NW Riverside News

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), a ranking member of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, today introduced the Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWR) Act.

“Losing a spouse is devastating. And for those who depend on Social Security, the added financial distress of losing significant income can make an already difficult time even more troubling,” said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. “The POWR Act will create an alternative benefit, ensuring widows and widowers can keep paying their bills. I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to give some security and peace of mind to those who have lost a loved one.”

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), women suffer a greater financial hit following the loss of a loved one. The NASI has said, “The benefits are important to women because wives tend to earn less than their husbands and they typically outlive their husbands – both because women live longer than men, on average, and because wives tend to be a few years younger than their husbands.”

Despite women participating more in the workforce in recent years, they continue to rely more heavily on Social Security than men. The average widow sees a 33 to 50 percent reduction in Social Security benefits after the death of her spouse. However, on average, an elderly person needs 79 percent of the income received while both were alive to maintain their standard of living. The POWR Act would create an alternative benefit equal to 75 percent of the combined income received while both spouses were alive.

The POWR Act is cosponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01).

Multiple organizations have also endorsed this legislation, including Alliance for Retired Americans, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Elder Justice Coalition.

Congresswoman Sánchez first introduced this legislation in 2016.

The text of the legislation is available here.

Original source can be found here.