In the 1930s, America was still feeling the effects of the Great Depression. Social Security was a 1930s solution to a 1930s situation. And it has played a crucial role in lifting many seniors out of poverty. But times have changed.

Social Security was designed at a time when few women were working outside of the home, but today, most women work outside the home. Women have to make difficult choices for themselves and their families, but Social Security penalizes some of those choices while rewarding others.

Meet Joan...

IN HER OWN WORDS: "Ron and I were 26 when we married. We worked hard and raised two children. At age 55, Ron passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack. Both of us had contributed through the years to the Social Security program. Because his salary had been higher over the 35 years we had contributed, he had made a greater contribution. I continued to work for another nine years and retired. At that time I learned that I could not receive any survivor benefit for the years Ron contributed to the Social Security system because the benefit I earned from working was slightly higher than what I would receive from Social Security based on Ron?s contributions. I would not receive any of the tens of thousands of dollars paid by Ron. If Ron had had a personal Social Security IRA, at least some of what he contributed would have been part of his estate and available to me. Widows and widowers are not treated equitably by the current system. It?s not fair that I got nothing for all of the years Ron worked hard and contributed to the system."

WHEN JOAN?S HUSBAND DIED, HER RETIREMENT SECURITY WENT WITH HIM: Like Joan, millions of widows lose up to half of their Social Security benefits because their husband died.

THE REASON: Social Security regulations state that widows or widowers are entitled to either a benefit based on their own earnings or the benefit their deceased spouse would have received - but not both.

When these regulations were written in the 1930s, seven of ten married women didn?t work outside the home. Now, it is the mirror opposite - seven of ten women earn income themselves. Our culture has changed dramatically, and our Social Security program has not kept pace. Today?s working women deserve to keep their financial security even when they lose their husband.

CAN?T WE DO BETTER? A voluntary individual Social Security account could provide a more secure nest egg for families that death can?t take away. Personal accounts would give people the opportunity to pass their retirement savings on to a spouse, helping improve their income security in old age.