Older women's economic security is dependent on their expenses and their income. Unmarried older women are at great risk of not having sufficient income to meet their expenses. This workshop will examine the income sources older women have and their expenses. Older women on average have less income than older men from all three major sources in retirement; Social Security, pension income, and savings. In addition they are more likely to live alone, incurring higher housing expenses and long-term care expenses. Policies that could help prevent the economic hardship by either increasing income or decreasing expenses will be explored.

Moderator: Ellen Bruce, Senior Fellow, Gerontology Institute, UMass Boston, Founder of the Pension Action Center

Panelists:

Karen D. Friedman, Executive Vice President and Policy Director, Pension Rights Center

Emily Shea, Commissioner, Commission on Affairs of the Elderly, City of Boston

Carolyn Villers, Executive Director, Mass Senior Action Council