RE: Question on Safety Net

["Buchman, Ellen" <BUCHMANE@aauw.org>]

The safety net that Social Security provides is critical, particularly for
women.  Social Security benefits are the only source of income for many
elderly women.  In fact, 25 percent of unmarried women (widowed, divorced,
separated, or never married) rely on Social Security benefits as their only
source of income.  Further, despite improvements in women's pension coverage
rates, the majority of women currently working still lack pension coverage.
Fifty-two percent of working women are not enrolled in a pension plan.
Social Security reform affords Congress the opportunity to enact legislation
that guarantees the solvency of the program, and provides additional
retirement security to women and other low-wage workers.  

For more information about Social Security reform and women, visit AAUW's
web site at http://www.aauw.org.  

Ellen Buchman
American Association of University Women