Racially Disparate Effects of Raising the Retirement Age
RELAB WORKING PAPER
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Advocates for raising the retirement age to 70 and beyond argue that since the "average" American is living longer, lifetime benefits are actually increasing.
However, black seniors die sooner and are sick for a longer period of time than white seniors. This means that any policy to cut Social Security benefits by raising the normal retirement age will have a disparate and negative impact on Blacks. This study examines the size and growth of racial gaps in mortality and morbidity, and shows that while some groups have experienced lifetime benefit increases, others have not.
