In theory, Social Security treats men and women the same. Two people with identical work and income records will receive the same monthly payments from the program, regardless of their sex.
However, the reality is that women tend to live longer, earn less and take more time out of the workforce to care for children. All those factors can affect a women’s Social Security benefits later in life.
Here’s a look at some Social Security rules that may be especially relevant to women.
1. Working fewer than 35 years will decrease benefits
You’ll need 40 Social Security credits to receive retirement benefits, and workers can earn up to four credits per year. That means most people are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits so long as they work for 10 years.
But your benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest-earning years. If you don’t have a 35-year work history, the Social Security Administration will use zeros in its benefit calculations for the years in which there were no earnings. That could result in a significantly lower benefit.
Stay-at-home moms or other women who don’t work in an income-earning job may want to consider whether it makes sense to work part-time or pick up some occasional gig work to help replace some of those “zero years” on their Social Security record.
2. Delaying benefits can increase them
Americans can begin claiming Social Security as early as age 62, but doing so will result in a permanent reduction in monthly benefits — by as much as a third.
Claiming benefits at your full retirement age will ensure you get the full monthly amount entitled by your work history, but women may want to go one step further and wait until age 70 to claim benefits.
For every year past their full retirement age that they wait to begin benefits, retirees can receive an 8% boost in their benefit amount. This perk ends at age 70 though. For women — who have a life expectancy of 79.3 years at birth, as of 2021 — waiting until 70 to start Social Security may make more sense. Men, meanwhile, have a life expectancy of 73.5 at birth.
3. It may be worth convincing your spouse to delay benefits
Shorter lifespans mean men are less likely to financially benefit themselves from delaying the start of Social Security, but at least in the case of men married to women, their spouses may want to convince them to wait a bit anyway.
A husband’s monthly Social Security benefit is used to calculate any spousal or survivor’s benefit that can be claimed off his record. That means delaying the start of his benefits could mean more money for a heterosexual couple in the long run, even if he doesn’t live long to enjoy the benefits himself.
4. Survivor’s benefits may not be automatic
A surviving spouse is entitled to the higher of their benefit or their spouse’s benefit, but you shouldn’t assume Social Security will automatically update your monthly payment.
Unless you are already receiving spousal benefits, the government won’t make the switch on its own. Instead, a spouse’s death needs to be reported to Social Security. “In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death to us,” the Social Security Administration says — but you shouldn’t rely on that.
You’ll also need to apply for survivor’s benefits. There is no online application for survivor’s benefits, but you can call 1-800-772-1213 to start the process.
5. Your kids may be eligible for benefits
If you have minor children in the home, they may be eligible for Social Security benefits in several situations.
For instance, if your spouse dies, your minor children are entitled to receive up to 75% of their deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefits. In a household with multiple children, the family’s total payments can be anywhere from 150% to 180% of the deceased worker’s basic payment amount.
Minor children may also be entitled to receive payments from Social Security if they have a living parent who receives Social Security disability or retirement benefits. Children up to age 19 can receive benefits so long as they are still in elementary or secondary school (which means through grade 12). Those older than 19 may receive benefits indefinitely if they become disabled before age 22.
6. Divorcees can still get benefits
Divorce doesn’t mean the end of Social Security spousal benefits. You can make a claim off an ex-spouse’s work record if all the following are true:
- You were married at least 10 years.
- You have not remarried. (It does not matter if they have.)
- You are at least 62 years old.
This is all dependent on your ex-spouse having the work history necessary to receive Social Security retirement benefits. And you only get the spousal benefit if it is more than what you would receive by claiming retirement benefits off your own record.
In the event your ex-spouse dies, you can also receive survivor’s benefits from their record as well if you meet all the above criteria. With both spousal and survivor’s benefits, no one can prevent you from making a claim, and the benefits you receive will in no way affect the benefits of your ex-spouse, their current spouse and any eligible children they might have.
7. In some situations, you can get a new Social Security number
Generally, once you’re assigned a Social Security number, it’s yours for life. However, if you are the victim of domestic violence, you may be able to receive a new one.
The Social Security Administration says:
“Although we don’t routinely assign new numbers, we’ll do so when evidence shows you are being harassed or abused, or your life is endangered.”
The best evidence comes from third parties such as the police or medical personnel, but “we’ll help you get any additional evidence needed,” the SSA says.
To get a new number, you’ll have to apply in person at your local Social Security office and provide evidence of abuse, harassment or life endangerment.
But keep in mind that changing your Social Security number is no small matter. It is likely that this number is attached to your work, financial and medical records, and changing it with all these organizations could prove to be a time-consuming and difficult process.
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