. >> reporter: michael astrue heads the social security administration and says even as more elderly americans postpone retirement, many more are having it forced upon them. >> people who would not have taken retirement benefits but for the recession are taking retirement benefits, we believe, because they have no other real choice. >> reporter: since the great recession began in december 2007, the rate of unemployed workers 55 and older has increased faster than for any other age group, and half the older unemployed have been out of work for more than six months, like michael astrue. >> i just have a feeling that this government is not going to allow senior citizens like myself and others just to die on the vine. >> against poverty-stricken old age. >> reporter: living out a 75-year-old promise earlier than they had planned. rebecca jarvis, cbs news, new york. >> glor: we want to take an even deeper look at the economy now tonight. fresh chairman ben bernanke also said this week the recovery was slowing, triggering a more than 3% drop in the smacialght at a time when the unemploymen