in rural areas, both non-rural and rural counties with high DI award rates are less likely than their counterparts with lower DI award rates to be connected;
• Disability rates, which are four times higher than DI award rates, exhibit a similar negative relationship with technology access.

The policy implications of the findings are:

• Considering the dual challenges facing people with disabilities who have low access to technology is important to providing services and programs to people and communities in need;
• Understanding the relationship between DI awards, disability, and technology access could help the Social Security Administration (SSA) identify specific areas of the country and specific groups with lower-than-expected applications because of limited technology.