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Social Security will mark its 90th anniversary in August, and AARP offices across the country will use the occasion to educate Americans about the program’s importance — and to advocate for its future.
“Social Security is a critical element for older Iowans now and for people who will be retiring in the future,” says Michael Wagler, AARP Iowa’s state director. “Everything from improving customer service to protecting the longevity of Social Security is a critical point.”
More than 687,000 Iowans depend on Social Security for at least a portion of their income. In December 2023, the average monthly benefit in the state was nearly $1,800, according to Social Security Administration data.
Customer service in particular has been a point of conversation in recent months, Wagler notes, although the concerns go back several years. Earlier this year, AARP successfully urged the Social Security Administration to continue allowing beneficiaries to verify their identities by phone.
AARP always has a presence at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, which draws more than 1 million visitors every August. This summer, volunteers who interact with fairgoers will be using games and giveaways to talk about Social Security — including the financial challenges it faces.
The program is currently paying out more to beneficiaries than it’s collecting in revenue. Unless Congress takes action by 2034, it will only be able to pay out about 81 percent of its scheduled benefits, according to the 2025 Social Security Board of Trustees report. AARP opposes proposals that would cut benefits or impair customer service.
Looking toward the future
AARP Iowa will mark the actual anniversary (Aug. 14) with a pop-up event on the fair’s grand concourse. “It’s a great opportunity to talk to thousands of Iowans,” Wagler says.
AARP Wisconsin will also be commemorating Social Security’s anniversary this year at two sporting events: the minor-league Milwaukee Milkmen’s baseball game on Thursday, Aug. 14, and the Forward Madison soccer game on Thursday, Aug. 21.
At both events, members who register will receive free birthday cake as part of the Social Security celebration. For details and registration, visit aarp.org/wi.
About 1.3 million Wisconsinites, or more than one in five residents, receive Social Security payments, pumping $28 billion into the state’s economy every year, according to AARP Public Policy Institute research. Those payments keep more than 300,000 people in the state above the poverty line.
“Congress needs to pay attention to this,” says AARP Wisconsin State Director Martha Cranley. “Wisconsinites pay into Social Security with the promise that their hard-earned money will be there when they need it.”
Visit aarp.org/socialsecurity for resources, including a benefits calculator, and more information about the program.
—David Lewellen
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