NCHS-SSA Feasibility Study Files

To maximize the use of the restricted-use linked NCHS-SSA files, NCHS has created publicly available NCHS-SSA Feasibility Study data files that can be downloaded directly from this website. These files are especially useful to researchers considering whether to initiate a RDC proposal to analyze the restricted-use linked NCHS-SSA files. The feasibility files provide a limited set of variables that can be used to determine the maximum available sample size for each linked file. Each feasibility file is NCHS survey specific and includes the following: NCHS public id, survey respondent eligibility status for SSA linkage, final match status, and variables specifying on which SSA data files the successfully linked survey respondent has a record. It is important to note that the feasibility study files do not contain any specific information about SSA benefits.

A NCHS-SSA Feasibility Study file has been created for the following NCHS surveys:

• 1994-2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
• NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS)
• Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)
• 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
• The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II)
• 1985, 1995, 1997 & 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)

 

Accessing the NCHS-SSA Feasibility Data

• Data Documentation [PDF - 36 KB]
• Public-use ASCII data files
• Sample File Layout [TXT - 1 KB]