Ryan Parsons

Parsons will examine the growing role of disability benefit programs—Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)—within the U.S. social safety net, particularly in rural regions experiencing long-term economic decline. While these programs were originally designed to address health-related work limitations, they have evolved into one of the largest sources of cash assistance for low-income Americans. Drawing on nearly 200 in-depth interviews across six high-poverty counties in the Deep South and Appalachia, Parsons will investigate how structural disadvantages, attachment to place, and limited labor market opportunities shape access to and experiences with disability benefits.