Invisible in Retirement: Gender Disparities in Work-related Social Insurance Coverage in Later Life

Population ageing poses growing challenges for social protection in India, where social insurance coverage remains limited and uneven. Using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Survey of India, this paper examines gender disparities in social insurance coverage among older people. The findings reveal an absolute gender gap of approximately 11% in social insurance coverage, with older women facing compounded disadvantages due to informal work histories and economic dependence. A clear educational gradient was observed, with higher education strongly associated with greater coverage. Older adults reporting low or medium subjective social status and lower life satisfaction exhibit significantly lower odds of coverage, underscoring the importance of perceived inequality and psychosocial vulnerability in welfare access.