1937 Social Security poster.
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Social Security benefits in the United States are low compared with other advanced countries. Most other developed countries have more generous public pensions than the United States. The United States ranks 31st out of the 34 members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the percentage of past earnings that the public-pension system replaces for a median worker.
Social Security is also an important source of income for communities of color…African American children represent 12 percent of all children in the United States under age 18, but 21 percent of all children receiving Social Security benefits.
Parents Depend on Social Security Benefits for Their Children via Eleanor’s Hope.
Our View: Comprehensive immigration reform is not a threat to Social Security.
It is estimated that there are about 11 million undocumented workers in the United States today. These immigrants come to our country to work. They contribute to the economic health of our nation. They also make substantial contributions to Social Security through the payroll tax, even though neither they nor their families are eligible to receive benefits. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare believes that bringing undocumented workers into our national family would be beneficial for the country and good for Social Security as well.
Our guiding principle in evaluating immigration reform proposals can be summarized in a single word: Fairness. Rules of eligibility for benefit programs should be neither more favorable nor more disadvantageous for immigrants who benefit from comprehensive reform. And contributions made by immigrants to Social Security’s earned-right benefits should, in time, lead to eligibility for benefits.
Comprehensive immigration reform is not a threat to Social Security. Earlier comprehensive reform proposals strengthened Social Security’s financing, and the bills under consideration today should do the same. By bringing undocumented workers out of the shadows of our economy and into its mainstream, immigration reform has the potential to strengthen Social Security and accelerate overall economic growth.
Any conversation about tackling poverty in the United States should include protecting and expanding Social Security. The reason is pretty straightforward: Social Security is the most powerful tool available to lift people out of poverty. Nearly two-thirds of seniors depend on Social Security for the majority of their income, and millions more children and adults depend upon survivors and disability benefits.
Senator Elizabeth Warren via The Nation.
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Congress needs to BOOST Social Security for all working Americans.
Social Security is bankrupting us. It’s outdated. It’s a Ponzi scheme. It’s socialism. It’s stealing from young people.
The opponents and pundits determined to roll back the United States to the “good old days” before the New Deal regularly trot out a number of bogeymen and bigfoots to scare Americans into not supporting their own retirement well-being. That hasn’t worked too well. Americans of all political stripes remain strongly supportive of Social Security and other so-called “entitlements” like Medicare.
via Alternet.
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The National Committee’s Truth Tour is rolling through the United States. We recently wrote about the experience on the road here.
To sum it all up, Social Security and Medicare are under assault. Here is a recap that highlights our campaign in Ohio. You’ll hear from Representatives, Volunteers, and Jon “Bowzer” Bauman from Sha Na Na about the importance of strengthening Social Security and Medicare.
Social Security is also an important source of income for communities of color. African American parents are more likely than others to become disabled or die before retirement. African American children represent 12 percent of all children in the United States under age 18, but 21 percent of all children receiving Social Security benefits.
via Eleanor’s Hope.
A new chart from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development highlights how meager retirement benefits are in America. As compared to 33 other countries, the United States ranks 27th, almost at the bottom, near Mexico, Slovenia and Korea.
Dear Congress, BOOST Social Security for all working Americans!
Senator Bernie Sanders speaking at National Committee event where volunteers will deliver petitions to Members of Congress urging them not to cut Social Security or Medicare.
“No cuts to Social Security! No Cuts to Medicare! No Cuts to Medicaid!” -Senator Sanders
(at United States Capitol Building)
Social Security is also an important source of income for communities of color. African American parents are more likely than others to become disabled or die before retirement. African American children represent 12 percent of all children in the United States under age 18, but 21 percent of all children receiving Social Security benefits.
via Eleanor’s Hope.