Lawmakers Examining Ways to Shore Up Social Security Retirement Benefits for Elderly Women

Although Social Security retirement benefits are gender-neutral, elderly women who depend on the money to survive are more likely than men to receive less money from the federal program, which means they are more likely to fall into poverty.

Lawmakers are looking into this problem, which was discussed on Tuesday, December 9th, at a Senate Finance Committee Meeting. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., noted that millions more women rely on Social Security retirement benefits than men, and women also live longer than men on average. Wyden added that elderly women’s savings accounts are often “squeezed at both ends.”

A woman’s Social Security retirement benefit starts lower than a man’s – $1,103 compared to $1,417 in 2012 – because elderly women are less likely to work for the same wages or as long as men, especially when they pause or stop work to take care of children. Because of education and wage discrimination, women are also more likely to take low-paying jobs without attached pensions. The result is that women rely more on their Social Security benefits, especially after their spouse passes away, and because they made less money over the course of their lives, they paid less into the benefit.

Even with help like food stamps, energy credits, and low-income retirement housing, elderly women still struggle to make ends meet.

An AARP volunteer from Eugene, OR, named Barbara Perrin testified before the Senate regarding her Social Security benefits, which are a paltry $775 per month.

“Like many of the women of my generation, I imagined my life would resemble that of the generations of women who came before: marriage and children, and perhaps some meaningful work, too,” she told committee members. “However, many of us were swept along with the changing times and found ourselves leading different lives than the ones we had planned.”

Perrin raised two children by herself without any child support, which meant she was forced to take low-paying part-time work in order to maintain any kind of flexibility. She entered the middle class career world late in life – in her 50’s – and was able to start saving for retirement and buy a house. However, when she moved from Colorado to Oregon, she was unable to sell her house due to the weak housing market. Problems in the publishing industry meant she was unable to find work, as well, and began to take her Social Security retirement benefits to survive.

Several suggestions came up during the Senate hearing that could help women with Social Security retirement down the line, including tax credits for women who leave employment to become caregivers for children or elderly parents; boosting retirement benefits for women who outlive their spouses; close the financial gap between widows and widowers who receive Social Security income; and finding ways to remove other gender bias from the federal retirement benefits.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Social Security Benefits Claims

Applying for Social Security Disability or Retirement Insurance can be complex.  However, we understand that you need your benefits and we will put our years of experience to work for you to ensure that you have the representation necessary to actively pursue your claim. Call the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today to discuss your Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income case today. We will be glad to discuss any questions you may have during our free, confidential consultation. Call the experienced attorneys at the Strom Law Firm at (803)252-4800.