Codes

This variable is not available for any of the currently selected samples.

Description

GOTSTLRP indicates whether the respondent received income from a state or local government pension during the previous calendar year.

For 1976-1987, the amount of income from state and local government pensions was combined with various types of retirement income other than Social Security and Railroad Retirement (i.e., company or union pensions; U.S. military retirement; federal government employee pensions; regular payments from paid-up insurance policies and annuities; and IRA and KEOGH accounts) in the INCRETIR variable. If respondents did not receive U.S. military retirement during the previous calendar year (i.e., they have a code of 1 in GOTMILRP), they did not receive federal government employee pensions during the previous calendar year (i.e., they have a code of 1 in GOTFEDRP), they did not receive private pension income during the previous calendar year (from company or union pensions, paid-up insurance policies and annuities, and IRA and KEOGH accounts) (i.e., they have a code of 1 in GOTPVTRP), and they did receive income from a state or local government pension during the previous calendar year (i.e., they have a code of 2 in GOTSTLRP), then the dollar amount in INCRETIR for 1976-1987 should indicate the amount of income specifically from state and local government pensions. If individuals received income from a state or local government pension as well as from one or more of these other sources of retirement income, then the amount of income specifically from state and local government pensions cannot be identified. Even in this case, however, researchers can use GOTSTLRP to analyze the characteristics of the recipients of state and local government pensions.

Comparability

This variable is comparable over time.

For 1988-2004, respondents could specify up to two sources of retirement income, in SRCRETI1 (First source of retirement income) and SRCRETI2 (Second source of retirement income). Persons with a code of 4 in either of these variables (i.e., those who mentioned a state or local government retirement pension) for 1988-2004 are roughly comparable to persons with an affirmative response (code 2) in GOTSTLRP for 1976-1987.

As was the case for 1976-1987, income from a state or local government pension was still combined with other types of retirement income in INCRETIR for 1988-2004. Beginning in 1988, the specific amount received from a state or local government pension can usually be identified, even for persons with more than one source of retirement income (in addition to Social Security). If an individual reported receiving a state or local government pension in SRCRETI1, the amount of income received from that state or local government pension is specified in INCRETI1. Similarly, if an individual reported receiving a state or local government pension in SRCRETI2, the amount of income received from that state or local government pension is specified in INCRETI2.

The public use data files for 1969-1975 contain a dichotomous variable on the receipt of government employee pensions, but the results are not reliable. Many people coded as yes in this variable do not have income amounts recorded in INCALOTH, which included income from state and local government pensions during these years.

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables

• UH_INCS23_A1