Modernizing Social Security: Widow Benefits

According to a report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, while the poverty status of widows has improved markedly, they remain much more vulnerable than married couples. One reason is that Social Security widow benefits have been declining, relative to the couple's benefit, due to the rising labor force activity of women. One proffered solution is to increase the widow benefit by reducing the spousal benefit, essentially shifting money from when both spouses are alive to when only one member is alive.