Options to liberalize Social Security disabled widow(er)s benefits

Area of Science:

• Social Policy
• Economics
• Gerontology

Background:

• Disabled widow(er)s benefits are a crucial Social Security program component.
• Beneficiaries face permanently reduced payments, impacting economic security.
• This group is identified as economically at-risk within Social Security recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the legislative history of the disabled widow(er)s benefit.
• To profile the economic status of current and potential disabled widows.
• To provide evidence supporting policy reforms for this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• Legislative history review.
• Analysis of Social Security program data.
• Examination of six years of Current Population Survey data (1995-2000).

Main Results:

• Disabled widows, particularly those aged 50-59, exhibit significant economic hardship, with 44% below poverty income.
• This contrasts sharply with non-disabled widows of the same age group, where only 15% fall below poverty.
• The analysis underscores the economic vulnerability of disabled widow(er)s.

Conclusions:

• Recommend extending eligibility to all individuals disabled before retirement age.
• Advocate for benefits equal to 100% of the deceased spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA).
• Urge elimination of the restrictive seven-year rule and protection of Medicaid eligibility.