ABSTRACT
The Social Security system is the single largest social transfer program in the United States. Roughly 97 percent of all older persons receive monthly income through this nearly universal program. Most older people receive retired worker benefits, which are based on lifetime contributions. But most older women actually receive noncontributory Social Security spouse or widow benefits, which are equal to 50 percent or 100 percent of their spouses’ benefit, respectively. Even though many are eligible for retired worker benefits, 64 percent of women aged 62 and older receive spouse or widow benefits because these benefits are greater than what they would receive based on their own work record (Social Security Administration 2002). This makes marital status more important than employment status in shaping old-age financial security for many older women. The frequency and length of marriages are down, however, particularly among African
Americans. In this paper, we explore the implications of linking benefits to marital status in the face of an unprecedented retreat from marriage.
