Retirement News, Benefits, and Pensions for Seniors

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Find retirement news and resources for seniors and people with disabilities, covering pensions, Social Security benefits, savings, and retirement planning.

At a Glance

• 1 - Around 75 percent of Americans claim Social Security the moment they qualify at age 62.
• 2 - About 55 percent of people aged 65 or older rely on Social Security for half or more of their income.
• 3 - Private-sector workers with a guaranteed pension fell from roughly 39 percent in 1980 to near 15 percent today.
• 4 - A 2015 survey found 54 percent of workers aged 60 and older plan to work after leaving their current career, most of them part-time.

Topic Definition

Retirement

Retirement is the point in life when a person stops working for good, though many people ease into it by cutting back their hours in a phase often called semi-retirement. People commonly step away from the workforce once they qualify for a private or public pension, while others are pushed into it earlier by illness, injury, or rules attached to their job. There is no single "correct" age to retire, yet each country tends to have a standard age shaped by its tax laws and state pension rules, usually somewhere between 55 and 70. Money is only part of the picture: a sound retirement generally rests on three supports - pension benefits, Social Security, and personal savings and investments - alongside decisions about health, lifestyle, and where and how a person wants to spend these years.

About This Section

Retirement is the defined as the point in life where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours. Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to work anymore (by illness or accident) or as a result of legislation concerning their position.

A person may retire at whatever age they please. However, a country's tax laws or state old-age pension rules usually mean that in a given country a certain age is thought of as the "standard" retirement age. Many factors affect people's retirement decisions. Social Security clearly plays an important role. In countries around the world, people are much more likely to retire at the early and normal retirement ages of the public pension system. Greater wealth tends to lead to earlier retirement, since wealthier individuals can essentially "purchase" additional leisure. Generally, the effect of wealth on retirement is difficult to estimate empirically, since observing greater wealth at older ages may be the result of increased saving over the working life anticipating earlier retirement.

The "standard" retirement age varies from country to country, but it is generally between 55 and 70. In some countries, this age is different for males and females. In the United States, while the normal retirement age for Social Security, or Old Age Survivors Insurance (OASI), historically has been age 65 to receive unreduced benefits, it is gradually increasing to age 67. For those turning 65 in 2008, full benefits will be payable beginning at age 66.

The three major elements of your retirement portfolio are:

• Benefits from pensions
• Social Security benefits
• Savings and investments

Retirement Factors

Many factors affect people's retirement decisions. Social Security clearly plays an important role.

In countries around the world, people are much more likely to retire at the early and normal retirement ages of the public pension system (e.g., ages 62 and 65 in the U.S.). This pattern cannot be explained by different financial incentives to retire at these ages since typically retirement benefits at these ages are approximately actuarial fair; that is, the present value of lifetime pension benefits (pension wealth) conditional on retiring at age and is approximately the same as pension wealth conditional on retiring one year later at age a+1.

Nevertheless, a large study have found that individuals respond significantly to financial incentives relating to retirement (e.g., to discontinuities stemming from the Social Security earnings test or the tax system).

• In the United States, the standard retirement age is currently 65 (gradually increasing to 67).
• The AARP allows couples in which one spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of the age of the other spouse.
• In Canada, the OASP (Old Age Security Pension) is available at 65 (gradually increasing to 67, starting in the period 2023-2029), and the CPP (Canada Pension Plan) as early as age 60.

According to Recent Research

• One in four (24%) Americans are unsure if their savings will last.
• More than one in ten (12%) think there is a 100% chance their savings will run out someday.
• More than half (52%) say they have not taken any steps to address the risk of outliving their savings.
• One third (31%) of U.S. adults believe there is greater than a 50% chance they will outlive their savings.
• Nearly a third (30%) say it is not at all likely that Social Security will be there for them when they need it.

U.S. Retirement Facts

• 55% of people 65 or older rely on Social Security for half or more of their income.
• Approximately 75% of Americans start claiming Social Security benefits the moment they are eligible at age 62.
• In 1980, some 39 percent of private-sector workers had a pension that guaranteed a steady payout during retirement. Today, that number stands closer to 15 percent, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute in Washington, D.C.
• According to the 2015 CareerBuilder's annual retirement survey, "54% of senior workers (age 60+) say they'll work after retiring from their current career - up from 45% last year. Of this group, 81% say they'll most likely work part-time, while 19% plan to continue working full-time.
• According to a 2012 report from the Center for Retirement Research, "at Social Security's earliest retirement age of 62, only about 30 percent of households are prepared for retirement... By age 66, Social Security's current Full Retirement Age, about 55 percent of house-holds are projected to be prepared.

As you approach retirement, you'll need to check your personal, company, and State pensions. You must make sure you have enough income to provide for your needs in the future. Find out when you can retire and where to get help with checking your pensions, savings, and investments. You should check your personal or company pension, as you approach retirement, to make sure you have enough income for your future retirement. How much your personal or company pension is worth depends on how much has been put in and how well it has been invested.

Retirement often coincides with important life changes; a retired worker might move to a new location, for example a retirement community, thereby having less frequent contact with their previous social context and adopting a new lifestyle. Typically, retirees volunteer for charities and other community organizations. Tourism is a common marker of retirement and for some becomes a way of life, such as for so-called gray nomads.

As well as considering your finances as you approach retirement, you also need to think about taking care of your health. By taking some small steps to keep healthy and active now, you can increase your chances of enjoying a healthy, independent life in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to retire comfortably

There is no single figure, since the amount depends on your expenses, lifestyle, health, location, and expected lifespan, so many advisors suggest planning for income that replaces a large share of your working salary.

Can people with disabilities receive retirement benefits

Yes, individuals with disabilities may qualify for retirement and disability benefits, and in many systems disability benefits convert to retirement benefits once the person reaches full retirement age.

What is the difference between early and full retirement age

Early retirement age lets you claim reduced benefits sooner, while full retirement age is when you can receive unreduced benefits, so claiming early usually means a smaller monthly payment.

How can I check if my pension will be enough

Review your personal, company, and state pension statements, estimate your future costs, and seek guidance from a pension provider or financial advisor to see whether your projected income meets your needs.

Does working after retirement affect my benefits

It can, because earnings above certain limits before full retirement age may temporarily reduce Social Security payments, though benefits are often recalculated later to reflect the withheld amounts.

When is the best time to start claiming Social Security

The best timing varies by person, since claiming later increases monthly payments while claiming early provides income sooner, so health, savings, and financial needs should all guide the choice.

What non-financial changes come with retirement

Retirement often brings lifestyle shifts such as moving to a new community, volunteering, traveling, or building new routines, so planning for purpose and social connection matters as much as planning finances.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 2 Aug 2026