Earnings
Respondents who indicated they were employed before receiving benefits and those who reported they had been employed after receiving benefits were asked “What were your average monthly wages (before taxes are taken out) from your last job before/after you started collecting Social Security benefits or Adult Public Assistance?” Reported monthly wages were slightly lower after receiving benefits than before.
Ninety-nine respondents who were employed before receiving benefits provided valid responses. The average reported monthly wage was $1,468.02, the median $1,080, and the mode $1,000. A Spearman Rho analysis revealed a slight correlation between educational attainment and wages that is statistically significant (R=.264; p = .009). Those with higher levels of education reported higher levels of income before they began receiving benefits.
Thirteen respondents who had been employed after receiving benefits provided valid responses. The highest monthly wage reported was $3,500 and the lowest wage was $125. The average monthly wage was $1,017.54, the median was $907and the mode was $1,200. The median income of employed respondents was slightly less after receiving benefits than before.
