The Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP), in collaboration with the Center for Financial Security (CFS), at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have funding to support the study of economically vulnerable populations related to poverty, retirement, and disability policy. Funded by a cooperative agreement between CFS and the Social Security Administration (SSA), this small grant program is designed to expand the reach of poverty research into issues related to retirement and disability policies and programs. Applicants can propose research projects that address any area of relevance to retirement and disability research. Issues and studies of special interest include:

• ·         Interactions between public assistance and social insurance over the life-course;
• ·         The role of health, health insurance, and financial decisions in household financial security;
• ·         How economically vulnerable households combine work, pensions, and social insurance over the life course; and
• ·         Low-net-wealth households and retirement well-being, including the role of housing wealth, saving, and debt.

The small grants will provide funding up to $45,000. This funding is intended as seed money for a larger project related to Social Security and disability research.

Applicants must be Ph.D.-holding, U.S.-based scholars at the time of application. Individuals not associated with an institution (domestic or foreign) and foreign entities are ineligible for awards made under this announcement. Junior faculty are particularly encouraged to apply. All proposals that address Social Security, retirement, and disability topics, especially related to economically vulnerable populations, are eligible for funding.

Please refer to the attached call or link here for more details and application instructions.