Where AARP Stands: Strengthen Social Security for current and future generations

Social Security is one of our nation’s most important programs, and ensuring Americans get the benefits they have earned is critical not only for 400,000 AARP Oklahoma members and their families, but all Americans. 24% of Oklahoma Social Security recipients depend on Social Security for 90% or more of their income. 49% of Oklahoma Social Security recipients depend on Social Security for 50% or more of their income. AARP continues to fight to strengthen Social Security and ensure that current and future generations receive the benefits they have earned and count on.

AARP believes Oklahomans deserve an honest, robust public dialogue about the future of Social Security. Social Security is a program separate from the rest of the budget, and any debate on Socials Security’s future should focus on the income security needs of Americans, and not as a pot of money to pay for other parts of the budgets. Any debate should occur in public as it affects nearly all Americans and their families. We do not need, nor can the American public support, decisions that are made behind closed-doors in Washington.

When Congress debated a shortfall in 2015 of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) trust fund, Congress acted in a bipartisan manner -- with the support of AARP – to prevent an immediate 20% benefit cuts for children, veterans, older workers and others who received Social Security disability insurance. While a temporary fix, we need a larger debate on how to ensure the long-term solvency and adequacy of Social Security for current and future generations.