About Eleanor’s Hope
The retirement challenges facing millions of American women simply can’t be ignored. On average, women live longer than men yet their lifetime earnings are generally lower. Pay inequity while they’re working and often reduced benefits once they retire means millions of women face retirement and health insecurity in their old age.
The National Committee’s “Eleanor’s Hope” initiative, named in honor of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, will raise awareness and bolster Congressional leaders who are making a difference on women’s health and retirement security issues. We’ll advocate for legislation that addresses the inequities threatening millions of retired women and work to elect lawmakers who share our vision of retirement equity for women.
Latest News
Women and Retirement: The Gender Gap Persists
Americans are historically concerned that they will not have saved enough money to provide for a reasonable standard of living in retirement. When older people were asked in a benchmark survey which they feared most – death or outliving their money in retirement – nearly two-thirds chose running out of money. In a January 2020 survey, only about seven in ten workers were confident they would have enough to live comfortably in retirement, including 27 percent who were very confident in their ability to retire comfortably. Continue brief
Women to Watch
“ Social Security and Medicare are the bedrock of our social contract. Together, these safety net programs keep millions of seniors and people living with disabilities out of poverty. [I] oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and believe we need to strengthen these safety nets.”
“I will continue to fight against risky schemes that would privatize Social Security and turn it from a guarantee of a secure retirement into a gamble where only the big financial companies on Wall Street would be the sure winners… I will fight to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors—and all Americans—by lifting the ban on Medicare negotiating prices directly with drug companies on behalf of the 43 million seniors in the Part D program…”
Ask Us
Q. My husband and I both worked full time for many years and individually will qualify for close to a maximum benefit. Will we each be able to do that, or is there a maximum payment to married persons that is less than the total they would receive if they were not married?
A. There is no maximum benefit for a married couple when both have participated in the workforce. In the situation you describe, each of you will receive his or her own benefit. In survivorship cases, the survivor receives whichever of their two benefits is the greater.
