A Data Base with Income and Assets of new Retirees by Race and Hispanic Origin

This study of persons who retired in 1980–81 across groups partitioned by marital status, sex, race, and Hispanic origin reveals substantial differences in income and asset holdings. Data from the New Beneficiary Survey show that (1) median income ranged from $11,000 for black couples to $18,000 for white couples, (2) social security payments were the major source of income, (3) pension income was more frequently received by white retirees, but when received, was of comparable value to all races, (4) home ownership was high among all retirees, especially couples, and (5) median assets of black retirees were very low—near zero.