Jane states that "Social Security is an unfair program. It discriminates against married women in the workforce and middle-income recipients." Evaluate this view

Answer 1

Social Security discriminates against married women in the workforce. The problem arises because individuals are permitted to draw benefits based on either their own earnings or 50 percent of the benefits earned by their spouse. But they cannot draw both. In the case of many working married women, 50 percent of their spouse's benefit levels are approximately equal to, or in some cases greater than, benefits based on their own earnings. As a result, many working women derive little or no additional benefits from the payroll taxes they pay into the system. Social Security also discriminates against middle-income recipients. Increases in average annual earnings (35 highest earning years) between $45,348 and $90,000 lead to only a 15 percent increase in benefit levels. Thus, middle earners derive little benefit from the payroll taxes paid during their working years.