Ann Arbor Times

A recent study conducted by sociologists from the University of Michigan and Boston University has found that Social Security benefit rules contribute to financial disparities among older adults based on marital status. The research indicates that married individuals receive higher Social Security benefits, enjoy greater household incomes, and experience lower poverty rates compared to their single, divorced, or prematurely widowed counterparts.

The findings are drawn from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which tracks more than 5,200 white high school graduates over a period exceeding sixty years. According to Pamela Smock, research professor at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research and professor of sociology, “There’s a widespread belief that Social Security is sufficient to lift older adults out of poverty. Although Social Security is a successful social program in the U.S., its benefit rules disadvantage some people who are already at risk of financial insecurity in old age: divorced people, those who were widowed at younger ages and lifelong singles.”

Under current Social Security regulations, divorced individuals can claim only half of their ex-spouse’s benefits if they were married for at least ten years; shorter marriages do not qualify for any benefits. Widowed individuals may receive survivor benefits based on their late spouse’s earnings but incur penalties if they claim these early. These policies mean that those who divorce or become widowed at younger ages are especially vulnerable to economic hardship later in life.

The study also examines lifelong singles. Deborah Carr, co-author and professor of sociology at Boston University, stated: “They also face steep economic disadvantages in old age. While married people can choose their own worker’s benefit or their spouse’s benefit—whichever is larger—lifelong singles don’t have that choice. They have only their own benefit to rely on. Making things worse, due to factors like singlism (discrimination against lifelong singles), those who have never married have lower earnings in their working years and thus more meager Social Security benefits in old age.”

Researchers suggest updating the rules governing Social Security benefits to better align with modern family structures. The original framework was designed when women primarily worked as housewives and depended financially on their husbands’ income after widowhood.

Carr noted: “The assumption was that they required a full survivor’s benefit. Today, however, divorce is the primary pathway out of marriage, rather than widowhood. Women who have sacrificed their careers—and earnings—to care for their families, yet later divorced, would either be ineligible for their ex-spouse’s benefits if they had a short marriage or would receive just 50% if they had a 10+ year marriage.

“A policy change that allowed divorced people to claim 100% of their ex-spouse’s benefit might be an effective way to ensure late-life economic security, especially for women.”

Other recommendations include introducing caregiver credits for unpaid family care work and increasing survivor benefits for widows and widowers.

The analyses focused on white older adults; however, Smock said future research will examine whether similar patterns exist among Black and Hispanic populations—groups with higher rates of divorce and premature widowhood—which could worsen existing racial disparities in late-life economic security.

Leping Wang from Vanderbilt University also contributed as a co-author on this study.