Questions to ask

[National Dialogue Moderator <moderator>]

Maureen West asked for comments about current proposals.  I would like 
to see us focus on what questions we should ask about each proposal.  
These are the questions which enable us to understand how well the 
proposal might address special needs of women. My questions are:

* What is the benefit to a survivor when one person in a retired 
  married couple dies?  Does it permit the survivor to maintain the same 
  living standard as the couple?

* Is equity provided between single and dual earning couples?

* What is the approach to benefits on divorce?  How does it work for a 
  person divorced after a short time (ex. 7 years), a middle term (ex. 
  15 years), and a long term (ex. 25 years)?

* Does it do anything to provide credit for years of caregiving, and 
  how does it treat an individual who combined years of work and years 
  of caregiving?

* How will it affect poverty rates?

* Does it provide adequate support for the most vulnerable?

* What is the approach to the management of disability and 
  pre-retirement survivor benefits?

These are the issues in addition to questions of cost and broad 
approaches to benefits and their levels which we need to ask in order 
to understand how women (and men) in diverse family situations will be 
affected by any proposal.


Anna Rappaport