Analysis Of Social Security Proposals Intended To Help Women

One aspect of the current debate about changing the Social Security program concerns how new rules might affect elderly women, many of whom have low income. This paper examines three possible changes: (1) a reduction in spousal benefits combined with a change in the computation of the survivor benefit, (2) a redefined minimum benefit, and (3) a 5 percent increase in benefits for persons aged 80 or older. The paper assesses the cost, distributional consequences, and antipoverty impact of each option.

Using data from the Social Security Administration's project for Modeling Income in Near Term (MINT), analyses the social security benefits of near-retirees, people turning age 61 in years 1988 through 2007. Examines social security wealth, anualized benefit payouts, and replacement rates for average career earnings for all program participants, sex and marital status subgroups, and career earnings quintile subgroups.