social security

Social Security is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in American history, providing financial security for seniors, disabled individuals, and surviving family members. We must protect, strengthen, and expand Social Security to ensure that all Americans can retire with dignity and financial stability.

Social Security is a fundamental pillar of economic security in America, and it must be protected at all costs. I will fight tirelessly to prevent cuts, ensure its financial strength, and expand benefits so that every American can retire with dignity. Together, we can strengthen Social Security and fulfill our promise to seniors, workers, and future generations.

1. No Cuts to Social Security Benefits

  • Social Security is a contract between the government and the American people, and that contract must not be broken. Any attempt to cut benefits, privatize the system, or raise the retirement age threatens the financial well-being of millions.

  • Opposing Benefit Cuts: I will fight against any legislation that seeks to reduce benefits for current or future retirees. Social Security is not a handout—it is an earned benefit that workers have paid into for decades.

  • Protecting the Retirement Age: Raising the retirement age is an indirect way of cutting benefits, disproportionately impacting workers in physically demanding jobs and communities with lower life expectancies. I oppose any effort to raise the full retirement age beyond 67.

  • Maintaining Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs): Inflation erodes the value of Social Security benefits. I support enhancing COLAs to reflect the actual costs that seniors face, including rising healthcare and housing expenses.

2. Strengthening Long-Term Solvency

  • Social Security remains financially stable, but it requires adjustments to ensure its long-term sustainability. Instead of cutting benefits, we must strengthen its funding sources by requiring the wealthiest Americans to contribute their fair share.

  • Lifting the Payroll Tax Cap: Currently, Social Security taxes apply only to the first $168,600 of income (as of 2024). This means that millionaires and billionaires stop paying into the system while middle-class workers continue contributing. By adjusting the payroll tax cap or removing it entirely, we can extend the solvency of Social Security for generations.

  • Expanding the Tax Base: Social Security primarily relies on wage-based contributions. We should explore ways to include other forms of income, such as capital gains and investment income, in the funding formula.

  • Opposing Privatization: Any attempt to privatize Social Security, even partially, would expose retirees to the volatility of Wall Street. Social Security must remain a guaranteed source of income, not a risky investment subject to market crashes.

3. Expanding Benefits for Vulnerable Populations

  • While Social Security lifts millions out of poverty, some groups still struggle to make ends meet. Expanding benefits will help those who need it most.

  • Increasing Benefits for Low-Income Retirees: No senior should have to choose between food, medicine, and housing. We must increase Social Security’s minimum benefit to ensure a dignified retirement for all.

  • Supporting Widows, Widowers, and Survivors: Many spouses experience financial hardship when their partner passes away. Expanding survivor benefits will provide better economic security to widows and widowers.

  • Providing Caregiving Credits: Many people, especially women, take time out of the workforce to care for children or aging family members. I support granting Social Security credits for unpaid caregiving work to ensure these individuals are not penalized in retirement.

4. Defending Against Political Attacks

  • Social Security has been under attack for decades by politicians who falsely claim it is "going bankrupt." We must expose misinformation and hold lawmakers accountable for any efforts to weaken the program.

  • Fighting Misinformation: Social Security is fully funded through 2035 and can remain solvent indefinitely with modest adjustments. I will ensure the public understands the facts and reject fearmongering that serves as a pretext for cuts.

  • Blocking Attempts to Weaken the Program: Some politicians propose "means testing" Social Security, which would turn it into a welfare program rather than a universal benefit. I will oppose any policy that seeks to undermine Social Security’s broad support.

  • Engaging Grassroots Activism: The American people overwhelmingly support Social Security. I will work with unions, advocacy groups, and everyday citizens to mobilize against any legislation that threatens benefits.

5. Ensuring Social Security Works for All

  • Social Security was designed to be a universal safety net, but systemic inequities mean that some groups do not receive the full benefits they deserve. We must address these disparities.

  • Eliminating Gender and Racial Disparities: Women, particularly women of color, receive lower Social Security benefits due to wage gaps and time spent out of the workforce for caregiving. Policies must address these disparities through expanded credits and benefit calculations.

  • Increasing Benefits for People with Disabilities: The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system is notoriously slow and difficult to navigate. I will fight to streamline the disability determination process and increase SSDI benefits.

  • Ensuring Full Benefits for Public Sector Workers: Some public employees, including teachers and firefighters, face benefit reductions due to outdated rules like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). I support repealing these provisions to ensure that all workers receive their full earned benefits.