AARP is protecting your Social Security

In today’s fast-moving and often confusing political and media environment, I want you – our dedicated AARP volunteers – to know that we’re fully engaged in protecting Social Security and advocating on behalf of our members.

Our team has adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach, analyzing and responding to changes instituted by the Social Security Administration (SSA), identifying opportunities to mobilize our grassroots, and communicating with AARP members to ensure that they know we are - and always will be - their fierce defender.

You may not see all of the work happening behind the scenes, so I’m writing to share just how active AARP has been in responding to recent proposals and changes affecting Social Security.

Since February, AARP has been actively engaging its members through informative articles online, consistent promotion on social media, and actively collecting stories from our membership about their experiences with Social Security.

February 20: Our Government Affairs team sent a formal letter to the Acting Social Security Commissioner requesting:

· Timely communication with the public
· Protection of data
· No disruption to customer service

Outreach and Mobilization:

We launched a nationwide call-to-action ahead of President Trump’s March 4 address to Congress

Promoted through grassroots and advocacy emails, the AARP app, the Webletter, ( 11.3 million subscribers) and on the front page of aarp.org.

Result: Over 3 million actions taken by AARP members - including phone calls, emails and texts to members of Congress. No other single organization matched this response.

Fighting Harmful Proposals:

When the SSA proposed requiring in-person office visits to verify identity - impacting more than 242,000 North Carolinians who live more than 45 miles from the nearest Social Security office, AARP strongly opposed the change.

The SSA reversed the decision – thanks in large part to AARP’s public push and member engagement.

Ongoing Efforts:

AARP leadership and Government Affairs teams are in regular contact with Congress and SSA officials, ensuring lawmakers are informed of:

• AARP Advocacy
• Member stories and concerns
• The high volume of grassroots engagement on this issue

Make no mistake - we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that older Americans continue to see no disruption in their payments and continue to receive the information they need to stay informed and take action on changes at the Social Security administration. You earned your Social Security through years of hard work and we remain committed to protecting it.

Michael Olender is the state director of AARP North Carolina, serving over 1.1 million AARP members in the state and promoting the health and welfare of over those ages 50 and older — over 30 percent of the state's population.