Women’s Timing of Receipt of Social Security Retirement Benefits

The 2000–2006 waves of Health and Retirement Study data were used to estimate the effects of human capital characteristics and income sources on women’s timing of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits. Using logistic regression, the likelihood of early election of benefits was increased by earnings regardless of marital status; and, for married women, by husband’s age being greater than wife’s, and by other income. For married women, education decreased the likelihood of electing early benefits. For unmarried women, IRA/annuity income reduced the likelihood of early receipt of benefits. Using multinomial logistic regression, the likelihood of combinations of expected and actual benefit receipt options were estimated. A greater percentage of married, compared to unmarried, women expected and elected early benefits.