The Causal Effects of Old Age Pensions

National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Aging

Treatments

Behavioral: Assistance with old age pension application

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04029194

223749

Details and patient eligibility

About

Old age pensions are a common feature of welfare policy worldwide. However, little is known about the effect of these pensions on the recipients and their families. In this study, the investigators will partner with the government of Tamil Nadu, India to study the effects of old age pensions. Households with a member who is likely to be eligible for the pension but not currently receiving it will be assigned to either a treatment or control condition. Those assigned to treatment will receive assistance in applying for the pension. Investigators will track outcomes of the elderly and their family members for several years following the intervention.

In addition to the impact of pensions on economic and health outcomes, the study will also explore how pension receipt affects the elderly's ability to cope with the impact of the COVID crisis.

Enrollment

1,459 patients

Sex

All

Ages

55+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Does not receive money from government scheme
Over age 55
Household does not own a house, or owns a kutcha house
No member of the household is a working age male
Household does not own any agricultural land, or household owns agricultural land and does not receive any income from agricultural activities
No member of the household owns a car

Exclusion criteria