More Women Earning Social Security Benefits Than Ever Before

Women, on average, also face greater economic challenges in retirement than men.

Women generally live longer than men while often having lower lifetime earnings. Women may also reach retirement with smaller pensions and other assets compared to men.

These are two key reasons why Social Security is vitally important to women.

Women and men may receive benefits based on their own work record or their spouse's. If you are a woman and you've worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years, and have earned a minimum of 40 work credits, you may be eligible for your own benefits.

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Once you reach age 62, you may be eligible for your own Social Security benefit whether you're married or not and whether your spouse collects Social Security or not.

If you're eligible and apply for benefits on more than one work record, you generally receive the higher benefit amount.

It's never too early or too late to start saving and planning for retirement. We have specific information for women at www.ssa.gov/people/women.

You can also read the publication "What Every Woman Should Know" at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf.

'My Social Security'

Having a personal "my Social Security" account is like having super powers - it protects you and can look into your financial future.

Saves you time: You don't need to speak with a Social Security representative to check your application status, set up or change direct deposit, or request a replacement Social Security card. Just log into your personal "my Social Security" account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Security protection: When you create an account, it prevents someone else from possibly creating an account in your name. We use two-step authentication to verify you are the one logging in to your account.

Our security measures allows you to access your personal information safely and securely using "my Social Security."

Reassurance: Did you know you can see your entire earnings history with your "my Social Security" account? It's important to check it and make sure it's accurate, since your future benefits are based on your earnings history. We tell you how to correct an error if you find one.

Plan for your future: Retirement planning is essential for a secure future. Your personal "my Social Security" account makes it easy. You can view your retirement estimates when you enter the age or date when you expect to begin receiving benefits and your estimated future salary amount. You can also view your estimated disability benefit on the Estimate Benefits page.