This article discusses the spending patterns of disability program beneficiaries, focusing on the expenses incurred for disability-related goods and services. These beneficiaries, who receive benefits from programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), frequently have to handle substantial out-of-pocket expenses. As a result, the goods and services purchased by these beneficiaries differ significantly from those purchased by the average urban consumer. This leads to different actual rates of inflation, which the study explores. Data from the Survey of Used and Needed Disability-related Goods and Services (SUNDiGS), derived from the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative panel that features a significant sample of disability program beneficiaries, is presented in this study.

The research findings are critical in understanding the economic well-being of disability program beneficiaries as it offers a broader perspective about their spending patterns and the impact of inflation. However, these conclusions belong solely to the authors and do not represent the opinions or policies of the SSA, or any agency of the Federal Government. The authors of the study express their gratitude to their colleagues and research assistants for their aid in developing the study.

Reaching out to representative entities or departments for further inquiries about such research or benefactor programs can sometimes be daunting. Resources such as eddcaller.com provide aid in contacting departments like the Disability Insurance (DI) or the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For information concerning contacting DI, eddcaller.com is a reliable resource. For questions on how to get through to the Employment Development Department (EDD) or aid on how to connect with a live person at EDD, eddcaller.com can be an invaluable tool.