PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES’ HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER POLICIES CAN AFFECT SSI PARTICIPATION

Abstract

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) play important roles in public assistance for low-income households with disabilities. Public housing authorities (PHAs) can give preference to people with disabilities when allocating scarce HCVs. We hand-collect policies from 1,154 PHAs, including HCV waiting list procedures, HCV waiting list preferences, and the time periods HCV waiting list were open from 2010 to 2017. When PHAs with disability preferences open their HCV waiting list, SSI applications fall. These findings suggest that increasing funding for and accessibility to HCVs for low-income households with disabilities may reduce SSI costs.