Social Security & Retirement

Strengthen 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.

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Social Security

Social Security State-by-State

To help you make the case for protecting Social Security, we have updated our state-by-state fact sheets.

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Protecting Social Security
Social Security State-by-State

Highlights

Reports & Toolkits | Obama Plan Fails to Adequately Protect Long-Term Social Security Beneficiaries from Chained CPI

April 16, 2013

This analysis examines how effective the bump-ups for long-term beneficiaries that President Obama proposed in his FY 2014 budget would be in protecting the typical single elderly woman from the effects of the chained CPI.

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Coalition Action Materials | NWLC Supports the Social Security Enhancement Act

March 21, 2013

The National Women’s Law Center expresses its strong support for the Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2013. 

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Reports & Toolkits | Chained CPI Imposes Painful Social Security Benefit Cuts and a Benefit Bump-Up Provides Only Limited Relief

December 14, 2012

As part of deficit-reduction negotiations, some policy makers have proposed switching to the chained consumer price index (CPI) to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and other programs. The chained CPI would lower the annual COLA more and more over time, reducing the value of Social Security benefits. Read more...

Fact Sheet | Women and Social Security

November 28, 2012

Social Security benefits are especially important to women—and women’s average benefits are just $12,700 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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More Resources

Legal Briefs & Testimony | Statement of Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security before the Seniors Task Force

April 06, 2011

Statement of Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security at the National Women's Law Center, before the Seniors Task Force on April 6.

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Fact Sheet | Increasing Spousal Protection in Retirement Accounts Would Increase Women's Retirement Security

February 23, 2011

Women reach retirement with fewer pension benefits and retirement assets than men. Strengthening spousal rights in retirement accounts would help to address this shortfall in retired women’s income.

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Reports & Toolkits | President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget and H.R. 1, the Continuing Resolution: A Tale of Two Visions

February 18, 2011

The budget is a statement of national priorities, and in February 2011, the nation was presented with two drastically different visions: President Obama's budget for Fiscal Year 2012 and H.R 1, the House Republican bill for funding (or de-funding) the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011.

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Fact Sheet | Why Women Should Vote: To Protect Social Security!

September 22, 2010

Social Security is important to all American, but women especially depend on Social Security's guaranteed, lifetime benefits. By voting, women can make sure our lreader in Washington pursue policies that protect and strenghten the Social Security system.

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Testimony of Amy Matsui Before a Joint Hearing of the Department of Labor and Department of Treasury on Lifetime Income Options

September 14, 2010

The National Women's Law Center provided testimony before a joint hearing of the Department of Labor and the Department of Treasury on lifetime income options.

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