When Social Security was launched back in 1935 it was typical for women to reside in home to raise the family. In the majority of families the husband was the higher earner or the only earner in the household. Furthermore, women statistically survive longer than men, especially if the wife is younger compared to the husband.
The coincidence of lower or no earnings and a longer life span implied many women noticed themselves in poverty when their husbands died, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits expired at their death. The Social Security Board identified the challenges that women face and have adopted 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 62 in place 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 new categories of benefits were included: Social Security survivor benefits and dependent benefits (to be paid to the spouse and minor children of retired employees).
These modifications converted Social Security from a retirement program that only paid benefits to retired employees into a family-based system, where spouses and children could receive benefits of retired, disabled or departed workers. This was an enormous help to women who did not qualify for retirement benefits on their own, or who had considerably smaller benefits than their husbands.
Today, even though it's not uncommon for women to earn as much or greater 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 attaining retirement age is higher than before. Because of this, a number of women still get
Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits instead of benefits according to their own job records.
So it's necessary for women - regardless of their marital status is - to learn the spousal and survivor benefits open to them in addition to the retirement benefits so they can enjoy the optimum benefits they are entitled to.
How You Can Make The Most Of The Social Security Spousal BenefitCan a spouse collect on her husband's social security if she reaches retirement age before her husband? No. In order for a wife to collect Social Security benefits on her husband's earnings the following requirements must be met:
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