The PRI Data Archive has acquired the RAND HRS Version F Dataset. This dataset is “a cleaned and easy-to-use version of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with derived variables covering a broad range of measures and named consistently across waves. The file was developed by the RAND Center for the Study of Aging with funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and Social Security Administration (SSA).

As of 2006, nine HRS waves are available for study. The RAND HRS Data file (Version F) is based on 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002 final releases, and the 2004 early release of HRS data. The complete HRS includes five entry cohorts, as does the RAND file. The file incorporates only the core interviews. It does not include exit interview or any restricted data. Besides incorporating the 2004 early release, this version corrects known problems and adds a few new variables, including 2nd home value from 1998 forward.”
See the RAND Contributions Web Page for more information.

The data and documentation files are accessible in the PRI PopNet UNIX and SodaPop collections. Users must register with HRS prior to obtaining access to these files (if you have registered before to use any HRS public-use data, you do not need to register again).