Present Situation Regarding Social Security Spouse And Survivor Benefits

When Social Security was established back in 1935 it was usual for women to reside in home to raise the family. In a large number of families the husband was the major earner or the only earner in the family. Furthermore, women statistically survive longer than men, particularly if the wife is younger compared to the husband.

The combination of lower or no income and a longer life span implied many women got themselves in poverty at the time their husbands passed away, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits expired at their death. The Social Security Board realized the problems that women face and have adopted several changes to the system over the years to account for these requirements.

One important amendments to the Social Security plan was to permit women to apply for benefits at age 62 in place of waiting until 65 under the theory that they were younger than their spouses and that they would like to retire at the same time.

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

These modifications changed Social Security from a retirement plan that only paid benefits to retired employees into a family-based program, where spouses and children are able to receive benefits of retired, disabled or departed workers. This was an incredible help to women who were not eligible for retirement benefits on their own, or who had significantly smaller benefits than their husbands.

Today, even though it's not strange for women to earn as much or greater than their husbands, they however may take time off to look after families, and they still typically live longer than their spouses. Similarly, the number of divorced women reaching retirement age is higher than before. As a result of of this, a number of women still receive Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits rather than benefits according to their own job period.

Therefore it's necessary for women - regardless of their relationship status is - to learn the spousal and survivor benefits available to them as well as the retirement benefits so they can enjoy the highest benefits they are eligible to.

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