Article Archive
Present Condition About 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 most families the husband was the major earner or the only earner in the household. In addition, women statistically survive longer than men, especially if the wife is younger compared to the husband.
The coincidence of lower or no income and a longer life span meant many women found themselves in poverty at the time their husbands died, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits ended at their death. The Social Security Board identified the challenges 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 system was to enable women to apply for benefits at 62 instead of waiting until 65 under the idea that they were younger than their husbands 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 (payable to the spouse and minor kids of retired employees).
These changes converted Social Security from a retirement program 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 a tremendous help to women who were not eligible for retirement benefits on their own, or who had considerably smaller benefits than their spouses.
Today, even though it's not uncommon for women to earn as much or greater than their spouses, they however may take time off to raise families, and they still statistically live longer than their spouses. Moreover, the number of divorced women attaining retirement age is greater than before. Because of this, a number of women still get Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits rather than benefits depending on their own work period.
So it's important for women - regardless of their marital status is - to learn the spousal and survivor benefits offered to them along with the retirement benefits so they can get the maximum benefits they are eligible to.
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On The Subject Of Social Security Impairment: What You Must Be Aware Of Prior To Filing For Handicap Benefits
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