Retirement Measures in the Health and Retirement Survey

The HRS offers researchers the opportunity to explore a vast amount of detailed information that will help to answer outstanding questions about retirement. The survey provides new information, based on better measures than have ever been available before, that could help evaluate current programs and improve future policy design. The following areas of the HRS are praised for providing excellent data that will help researchers answer outstanding questions: labor, economic status, health status, family, and disability plan participation. Unique features such as administrative records on earnings and SS benefits and employer-provided data on pensions and health insurance are also described.