Table of Contents
The National Beneficiary Survey (NBS) is a study sponsored by the Social Security Administration. The NBS asks about your health, work, and employment-related services you may have received in the past year. The goal is to use the information from the survey to make programs better for people who get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
We selected you randomly from a list of all individuals who receive disability benefits from us. We are asking you to share your experiences to help us make our programs better. Your participation will benefit not only yourself, but also others who receive these benefits. Your response makes a difference and your help is critical to the survey’s success. We greatly appreciate your help.
We hired Mathematica, a research company, to help us with this study. Mathematica conducts NBS interviews over the telephone or in-person. If you were chosen to participate, you may have received letters or postcards from the Social Security Administration. In addition, Mathematica staff may have called you or visited your home.
If you have any questions or concerns about the study or the interviewer, please call Mathematica’s toll-free number at 1-844-684-9433 to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor will answer your questions and verify the interviewer works for Mathematica.
If you have received a call, letter, or postcard asking you to complete the NBS survey, please call Mathematica toll-free at 1-844-684-9433 or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com. You will be able to do one of three things:
- Take the survey. Mathematica will send you a $30 gift card as a thank you for completing the survey.
- Schedule a time to take the survey later and someone will call you back when you are ready.
- Let us know that you are not interested in participating so we can update our records.
We require all in-person interviewers to show a Mathematica badge (see below) that displays a color photograph of the interviewer, the name of the survey, and the toll-free National Beneficiary Survey help desk number 1-844-684-9433.
Example Mathematica Badge
You can also add Mathematica as a contact to your phone by scanning this QR code:
Frequently Asked Questions
About the National Beneficiary Survey
- What is the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS)?
The NBS is sponsored by the Social Security Administration. Through the NBS, we gather information about people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It tells us about their health and well-being, the health and employment services they use, their experiences with Social Security programs, their employment goals, their education and other information that is not available elsewhere. We are conducting the NBS for research purposes only. We use the information to assess how well our programs work, and to respond to questions from Congress, federal agencies, researchers, and the public.
For information about the NBS or to access documentation, please visit our NBS page.
- Who is responsible for conducting the survey?
We hired Mathematica to conduct the interviews and process the data. Mathematica is an independent, non-partisan research firm.
- Why does the government collect statistics on the individuals who
receive disability benefits?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are among the largest programs that the Federal government runs. Information from the NBS will help us learn how well our programs meet your needs and the needs of people like you. It will also give us a better understanding of the characteristics and experiences of SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients, such as:
- How many completed high school?
- How many have young children?
- How many have limitations in daily activities, such as climbing stairs?
- How many are interested in working?
- How many receive accommodations fro
- their employer, if they work?
What to Expect
- What should I expect if I participate?
We will mail you a letter asking you to complete an NBS interview with Mathematica. If you would like to take the survey, please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433 (toll-free) or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com.
If you need assistance taking the survey, you can use Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), Video Relay Service (VRS), amplifiers, and instant messaging. You may also request an in-person interview. Please let Mathematica know what type of help you might need.
Mathematica will ask you some questions to verify that you are eligible for the survey. If you are eligible for the survey and complete an interview, Mathematica will send you a $30 gift card as a thank-you.
- How long will the survey take?
- Am I required to participate in NBS?
- How do I complete the interview?
Mathematica will interview you over the telephone or at your home. If you would like to take the survey now, set up a time for the interview, or need help to complete it, please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433 (toll-free) or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com.
- What kinds of questions will you ask me?
We will ask you questions about your health and well-being, the health and employment services you use, your experience with Social Security programs, your employment goals, and your education.
For example, information from the NBS can help us answer questions about the people who receive disability benefits, such as:
- What kinds of health care do people have?
- What support services would help people the most?
- How many use assistive devices or special equipment?
- How many get accommodations from their employer if they work?
- If I think a question is too personal, do I have to answer it?
No. You do not need to answer questions that you feel are too personal. Please know that answering all of the questions will help us get a more complete picture of the individuals who receive our benefits. All of the information that we collect is kept strictly confidential and we do not use it to identify survey participants.
- How did you select me to be in the survey?
We selected you from a list of all individuals who receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. We selected you randomly from the list, similar to a lottery. Because you were randomly selected to participate, you cannot be replaced! Your participation in the survey is very important to the survey’s success and we greatly appreciate your help with it.
- I’m not available right now. Can I do the interview another time
We can schedule a time for the interview that works best for you. You can also complete the survey in multiple sessions, over several days, if that is more convenient for you. Your answers represent people all across the country who receive our benefits. If you want to set up a time to talk now or need help to take part in the survey, please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433 (toll-free) or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com.
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I’m unable to respond to the survey due to a health condition or disability. Can someone else respond for me?
It is important that you respond to the survey. If you need assistance, Mathematica can interview you in person. You may also use Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), Video Relay Service (VRS), amplifiers, and instant messaging. If your health or disability prevents you from being able to respond, Mathematica can conduct the interview with a close family member, friend, or other representative on your behalf. Please have that person call Mathematica at at 1-844-684-9433 (toll-free) or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com.
- Can I contact someone to discuss my concerns before completing the
survey?
Yes. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433 or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com. You can also contact our NBS mailbox at NBS@ssa.gov.
The average NBS interview takes about 60 to 70 minutes to complete.
No. Your participation is voluntary and you may refuse to answer any questions you do not want to answer. If you decide not to participate, your benefits will not be affected in any way. Please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433 (toll-free) to let them know that you don’t want to do the survey.
Although taking part is your choice, please know that your responses will help make our programs better. Your answers represent those receiving disability benefits across the country, so your taking part is very important to the success of the survey. We will not use any information you provide during the survey to make decisions about your disability benefits.
Privacy and Security
- Will you keep my responses and personal information private, and how will you protect my data?
Yes. We take protecting your privacy and confidentiality very seriously. We use the information we collect in the NBS for research purposes only. In all of our study reports, we publish only summaries of the answers. We will never use your name or any other information that can identify you in a study report. Federal law requires us to protect your data. We store all study information in secure, locked facilities and control access to computerized files and systems. We will destroy your response data when it is no longer needed for research or statistical purposes. All Mathematica interviewers and researchers must pass a security clearance before they begin work on the NBS. They sign an agreement to protect your information and follow the government’s privacy laws and policies. Any staff member from the Social Security Administration or Mathematica who violates these Federal laws will face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.
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How do I know if the interviewer is really from Mathematica?
Mathematica conducts NBS interviews over the phone or in-person. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of the study or have questions about the interviewer, please hang up and call Mathematica’s toll-free number at 1-844-684-9433 to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor will answer your questions and verify that the interviewer works for Mathematica.
We require all in-person interviewers to show a Mathematica badge that displays a color photograph of the interviewer, the name of the survey, and the company name.
How the Data from the National Beneficiary Survey (NBS) is Used
- Who will use this information?
We combine your answers with those of other survey participants to produce important statistical information about our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. Government policymakers, legislators, administrators, and researchers use the data from the NBS to learn more about the people who receives disability benefits. They also use the information to plan, evaluate, and improve Social Security policies and programs.
- How will you use my data?
The NBS provides information about individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. We use the data from the NBS to determine how well these programs meet your needs and the needs of people like you. We use the information to assess how well our programs work, and to respond to questions from Congress, federal agencies, researchers and the public. We release the answers to the NBS questions in research reports and summaries for Congress and the general public. Please visit our NBS page for more information.
We will not use your information to make decisions about your disability benefits.
$30 thank you Gift Card
Will the $30 thank you gift card affect my benefits?
When will I receive my $30 gift card?
Does everyone receive a $30 gift card?
No. Here is a summary of our rules for gift cards:
We consider the $30 gift card unearned income because it is only received once and it is under the $60 threshold used to calculate the benefits of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. The $30 incentive payment is unearned income that falls under the “Infrequent or Irregular Income Exclusion” (POMS: SI 00810.410). This exclusion applies to income that you receive infrequently or irregularly and is less than the first $30 per month for earned income and/or the first $60 per calendar quarter for unearned income. Since these payments are unearned income under the $60 threshold and received once, they are wholly excluded in calculating the benefits of SSI recipients.
You will receive the gift card within 2 weeks of completing your interview. If you do not receive your gift card on time, please call Mathematica at 1-844-684-9433.
Everyone who completes a survey will receive a $30 gift card.
Examples of NBS Mailings
An independent research company, Mathematica, helps us with this study. You may have received letters, postcards, or flyers from the Social Security Administration or Mathematica. In addition, someone from Mathematica may have attempted to call you or visit your home.
Here are a few samples of these materials. Please note that some text may be different from the mailings that you receive.
Visiting Your Home
Mathematica conducts NBS interviews only over the phone or in-person. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of the study or want to verify that the interviewer works for Mathematica, please call Mathematica’s toll-free number at 1-844-684-9433 to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor will answer your questions and verify that the interviewer works for Mathematica.
We require all in-person interviewers to show a Mathematica badge that displays a color photograph of the interviewer, the name of the survey, and the company name.
Example Mathematica Badge
Contact Us
Mathematica , an independent research firm, helps us with this study. Their interviewers may call you or visit your home. Do you have questions about the study? Do you want to confirm that the materials you received in the mail are legitimate? Do you want to verify that the person who called you, or visited your home, works for Mathematica? Please call Mathematica toll-free at 1-844-684-9433 or send an email to nbshelp@mathematica-mpr.com.
You can also add Mathematica as a contact to your phone by scanning this QR Code:
Do you have questions or need assistance regarding your Social Security Administration
benefits? Or other general Social Security questions? Please contact the Social
Security Administration.