An analysis of older unemployed Americans found that those with access to Social Security or pension benefits were more likely to stop searching for a job than those who don't.

From 1996 to 2012, a brief by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that during any four-moth period 20 percent of those over 50 found jobs, 19 percent stopped looking and the remainder continued their hunt. All data was from the U.S. Census Bureau's Survey of Income and Program Participation.

Although health was a factor for many in deciding to stop a job search, the top reason was the availability of financial resources. For those age 62 when Social Security eligibility begins, about one in 10 stopped looking during any period studied. Access to a defined benefits plan had that effect on 7.2 percent and being in the top net worth quintile led 3.5 percent to stop looking.