Sánchez introduces bill to strengthen Social Security benefits for widows, widowers

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, today introduced the Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWR) Act, a bill to improve financial security for widows and widowers by adjusting the way the Social Security Administration calculates insurance benefits for surviving spouses in two-income households.

“The grief of losing a loved one shouldn’t be compounded by the stress of financial hardship,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Sadly, that’s the reality for too many surviving spouses, who can lose half their household income overnight. The POWR Act moves to fix that. After decades of hard work and paying into the system, widows and widowers deserve to keep the benefits they earned together.”

“The nonpartisan Elder Justice Coalition is proud to support the POWR Act,” said Bob Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition. “Social Security is about promoting economic security. The two provisions of the POWR Act aim to remedy shortcomings that prevent widows, widowers and those on SSI from achieving that. We commend Rep. Sánchez for leading this important reform effort.”

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, women are more likely to suffer a greater financial hit following the loss of a spouse. Despite higher workforce participation rates, women continue to rely more heavily on Social Security than men. The average widow sees a 33% to 50% drop in her benefits after the death of a spouse. 

However, surviving spouses typically need 79% of the couple’s prior combined income just to maintain their standard of living. The POWR Act closes that gap, creating an alternative benefit equal to 75% of a couple’s combined Social Security benefits.

The POWR Act is cosponsored by Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

It is endorsed by the Elder Justice Coalition, Alliance for Retired Americans and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

The full text of the bill is available HERE.

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