Delaying retirement Social Security for women could 'improve cognition and health'
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that delaying retirement for women could have unexpected health benefits, particularly for single women, as the state pension age is set to rise
Continuing to work into your 60s could lead to unexpected health benefits, especially for single women, according to new research. This comes as the Social Security Administration is set to increase the federal retirement age in the US, shedding light on the potential health advantages of prolonged employment.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies conducted an analysis on the impact of UK women in the 2010s who had to extend their working years beyond their planned retirement due to the increase in state pension age from 60 to 65.
Researchers found that these women experienced improved cognition, decreased rates of physical disability, and quicker walking speeds. Single women, in particular, reaped significant benefits.
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The researchers noted: "This suggests that it is those who live alone, who are more likely to see a drop in social interactions upon retirement, who gained the most from the stimulation of work, and that these benefits are not confined to jobs typically seen as cognitively demanding."
Women with sedentary roles, such as office workers, saw slower walking speeds, while those with physical work saw higher rates of improved mobility, reports the Express.
This research comes as the age at which Americans can access full retirement benefits has increased this month. That age, which depends on your birth year, has been steadily increasing throughout the years to account for longer life expectancy.
David Sturrock, Associate Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and contributor to the research, pointed out: "As a result, many people face a longer working life.
"Our research shows that paid work can help to maintain cognitive functioning and physical mobility. This is particularly true for single women and those whose jobs involve some amount of movement.
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"However, not all work is beneficial, with sedentary jobs being actively harmful for physical mobility. Whether longer working is good for health also depends on what people will do once they retire – if the government wants to promote health at older ages then encouraging social interaction and physical exercise among retirees would also be beneficial."
The team outlined some restrictions of their study, acknowledging that it focused specifically on short-term impacts following changes in state pension age for women during the 2010s.
They further acknowledged that women who did not continue working past the updated state pension age often faced financial strife and potentially suffered from health issues as well.
Their appeal to policymakers is to encourage retirees to remain socially active and physically engaged, and to create employment opportunities that bolster health and wellbeing for seniors.
