Intergovernmental Personnel Act Opportunities

The Social Security Administration (SSA) anticipates the availability of two research positions for up to 1 year under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) program. SSA is interested in research concerning retirement behavior; wealth accumulation, including pension accounts and savings behavior; and macroeconomic issues related to Social Security. Final project details are open to negotiation.

With appropriate clearances, a researcher typically has access to SSA administrative records, including earnings and benefit records. We maintain extracts of these records that can be matched to surveys, such as the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation and the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study, as well as research files for SSA tabulations, such as the Continuous Work History Sample.

The positions would be based in Baltimore, MD or Washington, D.C., with telework available, and would begin at a mutually agreeable date. To be eligible for the IPA program, a researcher must be employed for at least 90 days in a career position at a state or local government agency, nonprofit organization, university, Indian Tribal government, or federally funded research and development center. SSA would negotiate an agreement with the individual's employer for salary and fringe benefits while working on SSA projects. Travel expenses may also be available.

Interested researchers are encouraged to submit a cover letter describing research interests, a résumé, and a recent research paper to ORDP.IPA@ssa.gov.

SSA is an equal opportunity employer.