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Selected Research & Analysis: Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Beneficiaries > Survivors

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Survivor-Only Beneficiaries in 2050
Beneficiary Projection (released August 2021)
Poverty Status of Social Security Beneficiaries, by Type of Benefit
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 76, No. 4 (released November 2016)
by Benjamin Bridges and Robert V. Gesumaria

This article examines the 2012 poverty status of eight Social Security adult type of benefit (TOB) groups using both the official poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). For each TOB group, the article compares the SPM estimate with the official poverty measure estimate. In addition, it estimates the effects of various features of the SPM on poverty rates, noting why the SPM estimates differ from official estimates. For each poverty measure, the article also compares poverty estimates across groups.

The Implications of Marital History Change on Women's Eligibility for Social Security Wife and Widow Benefits, 1990–2009
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 2 (released May 2012)
by Howard M. Iams and Christopher R. Tamborini

Social Security retirement-age benefits in the United States reflect marital histories and lifetime earnings of current and former married couples. We examine women's marital history patterns and spouse and widow benefit eligibility over the past two decades, 1990 and 2009. Our analysis reveals substantial changes in women's marital patterns among the baby boom and generation X cohorts. We find a substantial decline in qualifying marital histories for Social Security spouse and widow benefits. The results reveal considerable variation by race and Hispanic origin.

Widows and Social Security
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 70, No. 3 (released August 2010)
by David A. Weaver

This article provides policymakers with context for understanding past and future policy discussions regarding Social Security widow benefits. Using data from household surveys, projections from a microsimulation model, and recent research, it examines three types of benefits—those for aged widows, widows caring for children, and disabled widows.

The Widow(er)'s Limit Provision of Social Security
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 64, No. 1 (released April 2002)
by David A. Weaver

The widow(er)'s limit provision of Social Security establishes caps on the benefit amounts of widow(er)s whose deceased spouse filed for early retirement benefits. Currently, 33 percent of Social Security's 8.1 million widow(er) beneficiaries have lower benefits because of that provision. This article describes the widow(er)'s limit provision and evaluates options for changing it.

The Widow(er)'s Limit Provision of Social Security
ORES Working Paper No. 92 (released June 2001)
by David A. Weaver

The widow(er)'s limit provision of Social Security establishes caps on the benefit amounts of widow(er)s whose deceased spouse filed for early retirement benefits. Currently, 33 percent of Social Security's 8.1 million widow(er) beneficiaries have lower benefits because of that provision. This paper describes the widow(er)'s limit provision and evaluates proposed changes to it. The proposals considered range from the modest (allowing widow(er)s to receive adjustments to the capped amounts by delaying receipt of benefits) to the substantial (abolishing the widow(er)'s limit).

Health Care Coverage of Survivor Families With Children: Determinants and Consequences
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 47, No. 2 (released February 1984)
by Philip B. Springer
Knowledge of Social Security: Survivor Families With Young Children
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 46, No. 12 (released December 1983)
by Julian Abbott
Aged Widows and OASDI: Age At and Economic Status Before and After Receipt of Benefits
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 44, No. 3 (released March 1981)
by Gayle Thompson Rogers
Impact on Widows of Proposed Changes in OASI Mother's Benefits
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 44, No. 2 (released February 1981)
by Susan Grad
Demographic and Economic Differences in Survivor Experiences of Nonwhite and White Families
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 43, No. 2 (released February 1980)
by Gordon F. Sutton
Support Systems of Widows in the Chicago Area
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 41, No. 1 (released January 1978)
by Helena Znaniecka Lopata
Widowed-Father Beneficiaries
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 40, No. 2 (released February 1977)
by Barbara A. Lingg
Young Widows and Their Children: A Comparative Report
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 5 (released May 1975)
by Lucy B. Mallan
Benefits for Grandchildren and Certain Blind Persons Under 1972 Amendments
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 6 (released June 1974)
by Barbara A. Lingg
Study of Benefits for Survivors of UAW Members in Detroit Areas
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 11 (released November 1969)
by Eugene L. Loren and Thomas C. Barker
Arkansas Missile-Site Disaster: Survivor Benefits Payable
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 4 (released April 1966)
by George I. Kowalczyk
Benefits for Survivors of Men Lost on the U.S.S. Thresher
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 27, No. 2 (released February 1964)
by George I. Kowalczyk
Money Income Sources of Young Survivors, December 1960
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 10 (released October 1961)
by Mollie Orshansky
Income of Young Survivors, December 1958
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 22, No. 9 (released September 1959)
by Mollie Orshansky
Money Income Sources for Young Survivors, December 1957
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 21, No. 8 (released August 1958)
by Lenore A. Epstein
Survivor Benefit Protection for Federal Judges
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 4 (released April 1957)
by Paul W. Nowlin
Money Income Sources for Young Survivors
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 8 (released August 1956)
by Lenore A. Epstein
Deaths Represented in Social Insurance Survivor Benefit Awards
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 8 (released August 1956)
by Robert J. Myers
Survivor Benefits After Disaster: An Actuarial Analysis
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 2 (released February 1954)
by Robert J. Myers
Survivor Protection, West Frankfort Mine Disaster
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 15, No. 4 (released April 1952)
Survivor Protection as of January 1, 1951
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 15, No. 1 (released January 1952)
Economic Status of Aged Persons and of Dependent Survivors
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 6 (released June 1951)
Family Resources To Meet Costs of a Worker's Last Illness and Death
from Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 7, No. 3 (released March 1944)
by Janet Leland