Description

For all persons, AGELAST reports the person's age the last time they were eligible for data collection. MEPS began offering AGELAST in 2008, and IPUMS MEPS staff constructed the variable from 1996-2007. For persons in their first year of data collection, AGELAST first takes on the value of age as of the last day of the calendar year (AGE), if the person was eligible for data collection on that day. If the person was not eligible for data collection on the last day of the calendar year (AGE), AGELAST next takes the Round 2 value of AGERD, if the person was eligible for data collection in that round, then the Round 1 value of AGERD if the person was not eligible for data collection in Round 2 or at the end of the first calendar year of data collection. Similarly, for persons in their second year of data collection, AGELAST first takes on the value of age as of the last day of the calendar year (AGE), if in universe, then the Round 4 value of AGERD, if in universe, and finally the Round 3 value of AGERD.

AGELAST is a 2 column wide variable with no implied decimals.

85: 85+ years of age (2001-forward)
86: 86 years of age (1996-2000)
87: 87 years of age (1996-2000)
88: 88 years of age (1996-2000)
89: 89 years of age (1996-2000)
90: 90+ years of age (1996-2000)

Comparability

Due to changes in the topcodes of AGE and AGERD, AGELAST is topcoded at 90 years from 1996 to 2000 and at 85 years from 2001 forward.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2021

Weights

• 1996-2021 : PERWEIGHT

Flags