ITEMS IN THIS ALERT:

New Research
The Economic Security of Older Women and Men
AARP Surveys Voters and Candidates about Social Security

In the News
Election Results May Revive or Kill Plans to Privatize Social Security

The Economic Security of Older Women and Men
In a series of new fact sheets on “The Economic Security of Older Women and Men” by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) uses the Census Bureau’s 2002-2005 March Current Population Survey data to examine poverty and sources of retirement income for women and men 65 and older in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The data is also disaggregated by race and ethnicity and marital status to underline disparities among women. IWPR’s analysis shows that in each of these states, 80 to 90 percent of women and men 65 and older receive Social Security benefits.

IWPR’s research finds a common story for older women across these different states. For example, Social Security is a substantial source of income for women in all six states. In Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Social Security benefits make up the majority of older women’s income (52, 56, 52, and 54 percent, respectively). In California and Virginia Social Security benefits make up the largest source of older women’s income (45 and 43 percent, respectively). In all states, women are far less likely to receive pension income than men, with only 1 in 3 receiving pension income in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and only 1 in 4 receiving pension income in California and Florida.

Additionally, 50 percent or more of older women in these states are not married (defined as widowed, divorced, or never married), especially older African American women. African American women and Hispanic women in California, Florida, and New Jersey, and African American women in Michigan Pennsylvania, and Virginia are also the most likely to be poor and the least likely to have income from assets like savings accounts and stocks and bonds. IWPR’s fact sheets emphasize the need for policies that address the economic situation of today’s older women and men and that of future older Americans, and point to the importance of protecting and strengthening Social Security.

AARP Surveys Voters and Candidates about Social Security
In a summary of one in a series of election issue surveys, “AARP Election Watch: Pulse of a Generation, October 23, 2006”, the AARP provides a look at the importance of Social Security to the fall 2006 midterm elections. The telephone survey polled 1,503 people age 42 and older, a segment of the population that is most likely to vote, about how the issue of Social Security might impact their voting decisions. The survey results show that 72 percent of respondents (70.1 percent of men and 73.8 percent of women*) oppose the use of tax dollars to fund private accounts. In addition to strong opposition to private accounts, the survey found strong support for strengthening Social Security. Eighty percent of those surveyed (76.7 percent of men and 83.5 percent of women) said that they would want to see candidates work to improve the program. When asked whether they were likely to vote for a candidate that supported private accounts, 65 percent of those surveyed (62.5 percent of men and 66.5 percent of women) said it was not likely. The AARP’s survey results point to Social Security as a significant election issue for likely voters age 42 and older.

*Breakdowns by gender were provided for IWPR by the AARP and are not included in the published summary of survey results.

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