As a single woman with no children, Karen Callahan is putting together the financial pieces that will protect her for a potentially long life on her own. A large piece of her puzzle: getting as much Social Security income as she can. For many older single women, as well as for divorced women and widows, getting the most out of Social Security is crucial, experts say. Women tend to live longer than men, and they depend more on Social Security as a primary source of retirement income. Also, their benefits, on average, are smaller, in part because of lost earnings or part-time work during years caring for children and older relatives.

Source: New York Times June 28, 2021 09:00 UTC