TR has sent out a letter of acceptance to people in this age range who have received disability assessments in the past five years, inviting them to participate in a study. Those who agree to participate will receive a questionnaire from the Social Sciences Institute of the University of Iceland in the coming days. The aim of the study is to focus on why there is a difference between genders in the taking of disability pensions for people between the ages of 50 and 66. In addition, the survey will be sent to women who are registered in a control group in the Social Sciences Institute’s online panel.

Most people with invalidity pension in Iceland are women over the age of fifty and for example one in four women between the ages of 63 and 66 in Iceland are on invalidity pension. The reasons for this high rate are unknown and women are usually 20-30% more than men with invalidity assessment between the ages of 50 and 66. The status of these women and what possibly lies behind the fact that so many of them at this age are dropping out of the labour market should be investigated.

The results of this study will be published in a detailed report, which will analyse the difference between the experience and background of men and women with disability pensions and the difference between the experience and background of women with disability assessment and those who belong to the Social Science Institute’s Network Panel.

The results of the study are expected to be available in the spring and will be formally announced.