How Much Does Motherhood Cost Women in Social Security Benefits?

Being a stay-at-home mom or taking a lesser job to spend more time raising kids has an impact on a family’s overall income. “Even today, the labor force participation rate of women with children is substantially below that of childless women,” the CRR said, at about 12 percent less. And “when women with children work, they earn lower wages” — $14,000 less on average.