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Raising the age of eligibility

for Social Security retirement
benefits to 70 also would
raise the number of people
who die before they get
benefits — especially among
African-Americans.
American life Age 70
expectancies Current
at year of birth: retirement
age (67)
1970
Overall 70.8
White men 68.0
White women 75.6
Black men 60.0
Black women 68.3

1980
Overall 73.7
White men 70.7
White women 78.1
Black men 63.8
Black women 72.5

1990
Overall 75.4
White men 72.7
White women 79.4
Black men 64.5
Black women 73.6

2000
Overall 76.8
White men 74.7
White women 79.9
Black men 68.2
Black women 75.1

2010
Overall 78.3
White men 76.5
White women 81.3
Black men 70.2
Black women 77.2
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau;
National Center for Health Statistics;
National Vital Statistics Reports
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