Deciding about Supplementary Pensions: A Provisional Model

Research into the non-claiming of supplementary pensions and related means-tested benefits has indicated that there are six general cognitive factors which can be used to explain the phenomenon. However, previous research has been hindered by both conceptual and methodological problems. This paper presents the results of a feasibility study designed to construct and to determine the empirical validity of a cognitive model incorporating these six factors which would account for differential claiming. Substantive research findings are discussed as are the assumptions underlying the model.