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Show 137 Women in the Labor Force At the end of 1963, 198,000 disabled women workers were receiving an average monthly benefit of $78.87 .. In addition, about 170,000 wives of disabled workers were receiving benefits. About 84 percent of these beneficiaries were mothers; their monthly benefits averaged $31.66. As a result of the 1956 amendment to the Social Security Act that lowered the retirement age for women from 65 to 62 years, there has been an increase in the number of women applying for benefits even though early retirement means permanently reduced benefits. By the close of 1963, 36 percent of the women aged 65 and over who were drawing benefits as, retired workers and 44 percent of the retired women beneficiaries aged 62 and over had taken an actuarially reduced Of the women drawing benefits as dependent wives of retired workers at the end of 1963, the proportion with actuarially reduced benefits was 39 percent for those aged 65 and over and 48 percent for benefit. the entire group aged 62 and over. As of January 1, 1964, 114.9 million workers then living, including security credits toward 52.5 million women, had accumulated social insurance benefits. A recent survey of the aged undertaken by the Social Security Administration showed that old-age, survivors, and disability insur ance benefits are a very substantial part of retirement income of women beneficiaries.' For example, in 1962 these benefits accounted for 46 percent of the total income of retired women, 52 percent of the total income of widows, and 40 percent of the' total income of married couples. 67. Women as Stockholders Women's participation in stockownership is another indicator of their economic status. The 9,430,000 women estimated to have one or more shares of stock in publicly owned corporations in early 1965 represented 47 percent .of 20,120,000 individual shareholders, according to a study made by the New York Stock Exchange. 5 About 1 out of 6 women and men in the adult population (21 years Sixteen percent was estimated to be shareowner. of all adult women were shareowners compared with 17 percent of of age and over) adult men. Women constituted 33 percent of the total stockholders of record reported corporations. The number of shares owned in by public dividually by women stockholders equaled 18 percent of the total 'Lenore A. Epstein, "Income of the Aged in 1962: First Findings of the 1963 Survey Aged." In Social Security Bulletin, Social Security Administration, U.S. Depart of the ment of Health, 5 Education, and Welfare, March 1964. "Shareownership June 1005. - U.'S.A.: 1005 Census of Shareowners" New York Stock Exchange. _ |
