Social Security

Women & Dual Entitlement, 2025–2080

We project that the proportion of women who receive Social Security benefits based on their own work—as opposed to their spouses' work—will increase over time.

• More than half of female beneficiaries over age 60 will receive benefits based solely on their own work in 2025. By 2080, over 70 percent of women will receive such benefits.
• Over one-third of women will be dually entitled (receive a benefit based both on their own and their spouse's work) in 2025. By 2080, this proportion will decline to 25 percent.
• About 7 percent of women will receive benefits based solely on their spouses' earnings in 2025. By 2080, fewer than 4 percent of women will receive these benefits.

Projected Basis of Entitlement, Selected Years

Percentage of women aged 60 or older

Current Data Comparison

Women with Dual Entitlement, 1960–2011 from Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2012