Identity Scenarios Set 4

How do different people interact with and experience SSA Programs?

As you read through the pre-readings coming up in this module, we'd like you to consider what you're learning about SSA policies and programs through the lens of three "identities" or personas. Each identity below will interact with SSA in various ways over their life course.

You and the other JSIT scholars have been randomly assigned to three identities we'd like you to explore with a research lens. Yours are:

1. 25 year old visually-impaired male who has been working since high school
2. 62 year old woman who has lived and worked  in the US since age 35 but is not a citizen
3. 62 year old man who worked in Ohio’s state government for his whole career

As you complete the pre-readings and listen to presentations on Monday morning, please consider and make notes about:

• What benefits might this person be eligible to receive? Under what circumstances? 
• How would access to benefits impact a person like this example?
• What research questions does this life-circumstance make you think about?

You can also explore these identities using SSA Benefits Tool: https://ssabest.benefits.gov/benefit-finder 

You'll share your notes informally in small group discussions on Monday afternoon.