Academic Journal
View in EDS
Linked Full Text

Barriers to Program Information for Populations Underrepresented in Social Security Disability Programs: A Scoping Review

Bibliographic Details
Title: Barriers to Program Information for Populations Underrepresented in Social Security Disability Programs: A Scoping Review
Language: English
Authors: Megan Henly (ORCID 0000-0003-2035-9806), Shreya Paul (ORCID 0000-0001-6810-3477), Debra L. Brucker (ORCID 0000-0002-3081-5206), Andrew J. Houtenville, Kelly Nye-Lengerman (ORCID 0000-0001-8481-5407), Stacia Kingsbury (ORCID 0009-0006-3622-7006)
Source: Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2026 37(2):97-106.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Social Security Administration (SSA)
Contract Number: RDR1800000204
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Public Policy, Federal Programs, Literature Reviews, Access to Information, State Programs, Disabilities, Enrollment Rate, Rural Population, Older Adults, Internet, Information Dissemination, Organizational Communication, Race, Barriers, Outreach Programs
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Social Security
DOI: 10.1177/10442073261430839
ISSN: 1044-2073
1538-4802
Abstract: Enrollment in U.S. federal and state government benefit programs is substantially lower for some eligible demographic subpopulations, particularly those living in rural areas. Barriers faced when seeking program benefits may, in part, explain differences in enrollment. This research seeks to identify barriers to information faced by prospective beneficiaries who are members of demographic groups who are historically underrepresented in programs such as Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability Programs. We report the results of a scoping review of the literature, including English language articles published on U.S.-specific programs between 2012 and 2025, with data collected since 2010. Following a robust scoping review process, we identified 19 articles that mentioned key phrases related to federal programs, communication, and rurality across four databases. To improve equitable access to government programs, agencies must address the following three themes that emerged from this review: Any changes to communication approaches will affect the public's knowledge and enrollment; community-specific context must be considered; and because some barriers are specific to communicating with rural residents and other underserved communities, disability program marketing should be sensitive to such barriers.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1515443
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
  – Type: other
    Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com:443/public/rma-ftfapi/ejs/direct?AccessToken=459CA6BF3CBC183C48D7&Show=Object
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1515443
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Barriers to Program Information for Populations Underrepresented in Social Security Disability Programs: A Scoping Review
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Megan+Henly%22">Megan Henly</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2035-9806">0000-0003-2035-9806</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shreya+Paul%22">Shreya Paul</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6810-3477">0000-0001-6810-3477</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Debra+L%2E+Brucker%22">Debra L. Brucker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3081-5206">0000-0002-3081-5206</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+J%2E+Houtenville%22">Andrew J. Houtenville</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelly+Nye-Lengerman%22">Kelly Nye-Lengerman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8481-5407">0000-0001-8481-5407</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stacia+Kingsbury%22">Stacia Kingsbury</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3622-7006">0009-0006-3622-7006</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Disability+Policy+Studies%22"><i>Journal of Disability Policy Studies</i></searchLink>. 2026 37(2):97-106.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Social Security Administration (SSA)
– Name: NumberContract
  Label: Contract Number
  Group: NumCntrct
  Data: RDR1800000204
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Policy%22">Public Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Programs%22">Federal Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Information%22">Access to Information</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Programs%22">State Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment+Rate%22">Enrollment Rate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Population%22">Rural Population</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+Adults%22">Older Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet%22">Internet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Dissemination%22">Information Dissemination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+Communication%22">Organizational Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Race%22">Race</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outreach+Programs%22">Outreach Programs</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectThesaurus
  Label: Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Social+Security%22">Social Security</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/10442073261430839
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1044-2073<br />1538-4802
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Enrollment in U.S. federal and state government benefit programs is substantially lower for some eligible demographic subpopulations, particularly those living in rural areas. Barriers faced when seeking program benefits may, in part, explain differences in enrollment. This research seeks to identify barriers to information faced by prospective beneficiaries who are members of demographic groups who are historically underrepresented in programs such as Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability Programs. We report the results of a scoping review of the literature, including English language articles published on U.S.-specific programs between 2012 and 2025, with data collected since 2010. Following a robust scoping review process, we identified 19 articles that mentioned key phrases related to federal programs, communication, and rurality across four databases. To improve equitable access to government programs, agencies must address the following three themes that emerged from this review: Any changes to communication approaches will affect the public's knowledge and enrollment; community-specific context must be considered; and because some barriers are specific to communicating with rural residents and other underserved communities, disability program marketing should be sensitive to such barriers.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 20260101
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1515443
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1515443
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10442073261430839
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 97
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Public Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Information
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment Rate
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Population
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Older Adults
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Internet
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Dissemination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organizational Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outreach Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Security
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Barriers to Program Information for Populations Underrepresented in Social Security Disability Programs: A Scoping Review
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Megan Henly
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Shreya Paul
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Debra L. Brucker
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Andrew J. Houtenville
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kelly Nye-Lengerman
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Stacia Kingsbury
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1044-2073
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1538-4802
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 37
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Disability Policy Studies
              Type: main
ResultId 1