Social Security is Not Going Broke

Republicans like to pretend that their long-held desire to cut Social Security is based on economic concerns about affordability. They hide behind deficit fear-mongering to cover their ideology that when it comes to our retirement security, or a disability, or the loss of a loved one―we’re on our own. But this ideology isn’t about economics. It’s just cruel—and the numbers back this up.

The new Social Security Trustees report―released today―shows a program that is strong and growing. It projects that, even if Congress took no action whatsoever, Social Security could pay 100% of benefits owed through 2034, and 77% of benefits owed after that.

And if the wealthy pay their fair share, and we can afford to expand Social Security and extend the lifespan of the trust fund.

Sign the petition today! Tell Congress that the numbers don’t lie. We can afford to protect and expand Social Security.

This year’s report projects that in 2017 Social Security will run an annual surplus of roughly $58.6 billion, bringing the accumulated surplus to about $2.9 trillion by the end of the year.

This is why the Democratic Party strongly favors expanding, not cutting Social Security, and why expansion was even included in the 2016 Democratic Party Platform:

We will fight every effort to cut, privatize, or weaken Social Security, including attempts to raise the retirement age, diminish benefits by cutting cost-of-living adjustments, or reducing earned benefits. Democrats will expand Social Security.

And they’ve shown this not through words, but through actions.

Since 2015, 20 Social Security expansion bills have been introduced in the House and Senate. And the Social Security 2100 Act, introduced this year by Rep. John Larson (D-CT), has 162 cosponsors in the House―the largest number of supporters for any expansion bill ever.

Sign the petition today and tell Congress to expand, not cut Social Security!

Poll after poll shows that the American people overwhelmingly support expanding, not cutting Social Security’s modest benefits. Let’s hold Republicans accountable and demand a safe and secure retirement for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

Thank you,

Alex Lawson
Social Security Works