Jezebel: Social Security

Animals Are The Latest Casualties Of The Sagging American Economy

Jessica — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EDT

Since you're always haranguing us to show more pictures of puppies, here you go…but it goes with a totally depressing story about the recession. According to the Associated Press, pets have been some of the the littlest, non-human victims of skyrocketing food prices and the housing crisis. The AP digs up a tearful grandma, Diana Bardsley of Franklin, Massachusetts, whose Social Security income doesn't stretch far enough to feed her spaniel and her two Siamese cats. "I know a lot of people will probably say, 'Well, if you don't have enough money to be able to feed your animals, that you shouldn't have pets,'''Bardsley says, and adds, "Just because financially you may go downhill a little or a lot, doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up the part of your family that you love." If that little anecdote doesn't crack your stony exterior, maybe this will.

The recent spate of foreclosures has led many Americans to abandon their pets, according to Brian Adams, spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "We've seen where people have abandoned dogs in the house, we've seen dogs that have been surviving for weeks on toilet water, we've seen dogs that have either been chained up outside or left in the yard when the people have left, we've seen cats who are just set free,'' Adams says.

Petco has begun to establish a foundation to give grants to shelters to help take care of all the pets displaced because of the foreclosure crisis. And you can always help by giving cold, hard cash to your local shelter or taking in a pet yourself. The famed Winston and Edie are both shelter/ rescue pets! You, too, could be the pet-mom to a semi-incontinent terrier or an adorably alien looking kitty of your own.

Demand Spikes At Pet Food Banks, Discount Vets [AP via MSNBC]

Poverty Is A Major Problem For America's Older Mothers

Jessica — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:30:00 EDT

Women outlive men, but in their twilight years, they're much more likely to fall below the poverty line. In fact, according to the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), the largest segment of the population living in poverty is made up of elderly females. (The average Social Security benefit for women is $800 per month, compared to $1,177 for men; this is due to less time spent in the workforce overall, explains UPI.) Says Cindy Hounsell, President of WISER: "With more years out of the workforce to care for family, combined with lower wages and a greater life expectancy, it's clear that simply being a woman in our society may jeopardize your financial security." And as a second new study shows, young women — and rightfully so — are much more anxious about being able to save for retirement, pay bills, and provide for children than their male counterparts.

Reuters reports: "Three of every 10 women were worried about their economic security, compared with two of every 10 men," according to a study funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and analyzed by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. "Two-thirds of women fear they are not saving enough for retirement, but only half of men share this concern." (Not surprisingly, single mothers and women of color are most likely to be anxious about their ability to pay bills; 48 percent of African-American women have had trouble getting their bills paid, compared to 42% of Hispanic women and 26% of white women.) Perhaps those who are late acquiring Mother's Day presents should take advice from UPI and forgo the flowers in favor of putting some hard cash in mom's IRA?

Caring For Family Can Make Women Poor [UPI]
U.S. Economic Anxiety Hits Women Harder: Study [Reuters]

In something we never thought we would find ...

Jennifer — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:40:00 EDT

In something we never thought we would find ourselves saying, it seems that the state of Georgia is against traditional marriage customs. Women across the state are having their driver's licenses canceled as a result of having their married names printed on them, as opposed to their maiden names, which appear on their social security cards. Different names on social security card and license = no license. As a native Georgian, this Jezebel never ceases to be amazed at what The Peach State deems "logic." [AJC]