Get The Facts

Will Social Security be there for us?
YES.

The Strength of Social Security

88% of Americans say Social Security is more important than ever as a result of today’s economic crisis.
Three quarters of Americans say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means that working Americans have to pay higher taxes to do so.
90% of Americans want Congress to act within the next two years to preserve Social Security.
Nearly half of current Social Security beneficiaries polled said that they wouldn’t be able to afford the basics (food, clothing and shelter) without Social Security.

America’s Most Vulnerable Populations

Almost half of all widowed, divorced and single women age 65 or older receive 90 percent or more of their income solely from Social Security.
Thirty percent of African-American elderly couples and 57 percent of unmarried African-American seniors receive 90 percent or more of their incomes from Social Security.
For Hispanics, 39 percent of couples and 63 percent of singles almost completely rely on Social Security.

Cutting Social Security Would Be Devastating for Americans

48% of Americans 65 and older live at or below 200% FPL.
45% of women living alone who are 65 and older are poor.
The average Social Security benefit is $13,800 a year.  Women on average receive $2,000 less.
Half of couples 65 and older have no pension income to rely on.
Two-thirds of singles 65 and older have no pension.

Fact Sheets

Respect, Protect, Reject Campaign
Social Security Public Education Materials
10 Things You Should Know about Social Security, OWL
The Benefits of Social Security for Children, Generations United
The Benefits of Social Security for Grandfamilies, Generations United
Children and Families Have a Stake in Social Security, Generations United
Who Are Social Security Beneficiaries?, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
National Elder Economic Standard Index, Wider Opportunities for Women

Briefing Papers

Beyond Normal: Raising the Retirement Age Is the Wrong Approach for Social Security, Economic Policy Research
OWL’s Statement on the deficit report
OWL’s Position Paper on Social Security
Statement on the Deficit Commission, National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO) and the Older Women’s Economic Security Task Force.
Social Security Finances: Findings of the 2010 Trustees Report, National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI)
A New Deal for Young Adults: Social Security Benefits for Post-Secondary School Students, NASI.
Women and Social Security: Benefit Types and Eligibility, IWPR
Social Security: Vital to Retirement Security for 35 Million Women and Men, IWPR

Links

Social Security Administration
Alliance for Retired Americans
Click here to learn how many people rely on Social Security in your ZIP Code