When Social Security was established back in 1935 it was normal for women to reside in home to raise the family. In the majority of families the husband was the higher earner or the only earner in the household. Additionally, women statistically survive longer than men, particularly if the wife is younger compared to the husband.

The combination of lower or no earnings and a longer life span implied many women noticed themselves in poverty when their husbands died, as their husband's Social Security retirement benefits ended at their death. The Social Security Board identified the problems that women face and have employed several changes to the system over the years to account for these needs.

One important amendments to the Social Security plan was to allow women to apply for benefits at 62 instead of waiting until 65 under the idea that they were younger than their spouses and that they would like to retire at the same time.

Then in 1939 two new categories of benefits were included: Social Security survivor benefits and dependent benefits (to be paid to the spouse and minor children of retired employees).

These changes converted Social Security from a retirement plan that only paid benefits to retired employees into a family-based program, where spouses and children may receive benefits of retired, disabled or departed workers. This was an enormous help to women who did not qualify for retirement benefits on their own, or who had considerably smaller benefits than their spouses.

Today, even though it's not strange for women to earn as much or greater than their husbands, they still may take time off to look after families, and they still typically live longer than their spouses. In addition, the number of divorced women attaining retirement age is greater than before. As a result of of this, a lot of women still receive Social Security spousal benefits or survivor benefits instead of benefits according to their own job records.

So it's essential for women - regardless of their relationship status is - to learn the spousal and survivor benefits available to them along with the retirement benefits so they can enjoy the optimum benefits they are entitled to.

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