Social Security focuses on benefits for women

March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus not just on the past, but also on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century. At Social Security, we provide vital benefits and financial protection for women.

Nearly 55% of people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Today, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.

Women have longer average life expectancies and tend to live more years in retirement than men.

This means women have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income while their Social Security benefit continues for life. It’s important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement.

Our online booklet, “Social Security:

What Every Woman Should Know” at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf, provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security retirement benefits. These events may include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.

A worker’s earnings history will determine their future benefits, so we encourage all workers to verify that the information in their record is correct. You can create a personal My Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to review your full earnings history. You can also view your Social Security Statement using your personal account to get estimates of future benefits and other important planning information.

If you find an error in your earnings record, it is important to get it corrected so you receive the benefits you earned. Our publication, “How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record,” at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf, provides you with details on how to make a correction.

Learn more about how Social Security benefits women at www.ssa.gov/ people/women.

Question: What is the maximum Social Security retirement benefit payable for 2024?

Answer:

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $3,822.

Question: I had additional earnings after I retired; will my monthly Social Security retirement benefit increase?

Answer:

Each year we review the records for every working Social Security beneficiary to see if the additional earnings will increase their monthly benefit amounts. If an increase is due, we calculate your new benefit amount and pay the increase retroactive to January following the year of earnings. For example, if you have earnings in 2020 that will increase your monthly benefit amount, we will increase your benefit amount retroactive to January 2021 once we review your record.