Social Security Survivor Benefits- The Thing Women Should Know 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. In addition, women statistically outlive men, especially if the wife is younger than the husband.

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

One important amendments to the Social Security plan was to allow women to apply for benefits at age 62 instead of waiting until 65 under the idea that they were younger than their husbands and that they would want to retire simultaneously.

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

These changes converted Social Security from a retirement program that only paid benefits to retired workers into a family-based system, where spouses and children could receive benefits of retired, disabled or departed 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 spouses.

Today, although it's not uncommon for women to earn as much or more than their spouses, they still may take time off to look after families, and they still typically live longer than their spouses. In addition, the number of divorced women reaching retirement age is greater than it has ever been. Because 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 important for women - no matter what their marital status is - to understand the spousal and survivor benefits open to them in addition to the retirement benefits so they can enjoy the highest benefits they are entitled to.

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