ABSTRACT:  As ageing increasingly intersects with economic vulnerability and fragile institutional support systems, understanding the role of social support in shaping older adults’ economic wellbeing is vital for social work practice and policy. This study examines the nature and effectiveness of social support available to retirees of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), focusing on its sources, forms, and access-related challenges. A quantitative survey of 103 retirees was conducted using snowball sampling, and data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS. The study was guided by Social Support Buffering Theory and the Afrocentric Perspective, integrating cultural expectations of communal care with psychosocial mechanisms that mitigate stress in later life.

Findings indicate a dual support structure. Formal assistance is largely dependent on the Contributory Pension Scheme, while informal support especially from family remains central to emotional stability. Emotional support was widely accessible, but informational support was limited. Pension delays and inadequate service awareness significantly predicted lower perceived economic wellbeing. The study concludes that institutional inefficiencies, rather than individual deficits, largely shape retirees’ vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for strengthened policy implementation and proactive social work engagement.

Keywords: Contributory Pensions, Economic Status, FRCN Retirees, Older Adults, Retirement, Social Support