Immigrant Diversity and Social Security: Recent Patterns and Future Prospects
Immigrant Diversity and Social Security: Recent Patterns and Future Prospects MELISSA M. FAVREAULT AUSTIN NICHOLS April 30, 2011 URBAN INSTITUTE 2100 M STREET, N.W. / WASHINGTON D.C. 20037-1231 The research reported herein was pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) funded as part of the Retirement Research Consortium (RRC). The findings and conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views of SSA, any agency of the federal government, the RRC, the Urban Institute, its board, or its funders. We thank Richard Johnson and Juan Pedroza of the Urban Institute, Bill Davis of the Social Security Administration, plus participants in a seminar at the Social Security Administration’s Division of Policy Evaluation in the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics for helpful comments. Thuy Ho of the Social Security Administration facilitated access to the survey data matched to the administrative records. All errors remain our own. ABSTRACT Immigration is transforming the U.S. labor force with important consequences for Social Security’s adequacy and finances. Using longitudinal data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation matched to administrative data on lifetime earnings and benefit receipt, we measure the extent to which nonnatives’ lifetime earning patterns, payroll taxes paid, benefits received, and total incomes differ from those for the U.S.-born population. We consider other outcomes important to retirement security, like health status, marital status, and financial wealth. We also compare various immigrant groups with one another. Our findings stress heterogeneity in labor force and Social Security experiences among immigrants.
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