Female Veterans: Socioeconomic Characteristics and Disability Patterns Among Social Security Beneficiaries

Abstract: In 2020, approximately 2 million women were veterans of military service. Female veterans constitute a growing proportion of Social Security beneficiaries. Using American Community Survey data for the period 2015-2019, we present a detailed study of the socioeconomic characteristics of female veterans, focusing on Social Security beneficiaries. We assess and compare the employment, earnings, income, and disability status of female veterans, female nonveterans, and male veterans. Female veterans were more likely than female nonveterans to have a college degree and, among those employed, to have higher median earnings. Female veterans younger than 62 were more likely than female nonveterans to be Social Security beneficiaries. Among all female beneficiaries, veterans were more likely than nonveterans to report having one or more functional limitations. More than half of female veteran beneficiaries aged 25-54 reported having a service-connected disability.