Latest News
A Woman’s View of Spouse Benefits - Hamilton County Reporter
It’s absolutely true that women have made significant strides in the American workplace, and are now often the primary breadwinner in the family. But historically, woman have also traditionally faced a unique dilemma with Social Security due to the so-called “glass ceiling” and lower lifetime earnings from careers temporarily put on hold while caring for their family. As a result, many American women find that their Social Security benefit in retirement may be significantly affected by their spouse’s claiming decision. For example, a homemaker who isn’t entitled to personal Social Security benefits can still get benefits from their spouse, but not until the spouse claims benefits. And a surviving widow may find that, because their spouse claimed benefits early, the widow’s benefit may be lower than it could have been had the deceased husband waited longer to claim. Guest columnist Sylvia Gordon, writing in the Hamilton County (IN) Reporter, discusses the unique Social Security situations faced by many American women. Click here to read more.