The National Center for Health Statistics says that an average marriage lasts for just over seven years. However, the Social Security Act requires that a marriage must last for at least ten years before a divorced woman is eligible to share her former husband's Social Security retirement benefits. Even if a divorced woman stayed at home full time caring for children, she receives no retirement benefit from Social Security for those years if her marriage lasted less than ten years. That's why a bipartisan coalition on Capitol Hill is willing to strengthen Social Security by allowing workers to place some of their payroll taxes in personal investment accounts. While Social Security has helped past generations, it will not do as well for younger women.
Numerous studies show women achieving stronger roles and greater importance in the work force.
Approximately 75 percent of that work force is guaranteed to pay more in Social Security taxes than they do in income taxes. And, this leaves them little or nothing to save or invest for their retirement. Let's get the facts straight. The problem that we face is preserving Social Security so that future generations of women are protected from poverty. Scrapping a system with a proven track record makes no sense.