|
Dear John,
When older Americans suffer the loss of a spouse, they are also subject to a loss of income.
When a spouse dies, household income can plummet, forcing many widows and widowers into financial hardship. That’s because Social Security survivor benefits do not replace both incomes when a spouse dies. Yet, a widow will still have to pay many of the same fixed expenses, like rent or mortgage, car payments and insurance — leaving them struggling to pay their monthly bills.
But the formula for survivor benefits can be improved! The “Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act” would ensure that dual-earning widows and widowers maintain at least 75% of the combined benefits that they received when both spouses were alive, which would provide a much-needed financial cushion.
Please sign our Emergency Petition today urging your member of Congress to support this bill that would boost survivor benefits and help prevent an elderly widow from falling into poverty after the death of a spouse.
For example, the widow who earned $800 in benefits compared to her deceased husband’s $1,600 would receive at least $1,800 per month in widows’ benefits under the “Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust” bill. Of course, this bill would increase benefits for everyone counting on Social Security in retirement and improve the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
It's time to bring Social Security into the 21st century and update it to ensure that a loss of a spouse is not followed by a devastating financial loss. So please sign our Urgent Petition today and demand action on this much-needed Social Security bill.
Sincerely,
|
2.png "tw"){kind=small}
