Social Security

Women rely more heavily than men on income from Social Security. We're working to protect Social Security and improve benefits for vulnerable beneficiaries.

Highlights

Fact Sheet | Women and Social Security

April 23, 2012

Social Security benefits are especially important to women—and women’s average benefits are just $12,100 per year. The proposed cuts to Social Security are cuts that women and families cannot afford. Check out this this fact sheet to learn more key facts on the impact of Social Security on women and their families.

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Fact Sheet | House Balanced Budget Amendment (H.J. Res. 2): Rewriting the Constitution to Raid the Social Security Trust Fund

November 16, 2011

The balanced budget amendment (H.J. Res. 2) would amend the Constitution to require that federal spending in any fiscal year not exceed revenues collected in that fiscal year unless three-fifths of members in each chamber of Congress agree to additional spending. Along with forcing the federal government to take steps that would weaken the economy during a recession, H.J. Res. 2 could force cuts to the Social Security benefits, even when Social Security has ample reserves.

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Fact Sheet | State-by-State Fact Sheets for Super-Committee Advocacy

August 19, 2011

These 51 fact sheets provide state-specific information to help advocates demonstrate why any plan the congressional "super-committee" devises for deficit reduction must protect programs vital to the wellbeing of women and families; make millionaires and corporations pay their fair share; and create jobs for women and men.

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Fact Sheet | State-by-State Factsheets: Social Security Vital to Women and Families

August 12, 2011

These state-by-state fact sheets provide detailed information on the importance of Social Security for women and families. Find statistics on the number and types of Social Security beneficiaries, average benefits, and the number of people lifted out of poverty by Social Security benefits.

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More Resources

Fact Sheet | Women and Social Security

April 23, 2012

Social Security benefits are especially important to women—and women’s average benefits are just $12,100 per year. The proposed cuts to Social Security are cuts that women and families cannot afford. Check out this this fact sheet to learn more key facts on the impact of Social Security on women and their families.

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | New Census report supports NWLC’s findings that proposed Social Security cuts would especially hurt elderly women

November 18, 2011

Women are three-quarters of the very elderly (individuals 90 and older) and very elderly women are more economically insecure and more likely to have a disability than very elderly men. These facts show that changing the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from its current index to  the “chained CPI” will result in significant cuts to Social Security benefits that deepen over the years and dramatically increase economic insecurity among the elderly—especially women.

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Fact Sheet | House Balanced Budget Amendment (H.J. Res. 2): Rewriting the Constitution to Raid the Social Security Trust Fund

November 16, 2011

The balanced budget amendment (H.J. Res. 2) would amend the Constitution to require that federal spending in any fiscal year not exceed revenues collected in that fiscal year unless three-fifths of members in each chamber of Congress agree to additional spending. Along with forcing the federal government to take steps that would weaken the economy during a recession, H.J. Res. 2 could force cuts to the Social Security benefits, even when Social Security has ample reserves.

 Read more...

Coalition Action Materials | National Women’s Law Center Opposes Balanced Budget Amendment, H.J. Res. 2

November 14, 2011

The National Women's Law Center sent a letter to the House of Representatives opposing the balanced budget amendment (H.J. Res. 2). Compliance with a balanced budget requirement would likely require major cuts to vital programs, including Social Security, and would dangerously weaken the federal government’s ability to respond to recessions, emergencies, and new challenges.

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Webinars & Presentations | Planning for the Future: What Women Need to Know about Social Security (September 2011)

September 07, 2011

This webinar provides information about Social Security benefits (including pre-retirement benefits), and about how you/your spouse’s decisions about claiming these benefits affect your retirement income.

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