Why Women Need To Learn Regarding Social Security Spouse And Survivor Benefits

When Social Security was initiated back in 1935 it was normal for women to remain inside home to raise the family. In the majority of families the husband was the major earner or the only earner in the family. Additionally, women statistically outlive men, particularly if the wife is younger compared to the husband.

The coincidence of lower or no income and a longer life span meant many women noticed themselves in poverty at the time their husbands passed away, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits ended at their death. The Social Security Board recognized the issues that women face and have adopted several modifications to the system over the years to account for these requirements.

One of the first amendments to the Social Security plan was to permit women to apply for benefits at age 62 instead of waiting until 65 under the assumption that they were younger than their spouses and that they would like to retire simultaneously.

Then in 1939 two other categories of benefits were added: Social Security survivor benefits and dependent benefits (to be paid to the spouse and minor kids of retired workers).

These changes transformed Social Security from a retirement plan that only paid benefits to retired employees into a family-based plan, where spouses and children may receive benefits of retired, disabled or deceased workers. This was an enormous help to women who were not eligible for retirement benefits on their own, or who had significantly smaller benefits than their spouses.

Today, although it's not unusual for women to earn as much or greater than their spouses, they however may take time off to raise families, and they still typically live longer than their spouses. Similarly, the number of divorced women reaching retirement age is greater than it has ever been. As a result of of this, a number of women still get Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits rather than benefits depending on their own job period.

Therefore it's essential for women - no matter what their relationship status is - to learn the spousal and survivor benefits offered to them along with the retirement benefits so they can get the optimum benefits they are eligible to.

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