C. Elderly women are dependent on Social Security as their sole source of income more often than men and are living longer so more are in poverty at any given time. Basic facts about women who live alone. A. Published data and research scarce for this group of women. E. From 1980 to 1985, number of women living alone increased by almost 1.3 million. A. Census data does not address questions of change over time - can't know how many exit poverty.
Women can leave poverty by marrying or living with employed person.
Women may sell valuable assets, such as real estate. Probably many other means that women exit poverty. B. Older women have fewer options to exit poverty. Possibility of marrying, increasing retirement benefits, or labor force participation almost nil. Government programs fall short of raising elderly out of poverty.