The Nation - News from Aug. 10, 1987

Americans 65 and older get more income from Social Security than any other source, according to a study published in the Social Security Bulletin. Measured in constant 1984 dollars, the typical elderly married couple’s total cash income from Social Security, earnings and all other sources rose from $9,780 in 1962 to $17,250 in 1984. The typical non-married elderly person’s income rose from $3,840 to $6,690 in the same period. The study found that the elderly derived 38% of their cash income from Social Security; 1% from Railroad Retirement benefits; 7% from government employee pensions; 6% from private pensions and annuities; 16% from job earnings; 28% from interest and dividends or other returns on assets, 1% from welfare and 2% from various other sources.