For more than a century, AAUW has promoted equity at work, in school, and in all aspects of women’s lives. AAUW is committed to a Social Security system that provides lifelong protections for women and families that include guaranteed benefits with cost-of-living adjustments.

As Congress considers proposals to reform Social Security, the economic well-being and security of women must be safeguarded. These critical factors must be considered:

Social Security Is More Than a Retirement Plan

• Social Security provides lifelong family protections - For a young family, Social Security provides the equivalent of a $400,000 life insurance policy and a $350,000 disability insurance policy.
• Just half of all Social Security beneficiaries receive benefits solely as retired workers.
• Remaining Social Security beneficiaries are children (8%), widows (11%), and people with disabilities (12%), spouses (6%), and dually eligible/worker and spousal benefits (13%).
• Social Security supports more children(5.4 million) than TANF (4 million).

Women Are More Dependent on Social Security Than Are Men

• Women earn less than men.
• Women are half as likely as men to receive a pension.
• Women have shorter work histories due to caregiving responsibilities.
• Women on average live longer than men.

Women Need Guaranteed Benefits They Can Count On

• Without Social Security, more than half of all women 65 and older would be below the poverty level.
• Social Security benefits are the only source of income for many elderly women and persons with disabilities.
• Older women of color are poorest in retirement.
• Unlike finite private accounts or 401k plans, Social Security benefits are guaranteed throughout a person's lifespan. This is particularly important to women, who live longer on average than men do.

Additional Resources for AAUW Members

• Meet with your member of Congress - How to set up an in-district meeting
• Media Guide - Online resource for finding and contacting national and local media
• Community Coalitions Manual - Guide to help local groups establish and sustain effective coalition-based programs

For more information, call 202/785-7793 or e-mail VoterEd@aauw.org.

AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations