Determinants of engagement in paid work - Following social security benefit receipt among older women

Work behavior among older men approaching or following retirement has recei ved considerable research attention over the past two decades, but research on older women's work behavior is still in its incipient stage. Based on d ata from the 1982 New Beneficiary Survey (NBS) and the 1991 New Beneficiary Follow-up (NBF), this study analyzes the extent and determinants of employ ment among women who received their first Social Security benefits between 1980 and 1981. More than one fourth of the women continued to work or rejoi ned the labor force following their first Social Security benefit receipt. Financial need was found to be the primary reason for and the most signific ant determinant of women's continuing work or (re)entry into the labor forc e. But the level of education, health, spouse's work status, and previous w ork history were also found to be significant determinants of the likelihoo d and duration of their employment following Social Security receipt.