The Economic Security of Older Women and Men in the United States

The briefing paper uses data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey to provide estimates of sources of income for men and women in the retirement years. It also includes data on poverty rates and family income by race, ethnicity, and gender. The briefing paper finds that Social Security remains crucial for ensuring economic security among seniors, and especially senior women. While nearly nine out of ten men and women aged 65 and older currently receive Social Security benefits, older women remain disproportionately vulnerable to financial hardship, as the majority of older women in America (57 percent) live alone and less than one third (29 percent) receive income from pensions. In addition, older women of color have the highest poverty rates among men and women of all racial/ethnic groups, and are much more likely to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) government assistance.