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1 (September 24, 2002)

handle is hein.crs/crsahxf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21228 Updated September 24, 2002 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Social Security Benefit Enhancements for Women Act of 2002 (H.R. 4069) Dawn Nuschler Analyst in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Summary On May 14, 2002, the House passed the Social Security Benefit Enhancements for Women Act of 2002 (H.R. 4069), as amended, by a vote of 418-0. H.R. 4069 includes benefit enhancements targeted to certain divorced spouses and disabled and elderly widow(er)s. Specifically, the measure would: (1) eliminate the requirement that widow(er)s seeking disability benefits must have become disabled within 7 years of the worker's death; (2) eliminate the 2-year waiting period for divorced spouse's benefits when the worker has remarried; and (3) disregard months after the worker's death in the application of early retirement rules for purposes of determining the limit on widow(er)'s benefits payable on the worker's record. Preliminary estimates by the Congressional Budget Office show that H.R. 4069 would affect over 120,000 persons and cost $3.3 billion over 10 years. The Social Security Administration's Office of the Chief Actuary estimates that the measure would have only a negligible effect on the long-range actuarial balance of the Social Security trust funds. This report will be updated as legislative action occurs. Background The Social Security program provides benefits to retired and disabled workers, to their dependents, and to the survivors of deceased workers. In 2000, there were 45 million Social Security recipients. Of those, 53% were women (compared to 39% men, 8% children); and 81% of the total recipient population was age 62 or older. Benefit amounts varied by gender. The average benefit was $928 for men and $696 for women. For retired workers, the average benefit was $951 for men, $730 for women; for the spouses of retired workers, $243 for men, $431 for women; for disabled workers, $883 for men, $661 for women; for nondisabled widow(er)s, $607 for men, $812 for women; and for disabled widow(er)s, $362 for men, $524 for women. Social Security is the primary source of income for the elderly (persons age 65 and older). In 2000, 90% of the elderly population had income from Social Security (compared to 29% with private pensions and 14% with government employee pensions). For 64% of elderly recipients, Social Security represented at least half of total income. Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress

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