March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus not just on the past, but also on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century. Today, more women are working than ever before, paying Social Security taxes, and earning credit toward monthly retirement income. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income.
This means you should plan early and wisely!
Social Security provides financial benefits, tools, and information to help support you throughout life’s journey. Here are some tools to help you plan for your future:
- You can visit our Retirement Estimator. In just a few minutes, you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your retirement benefits. You should also visit Social Security’s planner pages to get detailed information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security.
- We base your benefits on your lifetime earnings, so you should create your personal my Social Security account to verify that your earnings were reported correctly.
- For more information about the role of Social Security in women’s lives today, you can read Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know.
- You can visit our website for Women.
Take advantage of these tools today and begin planning for tomorrow’s journey.
I need my own social security welfare because I can’t afford to live with my husband’s benefit only. I need more money to pay for my rent also n food. Thanks! Mele A. Maumalanga
SS is not welfare, ever think about moving?
Mele A. Maimalanga (ph. 816 988 1887)
You may be eligible to receive additional assistance from the state where you live. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office.
You can also visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information. We hope this helps.
Hello Mele,
Please contact you state Area Agency on Aging. This agency is responsible for implementing the Older Americans Act in your state. They provide many senior citizen programs for qualified seniors.
I feel SS is not fair to all women who worked for the Federal Govt. I worked 30 years and retired in 1994 however I retired in order to start a new career. I have worked and paid into SS however by being a Federal Retiree I have to take a 40% reduction in what I draw because of drawing a federal retirement. My federal retirement has not changed much because of health benefits rising. So I am penalized. That is why I am 70 years old and still work full=time
Your problem is not with social security but with Congress. As with many commenters here, you readily confuse the two.
Congress felt that government employees were double-dippers, even though you paid into both systems. You must have 30 significant years of work (or years of coverage) to lose that reduction. It should lessen with each new year of work you accrue to SSA’s records. If you feel the policy is unfair, you need to contact someone who can change the law. No one at SSA can do so.
Good reply!!
Have no idea if Ex is still surviving son doesn’t understand have no idea where he is he is remarried I am on SSDI will be 59 this yr. I know his SSI number we were married 22 yrs. Please reply.
Thank you for reaching out, Jennifer. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot assist you in this matter. One of our representatives should be able to help you and provide more information.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks.
My husband died this past October – 2017 – and Social Security is STILL figuring out what I’m supposed to be paid based on his Social Security account. HELP me, please. We were married for almost 53 years. My marriage to him was my ONLY marriage. Is there a reason this is taking so long? Please advise…thank you.
Contact your local office. These issues cannot be resolved online where you should be safeguarding your private information, not sharing it. Your case may not still be in the local office, but delayed further down the line. They can supplement what you are receiving with a special payment in the meantime if you qualify.
We’re sorry to hear of your husband’s passing, Beverly. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog.
Please continue working with your local office. You can request to speak with the office manager to see how we can help expedite resolution of your situation.
If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day. Thanks.
Social Security might work for some women, but since November of 2012, I have not received my SSI. I have been denied, lied to and discriminated against, even after the magistrate judge awarded in my favor. Nothing but the run around. I have been disabled since the early 1990’s, and still am. I have had to reapply when I shouldn’t have had to. I believe that I am being unjustly treated!
SSI is means tested. That means that if you are < 65, you have to be disabled AND you have to meet the income and resource tests. You can go to all the judges in the world and he can say you are disabled but you need to meet other eligibility requirements and the Judge can not change that, Congress can. So go bug your Congressman.
What does this cost the U.S. Taxpayer????
My agency.gov llc public affairs federal contract received my ssa retirement account holding pay on 03/28/2018, because my birth on 03/28/1954! Now stay in Thailand! Order on 03/2/2017
I am already retired and 74 years old.
I really can not do much any more about my retirement.
I am low income and 74 years old.
My name is Dorine Anderson my ex spouse is Darren Clayton Anderson I’ve work since 13 year’s of age Im entitled to spousal support by court order from my ex husband retirement pay by court order but he never gave me 750 a month what’s my help source
Hello Dorine, you may be able to receive -Social Security- benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if:
• You were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years;
• You are unmarried;
• You are age 62 or older;
• Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits and,
• The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work.
If your ex-spouse has not applied for retirement benefits, but can qualify for them (which includes he is at least age 62), you can receive benefits on his or her record if you have been divorced for at least two years. For more information, please visit our Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced.
Ideally,you would save for retirement and a home purchase simultaneously. 5-10 years is an awfully long time to put off retirement savings for a mid-term goal. That”s not to say that you have to max out an IRA to sufficiently save for retirement maybe 10-20% of your gross income is still under $5.5k/year. It”s OK to use a Roth IRA for your down payment savings because of the tax-free growth over those years, but I don”t love the idea. If you do it, I suggest you draw a clear line between the funds that are for retirement and the funds that are for a down payment. Since the two goals have different timelines, you should make different investment choices for each of them (the down payment investments should be more conservative). You also should prioritize your retirement savings getting into the Roth IRA; don”t let the down payment money use up contribution room that you would otherwise use for retirement savings. As you pointed out, you can remove contributions to a Roth IRA at any time and you can also remove $10k of earnings for a home purchase (5 years after your first contribution). It”s perfectly fine to keep your down payment investments in a taxable investment account if the Roth IRA is too cumbersome or you want to use all your IRA contribution room for retirement.
Ideally, you would save for retirement and a home purchase simultaneously. 5-10 years is an awfully long time to put off retirement savings for a mid-term goal. That”s not to say that you have to max out an IRA to sufficiently save for retirement maybe 10-20% of your gross income is still under $5.5k/year. It”s OK to use a Roth IRA for your down payment savings because of the tax-free growth over those years, but I don”t love the idea. If you do it, I suggest you draw a clear line between the funds that are for retirement and the funds that are for a down payment. Since the two goals have different timelines, you should make different investment choices for each of them (the down payment investments should be more conservative). You also should prioritize your retirement savings getting into the Roth IRA; don”t let the down payment money use up contribution room that you would otherwise use for retirement savings. As you pointed out, you can remove contributions to a Roth IRA at any time and you can also remove $10k of earnings for a home purchase (5 years after your first contribution). It”s perfectly fine to keep your down payment investments in a taxable investment account if the Roth IRA is too cumbersome or you want to use all your IRA contribution room for retirement.
why do I have to leave a reply?
Thank what comment do I have to make
chotpoibietaigiadanh
tentuoivadungtaikhoancuatoi
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to send this
this information
Ideally, you would save for retirement and a home purchase simultaneously. 5-10 years is an awfully long time to put off retirement savings for a mid-term goal. That”s not to say that you have to max out an IRA to sufficiently save for retirement maybe 10-20% of your gross income is still under $5.5k/year. It”s OK to use a Roth IRA for your down payment savings because of the tax-free growth over those years, but I don”t love the idea. If you do it, I suggest you draw a clear line between the funds that are for retirement and the funds that are for a down payment. Since the two goals have different timelines, you should make different investment choices for each of them (the down payment investments should be more conservative). You also should prioritize your retirement savings getting into the Roth IRA; don”t let the down payment money use up contribution room that you would otherwise use for retirement savings. As you pointed out, you can remove contributions to a Roth IRA at any time and you can also remove $10k of earnings for a home purchase (5 years after your first contribution). It”s perfectly fine to keep your down payment investments in a taxable investment account if the Roth IRA is too cumbersome or you want to use all your IRA contribution room for retirement.
Ideally, you would save for retirement and a home purchase simultaneously. 5-10 years is an awfully long time to put off retirement savings for a mid-term goal. That”s not to say that you have to max out an IRA to sufficiently save for retirement maybe 10-20% of your gross income is still under $5.5k/year. It”s OK to use a Roth IRA for your down payment savings because of the tax-free growth over those years, but I don”t love the idea. If you do it, I suggest you draw a clear line between the funds that are for retirement and the funds that are for a down payment. Since the two goals have different timelines, you should make different investment choices for each of them (the down payment investments should be more conservative). You also should prioritize your retirement savings getting into the Roth IRA; don”t let the down payment money use up contribution room that you would otherwise use for retirement savings. As you pointed out, you can remove contributions to a Roth IRA at any time and you can also remove $10k of earnings for a home purchase (5 years after your first contribution). It”s perfectly fine to keep your down payment investments in a taxable investment account if the Roth IRA is too cumbersome or you want to use all your IRA contribution room for retirement.
nguyenvansang
cmnd121781961vietnambacgiang
thondongloxadonglohuyenhiephoatinhbacgiangvietnam
sinhngay21/01//1989
I couldn’t agree with you more….nguyenvansang……
I am trying to fill out an application for disability. I am still trying to work but I am hurting really bad and going to many doctors. I am running out of my sick days and I am not sure what I need to do or just stop working. I have 34 years of service with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools but don’t have the age to retirement. I feel like I am stuck but don’t know what I can do. If someone can help me with this I would appreciate it. Thank You.
Cindy Kiser
Hello Cindy, you can use our DISABILITY PLANNER to find out if you qualify and how Social Security can help you!
My wife who has been disabled by Multiple Sclerosis has been denied after waiting 3 years.
This dysfunctional system made her wait almost 2 years for a hearing and then another 6 months just for the decision.
I obtained all of the records and notes that the DDS and ALJ used to determine she wasn’t disabled. Talk about disgusting.
The DDS employee determined she wasn’t eligible because she asked for steroids in the hospital when she was having an MS flare. Any person familiar with MS knows that steroids is the gold standard for treating symptoms. Instead of the DDS idiot consulting with a medical source she decided my wife wasn’t disabled as she was drug seeking.
Next step is the reconsideration: This is where social security says they will have another DDS examiner review the previous examiners finding and see if they come to a different conclusion. This time the DDS examiner did consult a medical doctor. The only problem. This “doctor” is 84 years old and hasn’t actually practiced medicine since the 70’s. Denied again.
Next step ALJ: My wife was forced to wait 17 months to see some biased old judge who made his mind up prior to even having the hearing. 6 months later he rendered a denial decision and only used the statement from the 84 year old doctor. He completely ignored my wife’s treating neurologists statements, and records along with the 10 hospitalizations.
Next step is waiting for the appeals council. Another year down the drain where I’m sure they won’t actually read any of the evidence, and will likely deny my poor wife again.
Now my wife can’t walk, is basically bed ridden and social security says she isn’t disabled and can work.
Folks the system is an absolute joke. The problem is no one petitions congress to change anything. After all most people don’t become disabled prior to retirement and likely could care less about the disability program social security has.
The system is corrupt from the top to the bottom. At the top you have DDS examiners looking at applications. The problem is the DDS examiners have ZERO medical background.
At the bottom you have ALJ’s. Fake judges really who have as much medical knowledge as the DDS examiners who denied the case to begin with. Lots of times these “judges” have biases and render decisions based on their political beliefs and not the facts. SSA posts statistics for these judges and the republican ones grant approvals at the 20 percent range. Democrat judges grant approvals at the more normal 50-60 percent range.
Luckily the supreme court is currently hearing arguments as to the constitutionality of these kangaroo court judges. They aren’t appointed yet have lifetime appointments.
Thank goodness I work and can support my wife. Otherwise she would be living under a bridge somewhere.
This is totally an un-American way of treating people.
Great info. Keep it coming.
i am 67 years old and receiving my social security. my husband is retiring this month. will i be able to get social security from him as well?
I have ra hurt so bad can i get ssi and disabily been married 32years divorce now have not remarried i am 62 now
It’s unfair that I have been married for almost 30 years of my life, and I get almost nothing to live on because none of those marriages were over ten years in duration. (And none of my husbands died while we were married.) (I was married twice for 9 and a half years each to two husbands) But a woman who has been married less than 2 years can draw on her husband’s SS if he dies. And a woman who has been married 10 years and a day gets to draw on her ex-husband’s SS too. Why after almost 30 years of marriage must I live on about 600.00 a month and those others get over 2000.00 per month? That is very unfair.
Retired disabled. Got divored husband (of 36 years) s.s. Now receiving SS $756. SDI $174. He deceives about double that at 80 now and I am 74. Can I qualify for an increase in. monthly amount? He also receives retirement from union. My $ is poverty level. Can you help? My disability has increased in severity. Thank you.
Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot answer your question at this time. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
I’m now still working at 65 but having health problem (knees). I would like to retire but will only get $368.00 after paying Medicare. Can’t live off of that amount. Need to know what Or how to increase my Social Security. I raise good citizens for this country and now I can’t live off what I getting. So unfair to stay at home Moms. Is there any help for stay at Home MOMS!
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