The Importance of Social Security
by Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security,
National Women's Law Center
Today I testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging about Social Security. It was a welcome change from the past few years, when I testified at hearings that focused on plans to privatize Social Security and cut benefits. Today, I had an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen and improve Social Security -- the foundation of older women’s economic security, and the effective way to increase retirement security for all Americans facing an environment of heightened economic risk.
It won’t take an extreme makeover to improve Social Security for women and economically vulnerable Americans. I presented some proposals, such as improving widow(er)s’ benefits and benefits for low lifetime earners and caregivers and modernizing Supplemental Security Income. I emphasized that these changes are especially critical for women, who face a higher threat of poverty in old age than men.
I also reminded the committee that Social Security is not just a retirement program --- it’s a family insurance program. Social Security provides disability and life insurance benefits to workers and their families, including children – over 1 million of whom are lifted out of poverty by this program. Read my complete testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
To help better prepare women for retirement, the National Women’s Law Center is hosting a webinar series for service providers, advocates, and individuals. The first webinar, Planning for the Future: What Women Need to Know About Social Security, will take place on Tuesday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. This online workshop is free to participants, but registration is required. Stay tuned for more information on the rest of the series.


