Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why many retired women live in poverty
CNN Money ^ | 13MAY2014 | Melanie Hicken

Posted on 05/20/2014 9:34:42 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine

Gender inequality doesn't end at the workplace. For many women, the gender gap haunts them well into their retirement years, when far more women find themselves living in poverty.

In fact, women are almost twice as likely as men to live below the poverty line during retirement, with single and minority women struggling the most (see chart).

On average, women 65 years and older rely on a median income of around $16,000 a year -- roughly $11,000 less than men of the same age, according to a Congressional analysis of Census data. And many elderly women rely exclusively on Social Security benefits.

The problem: Women earn -- and save -- less over their lifetimes than men, leaving them with a smaller nest egg. And because they tend to live longer, that savings has to last longer, too.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: poverty; retirement; women
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last
To: ottbmare
She'll make it. Our great nephew just graduated from Paris Island beginning of May. His dad was a Marine. His little brother is soon leaving for Pendleton. Our great niece is married to a Marine and they just had twin baby girls a couple of months ago. So I know how little they make. We pray for them all.
81 posted on 05/21/2014 7:23:21 AM PDT by defconw (Well now what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Jack Hydrazine

I presume that a significant part of this is due to the shorter life span of men vs that of women. When the husband dies some time before the wife, paying for his illness burns through their savings, leaving the wife essentially destitute.

Just speculation on my part, of course.


82 posted on 05/21/2014 7:23:31 AM PDT by Stegall Tx (Whoops! Back to teaching for another year.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stegall Tx

This is just speculation, but I think all the women who are on welfare are pulling our average down. I mean they get more benefits while they have kids. Once those kids leave, those benefits get cut.


83 posted on 05/21/2014 7:32:29 AM PDT by defconw (Well now what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Donnafrflorida
Due to this decision life is gonna be a bit harder but my rewards are my here or now.

Hear, hear! The way I figure it, I may never make it to retirement, so I do want to live a little now.

Actually, I am 66, so I could retire, but I'd rather have enough money but not enough time, than have enough time, but not enough money.

Besides, God put man on this earth to work. I know if I retired I'd sit on my hindquarters and read because that's what I like to do. I'd be dead in two years.

I may not work till I drop, but I intend to work as long as I'm have fun at it. It took me years, but I'm finally where I wanted to be, and why should I give that up?

84 posted on 05/21/2014 7:37:12 AM PDT by chesley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
men are more likely to fool around

Or are more likely to get caught. Doesn't it take somewhere near two to tango?

85 posted on 05/21/2014 7:48:29 AM PDT by Reeses
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: BilLies

i agree.

i think what screws up a lot of retirement for both men and women is divorce. the only peoples that do well from it are lawyers and keeping social services employees paid and working.


86 posted on 05/21/2014 9:36:12 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: redhawk.44mag
"This is the only forum I visit other than gun forums, and I’ve been here for over 17yrs..."

Funny, your signup date says 2013-5-31.

87 posted on 05/21/2014 9:59:34 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

Yes, it does


88 posted on 05/21/2014 10:06:03 AM PDT by redhawk.44mag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: ottbmare

It’s strange when I look at those things the social security admin sends out. The years I stayed home with the kids I had zero income so although I’m making okay wages now - those years I had zero income I suppose will be averaged in as well?

P. S. I do not like to shop, neither does my mother and neither does my daughter. My ex however loved to shop and spent us out of house and home (well not literally out of home but he liked to spend more than we earned). I am an extremely frugal individuals as are my mother and my daughter.


89 posted on 05/21/2014 10:14:30 AM PDT by ozarkgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: maine-iac7

And still there are many moms who chose to and are able to stay home with their kids. I don’t know the answer but they will have many years of zeros on their social security wages. We don’t think about these things when we’re home with the kids.


90 posted on 05/21/2014 10:17:26 AM PDT by ozarkgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: redhawk.44mag
"Yes, it does"

Mm-hm.

Must be that Common Core math.

91 posted on 05/21/2014 10:20:04 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

see my #34 to you in the rat poison thread


92 posted on 05/21/2014 11:07:19 AM PDT by redhawk.44mag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: Jack Hydrazine

I didn’t. I kicked Hubby 1.0’s dust off my feet and happily got a great job and met my current husband there. We’ll be married 35 years in a few months, God willing.


93 posted on 05/21/2014 11:36:57 AM PDT by TheOldLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

“a lifetime of shopping has left them destitute!”

Do you have any idea what a horse’s *** you are.

I spent years shopping-——for a 7 person family-—even shopped for my mother when she could no longer do it.

.


94 posted on 05/21/2014 11:45:23 AM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mears

Congrats, you are the second lady who has chimed in to let us know she doesn’t possess a sense of humor.


95 posted on 05/21/2014 12:43:59 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

“Congrats, you are the second lady who has chimed in to let us know she doesn’t possess a sense of humor.”.

I never,ever laugh on Wednesdays.

.


96 posted on 05/21/2014 3:24:38 PM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

If no one gets your jokes, the humor deficit might not be with us.

I understand that you were trying to make a joke, but it’s impossible to interpret facial expressions and tone of voice on the Internet. Sometimes it just doesn’t work.


97 posted on 05/21/2014 6:17:25 PM PDT by ottbmare (the OTTB mare, now a proud Marine Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: Freeping Since 2001

They will have to reform SS soon in order to prevent its collapse, at which time they will hopefully come up with an equitable plan for your generation. I didn’t come up with the current Ponzi scheme, so please don’t blame me for its shortcomings.


98 posted on 05/21/2014 6:23:00 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: 9YearLurker
There’s an unfortunate, persistent anti-female streak that runs through FR.

Must be a lot of divorced men here on the Free Republic!

My wife and I have been happily married for something like 27 years now. She's got nothing to worry about. She's going to outlive me and she's getting all my money. Hell, my mother-in-law will probably outlive me and so she'll get some of it too.

99 posted on 05/21/2014 6:32:38 PM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

Ha—those mothers-in-law are a tough bunch!


100 posted on 05/21/2014 7:49:13 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson