The economic dependence of many women in old age continues to be a sensitive and socially relevant topic, especially when the central theme is the lack of their own pension after decades of informal, discontinuous or invisible work. This phenomenon, still present in several European countries, shows how old inequalities continue to mark the lives of thousands of elderly women. In this article, we will talk to you about a retired woman who lives only on her widow’s pension.
In Spain, more than two million people currently receive a widow’s pension, the vast majority of whom are women who have reached retirement age without the right to their own contributory pension.
The Social Security system requires a minimum of fifteen years of discounts to access this type of pension and also provides a non-contributory pension for those who have never managed to earn the necessary years. However, many women from previous generations were unaware of their rights or never claimed them, which left them dependent on their husband’s income during their lifetime and, later, on their widow’s pension, reports Spanish digital newspaper Noticias Trabajo.
This case, of Manuela Rueda, is one of those examples. At 77 years old, she said that she is retired thanks exclusively to the pension left by her husband, a soldier by profession. His working life was marked by sporadic work and intermittent contracts that did not allow him to accumulate the years of deductions necessary to access a contributory pension.
Widow’s pension as the only income
Manuela’s only source of income is her widow’s pension, which is around 1300 euros per month. He says he manages his money carefully, especially due to fixed expenses such as housing, electricity, water, telephone and death insurance. “Because I’m saved, otherwise I wouldn’t have anything left,” he explained to the same source, highlighting that the habit of saving is what allows him to maintain some financial balance.
Despite this, he acknowledges feeling the impact of rising prices. “I take 50 euros and they go one day when I go shopping; I spend a lot of money,” he said, noting that the cost of everyday purchases has increased significantly and changes the management of the household budget.
Manuela does not receive any other public benefit. Throughout his life he worked in the municipality under discontinuous contracts, accumulating only around eight years of contributions, insufficient to guarantee a contributory pension. “I complained, but nothing belonged to me”, he observed, remembering that despite several contracts, he never managed to reach the minimum number required.
An insight into the pension system
In light of the debate on the sustainability of pensions, he argues that younger generations have an essential role in balancing the system. “It’s okay for them to pay the pensions of older people who have worked all their lives. They take care of their pensions,” he said, defending solidarity between generations.
Manuela’s testimony illustrates the reality of thousands of women who, after fragmented professional lives or marked by historical inequalities, depend solely on their spouse’s pension to face old age.
Despite progress in female participation in the labor market, this phenomenon continues to be significant in many countries, according to the .
Overview of the situation in Portugal
In Portugal, a significant number of older women experience a similar situation. Many did not reach the minimum years of deductions to access a contributory pension, mainly due to unpaid domestic work, informal employment or interrupted careers. The country has a high number of survivors’ pension beneficiaries, who continue to play an essential role in the economic protection of widows.
Although the new generations have more solid contributory careers, the reality described remains a relevant social challenge, with a direct impact on poverty in old age and the need to reinforce social protection policies.
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