AMERICANS SUPPORT SOCIAL SECURITY - NOW MORE THAN EVER

96% of Americans say Social Security is one of the most important government programs. Recently, 74% of Americans agreed that Social Security benefits should not be reduced in any way. Over 70% of Americans support increasing Social Security benefits and paying for it by requiring the wealthy to pay what they owe.

SOCIAL SECURITY FIGHTS POVERTY

Before Social Security, 1 in 2 seniors lived in poverty. Without Social Security, about 40% of Americans aged 65 and older would be living below the poverty line.

THE WEALTHY AREN’T PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE

The cap on Social Security taxes means that the wealthy don’t pay their fair share. Each year, millionaires and billionaires steal $570 billion from our collective retirement account.

SOCIAL SECURITY ISN’T JUST FOR RETIREES

65 million people - or 1 in every 6 U.S. residents - receive Social Security benefits. Most are older Americans, but one-fifth of beneficiaries are young survivors of workers who’ve died or people living with disabilities. 

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE RETIREMENT PUZZLE

SSI is a supplemental program to the Social Security system that helps keep 2.2 million low-income seniors and nearly 6.5 million disabled people, or people who can no longer work out of deep poverty. Women, who are more likely to be poor as they grow older, make up 65% of older SSI recipients. 

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID ARE LIFELINES

Medicare is a primary source of health coverage for over 61.5 million seniors and individuals with disabilities. One in five Medicare beneficiaries relies on Medicaid to pay for Medicare premiums and copays. Medicare does not pay for most long-term care, making Medicaid essential for people who need extra help at home or in a nursing home as they age. Medicaid, which pays for about 40% of all long-term care in the United States, has very low asset limits, requiring people to impoverish themselves by paying for care out-of-pocket before they can qualify for help through Medicaid.

RETIREMENT IS A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE

Because of pay inequity and racism in our economy, 17% of Black seniors make less than the federal poverty level––twice the rate of white seniors. Additionally, because a secure retirement also depends on savings and accumulated wealth, the wealth gap between Black and white families needs to be addressed. In 2016, the net worth of a typical white family was nearly eight times greater than the wealth gap of a typical Black family. Fair and just Social Security benefits is a racial justice issue.

Protect and expand Social Security.

The US is the wealthiest country in the world at the wealthiest point in history––Social Security is a reflection of our values, not a question of affordability.

Every person deserves to retire with dignity and independence.

Corrupt politicians are trying to privatize and dismantle the Social Security you’ve worked for. 

Gutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is a betrayal of every American who has earned these basic benefits.  

Working people earn their Social Security with every paycheck.

Everyone must contribute their fair share to the most successful program in US history. 

People work hard their whole lives for retirement; but without Social Security, too many people can’t retire at all.

We don’t have a Social Security crisis, but we do have a retirement income crisis.

Medicare ensures that our grandparents have the healthcare they need as they get older. 

We need to improve and expand Medicare so that every senior and disabled person has the care they need.

Healthcare isn’t a privilege––our lives and health are not for sale. 

Instead of paying for big insurance and pharmaceutical corporations, our first priority should be ensuring everyone has the healthcare they need.

People in the US pay for prescription drugs twice––first with taxes that subsidize big pharmaceutical companies, and then over the counter at your pharmacy. That’s not right!

Big pharmaceutical companies put profit over people.

Our healthcare system should work for all of us, not just for the CEOs and shareholders of the big pharmaceutical corporations.

NEXT: TOOLS + RESOURCES ↓