TY - RPRT T1 - The Changing Causes and Consequences of Not Working Before Age 62 Y1 - 2012 A1 - Barbara A Butrica A1 - Nadia S. Karamcheva KW - Consumption and Savings KW - Disabilities KW - Employment and Labor Force KW - Net Worth and Assets KW - Public Policy KW - Social Security AB - This study uses the Health and Retirement Study to deepen our understanding of nonworking adults ages 51 to 61 and how they support themselves before qualifying for Social Security benefits. The results show that nonworking adults ages 51 to 61 are a heterogeneous group. A large share is poor, with low incomes and limited wealth. But a sizeable share has low incomes and abundant wealth. These individuals are income poor but asset rich. More than for singles, this phenomenon characterizes nonworking married adults. In general, we find that nonworking married adults are significantly better off than their unmarried counterparts. Many nonworking married adults have working spouses. On average, married adults without earnings have twice the per person income and more than ten times the per person assets of single adults without earnings. Additionally, married adults without earnings are 20-30 percentage points less likely to be poor than single adults without earnings. It is important for policymakers to understand who stops working early and how they support themselves. Nonworkers may be more likely to apply and qualify for Social Security disability and SSI benefits. Also, more than any other group, nonworkers will be adversely impacted by any increases to the early entitlement age. Finally, nonworkers are especially vulnerable in retirement because they are likely to have lower savings, Social Security benefits, and pensions than workers. JF - Urban Institute Discussion Paper PB - The Urban Institute CY - Washington, D.C. UR - https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/23531/412801-The-Changing-Causes-and-Consequences-of-Not-Working-before-Age-.PDF U4 - Social Security/Public Policy/DISABILITY/DISABILITY/Asset accumulation/Saving/labor Force Participation ER -