Q18c: Can your credit history affect your ability to receive Social Security benefits?

Demographic and experience categories Yes No Do not know Refused
All respondents 7.9 ( 0.7) 70.6 ( 1.3) 21.5 ( 1.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
AGE GROUP        
18 to 24 11.8 ( 3.1) 51.7 ( 5.1) 36.5 ( 5.0) 0.0 ( 0.0)
25 to 34 10.1 ( 2.0) 65.6 ( 3.3) 24.3 ( 2.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
35 to 44 4.6 ( 1.2) 74.9 ( 3.0) 20.5 ( 2.8) 0.0 ( 0.0)
45 to 54 7.6 ( 1.6) 73.3 ( 2.8) 19.1 ( 2.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
55 to 64 6.9 ( 1.7) 80.7 ( 2.8) 12.4 ( 2.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
65 and older 7.3 ( 1.6) 77.3 ( 2.6) 15.3 ( 2.2) 0.2 ( 0.2)
INCOME        
Less than $25000 12.5 ( 1.5) 58.7 ( 2.3) 28.7 ( 2.1) 0.1 ( 0.1)
$25000 to $49999 7.0 ( 1.5) 72.4 ( 2.9) 20.5 ( 2.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
$50000 to $74999 8.2 ( 1.9) 77.5 ( 2.9) 14.3 ( 2.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
$75000+ 3.0 ( 1.1) 79.2 ( 2.9) 17.8 ( 2.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
EDUCATION        
Less than high school 15.3 ( 2.6) 41.8 ( 3.7) 42.5 ( 3.7) 0.3 ( 0.3)
High school 11.3 ( 1.6) 65.4 ( 2.5) 23.3 ( 2.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Some post-secondary education 3.9 ( 1.0) 75.8 ( 2.5) 20.3 ( 2.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
BA or more 5.7 ( 1.3) 80.6 ( 2.2) 13.7 ( 1.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
ETHNICITY        
White 6.5 ( 0.9) 75.2 ( 1.7) 18.3 ( 1.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Black 7.7 ( 1.5) 70.6 ( 2.8) 21.4 ( 2.6) 0.2 ( 0.2)
Hispanic 13.4 ( 2.0) 48.9 ( 3.1) 37.8 ( 3.0) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Other 11.9 ( 4.0) 67.4 ( 5.8) 20.6 ( 4.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
SEX        
Male 7.7 ( 1.1) 70.7 ( 2.2) 21.7 ( 2.0) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Female 8.2 ( 1.0) 70.9 ( 1.6) 20.9 ( 1.4) 0.1 ( 0.1)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS        
Actively employed (FT or PT) 7.5 ( 1.0) 72.5 ( 1.7) 20.0 ( 1.6) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Student 8.8 ( 4.5) 58.5 ( 8.6) 32.7 ( 8.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 8.5 ( 1.2) 69.3 ( 2.2) 22.1 ( 2.0) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Other 8.2 ( 2.8) 64.0 ( 6.4) 27.8 ( 6.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE        
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 8.9 ( 2.0) 75.3 ( 2.8) 15.6 ( 2.3) 0.2 ( 0.2)
Resident of another state 7.7 ( 0.8) 69.9 ( 1.5) 22.4 ( 1.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE        
Obtained a credit report 5.9 ( 0.8) 76.0 ( 1.7) 18.0 ( 1.6) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Did not obtain a credit report 10.7 ( 1.3) 63.2 ( 2.1) 26.2 ( 1.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Obtained credit score 5.4 ( 1.0) 78.6 ( 2.1) 15.9 ( 1.9) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Did not obtain credit score 9.1 ( 1.0) 66.7 ( 1.7) 24.2 ( 1.6) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Disputed information on credit report 5.5 ( 1.3) 82.4 ( 2.4) 12.1 ( 2.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not dispute credit report information 8.4 ( 0.8) 68.0 ( 1.5) 23.5 ( 1.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Had an auto or mortgage loan 6.0 ( 0.7) 76.6 ( 1.4) 17.3 ( 1.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 14.2 ( 2.0) 50.4 ( 3.0) 35.3 ( 2.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Was a victim of identity theft 6.8 ( 1.9) 78.1 ( 3.5) 15.1 ( 3.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Was not a victim of identity theft 8.0 ( 0.8) 69.8 ( 1.4) 22.2 ( 1.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 4.3 ( 1.7) 76.8 ( 4.6) 18.9 ( 4.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 8.2 ( 0.8) 70.0 ( 1.4) 21.7 ( 1.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223