Federal grant programs / Social Security Administration

Social Security Research and Demonstration (96.007)

Also known as Retirement and Disability Research Consortium (RDRC)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$66.8 million
• Grant awards18
• Typical award$4.4 million
• Awarded in FY 2025-$2.9 million
• Size rank935 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• It is the 935th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 13 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 9 states and territories.

What the program funds

(1) To conduct social, economic, and demographic research on topics important to the Social Security Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs and the current and future well-being of their beneficiaries; (2) to develop and carry out experiments and research demonstration projects to determine the efficacy of: (a) alternative ways of rehabilitating beneficiaries and encouraging their return to work; and (b) modifying conditions applicable to such beneficiaries including: (i) early referral for rehabilitation services; and (ii) greater use of employers and others in the rehabilitation and placement process.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Applicants applying for grant funds may include research organizations, associations of research organizations, State and local governments, educational institutions, hospitals, public and private organizations, and nonprofit and profit organizations. Private individuals are not eligible to apply. Profit organizations may apply with the understanding that no grant funds may be paid as profit to grant recipients. Profit is considered any amount in excess of the allowable costs of the grant recipient. A profit organization is a corporation or other legal entity that is organized or operated for the profit or benefit of its shareholders or other owners and must be distinguishable or legally separable from that of an individual acting on his/her own behalf.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Grants are awarded for innovative research which add to existing knowledge and improve methods and techniques for the management, administration, and effectiveness of Social Security Administration (SSA) programs. Grant funds may not be used for construction or major renovation of buildings.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Grantees must match 5 percent of the total project cost.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Range: $2.6 M to $3.2M and Average $2.3M.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 45% of the money, colleges and universities 44% and businesses 9.0%.

By state

8 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.