AARP Advocates to Protect Social Security

More than 1.3 million Massachusetts residents depend on Social Security for at least a portion of their income, the majority of them age 65 or older. But as the program approaches its 90th anniversary in August, its future financial stability—and ability to fully pay out monthly benefits—is an ongoing concern.

The issue has become especially pressing in recent months, with the Social Security Administration being one of the federal agencies targeted for workforce reductions and other changes. Thousands of older Americans have reached out to AARP’s national office worried and confused about their benefits and whether their payments will come on time.

AARP is encouraging members to tell their elected officials how important the program is, says Jennifer Benson, AARP Massachusetts state director. The organization is holding educational events this year to help people of all ages understand the program and its financial uncertainty.

“The better informed people are, the more confident and prepared they’ll feel to reach out to their member of Congress,” Benson says.

According to the 2024 Social Security Board of Trustees report, the program is still paying out more to recipients each year than it collects in revenue. Unless Congress takes action by 2035, the program will only be able to pay about 83 percent of its scheduled benefits, the Trustees estimate. AARP Massachusetts is not advocating for any specific approach to achieve solvency but will weigh in on whatever Congress proposes.

On Thursday, June 5, AARP Massachusetts will hold a meeting to train new and current volunteers to give presentations on the basics of Social Security and its future. The talks are designed to help people learn about the program before they retire and about when to start claiming benefits.

The state office is also planning a virtual telephone town hall for August—the program’s anniversary month—where people will be able to ask questions.

AARP volunteer Sam Docknevich, 73, of Hopkinton, regularly gives presentations about Social Security at senior centers and other locations. He often hears from people who are worried about the program’s future.

But Docknevich says attendees become more optimistic as they talk about ways to keep Social Security fully funded. “They say, ‘Now that I understand the challenges, maybe we should do something about it,’” he notes.

Dependent on benefits

Of all Social Security recipients in the state, nearly 1.1 million are age 65 or older, according to 2023 federal data.

Some 38 percent of Massachusetts residents 65 and older live in families that rely on Social Security for at least half of their income, AARP Public Policy Institute research shows.

“If Social Security does in fact pull back in terms of coverage, or if something more drastic were to happen, that would impact a large majority of older Massachusetts residents,” says Jan Mutchler, a research fellow at the University of Massachusetts Boston Gerontology Institute.

No matter what the future holds, creating a personal account at ssa.gov will help individuals prepare, says Kurt Czarnowski, who leads educational events about the program as a consultant for AARP Massachusetts. Doing so gives individuals access to statements summarizing retirement and other benefits.

The website can also help answer questions people have about the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law in January, says Czarnowski, a 74-year-old retired regional communications director for the Social Security Administration in New England.

The law ends the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which kept many teachers, firefighters and other government employees from claiming their own and their spouse’s full Social Security benefits. At least 116,000 Massachusetts residents are affected and could see their benefits increase, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

To learn more, go to aarp.org/socialsecurityma.

Carina Storrs, a New York–based journalist, covers aging, health policy, infectious disease and other issues.

Also of interest:

• How to Verify Your Identity With Social Security
• Social Security Drops Most Restrictions on Benefit Claims by Phone
• 7 Things to Know About Social Security and Taxes