The work history patterns common among women make it difficult to accrue adequate private pensions, or to become eligible for pensions at all. A woman's Social Security retirement benefits reflect any reduction in hours or absences from the paid work force. Many widows rely on the Social Security spousal benefits. Yet there are many widows who forfeit their spousal Social Security benefits if they divorce after having been married for less than ten years. They also frequently lose their spouse's private pensions regardless of the length of marriage.
Widows are likely to experience a sharp drop in income and benefits upon the death of their spouse.
Once a man is out of her life a woman often finds herself in reduced financial circumstances. Poverty and living alone make all other elements of well-being more difficult to attain. Housing, food, clothing, medical care, health, and assistance with chores are all affected to a greater or lesser extent by the amount of income one has and by the availability of routine or emergency care from others or a family member. Another problem is that a large group of older women do not receive benefits they are eligible for either because they do not know about them or how to get them, or because they are too proud to accept this assistance. Others, especially those for whom English is a second language, may not understand the complicated paperwork necessary to initiate payments.