WHY WOULD CAREGIVER CREDITS PROVIDE BENEFITS TO AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC WOMEN?
African American and Hispanic women experience disproportionate levels of poverty in old age as a result of motherhood. Thirty four percent of African American female heads of household live in poverty and thirty four percent of Hispanic women heading households live in poverty as compared to 20% of white female heads of household and 16.9% of white non-Hispanic female heads of household. Poverty rates for blacks is 22.1 and Hispanics is 21.2 [i Nonmarried elderly persons and minorities have the highest poverty rates, ranging from 15% to 22%. When those with income between the poverty line and 125% of the poverty line (the near poor) are included, the rates for nonmarried persons and minorities range from 24% to 31%.(SSA) The general elderly population experienced poverty at the rate of 22% and 9% for African Americans poor and near poor (those w/in 125% of pov line);; 19 and 12% for Hispanics and 9 and 7% for whites. The median income of elderly African Americans is 12,333 Hispanics,
