Social Security Survivor Benefits- The Thing Women Should Learn About

When Social Security was launched back in 1935 it was typical for women to remain inside home to raise the family. In a large number of families the husband was the higher earner or the only earner in the family. Furthermore, women statistically outlive men, particularly if the wife is younger than the husband.

The coincidence of lower or no earnings and a longer life span meant many women got themselves in poverty when their husbands passed away, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits expired at their death. The Social Security Board recognized the problems that women face and have implemented several adjustments to the system over the years to account for these needs.

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

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

These modifications transformed Social Security from a retirement plan that only paid benefits to retired workers into a family-based system, where spouses and children could receive benefits of retired, disabled or deceased workers. This was an incredible help to women who did not qualify for retirement benefits on their own, or who had significantly smaller benefits than their husbands.

Today, although it's not strange for women to earn as much or more than their spouses, they still may take time off to raise families, and they still typically live longer than their spouses. In addition, the number of divorced women reaching retirement age is higher than it has ever been. As a result of of this, many women still get Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits instead of benefits depending on their own job records.

Therefore it's necessary for women - no matter what their relationship status is - to understand the spousal and survivor benefits open to them in addition to the retirement benefits so they can get the highest benefits they are entitled to.

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