The Racial Longevity Gap Past Age 65: Implications for Raising the Retirement Age
Authors: Teresa Ghilarducci and Kyle Moore
Date: December 2014
In 1950, both black and white American men who reached age 65 could expect to live twelve more years. By 2010, white men at age 65 were projected to live almost 2 years longer than black men, while white women could expect to live one year longer than black women. In 60 years, racial equity turned into a racial gap in age-65 life expectancy. This is significant when considering public policy proposals that seek to cut Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age. A racial gap in life expectancy past the age of 65 means this cut in benefits will disproportionately impact Blacks.