Protect Social Security

By Catherine Taylor, AARP Rhode Island State Director

AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how we live as we age. Most choices, however, depend on our ability to make ends meet.

Social Security is an important source of income for most of the 230,000 Rhode Island recipients, including the almost 44,000 for whom it provides 90% or more of their annual family income.

Americans work hard and pay into Social Security, so it's only fair for you to expect to get the money you've earned. It is essential for helping to cover living expenses and pay your bills.

If politicians don’t take action to protect and save Social Security in the next 10 years, your Social Security could be cut by 20 percent – an average of $4,000 a year.

“Strengthening Social Security requires an unprecedented degree of collaboration between our elected officials and the American people,” according to AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. “There is an old saying: ‘Nothing about us without us.’ After working their whole lives and paying into the program with each paycheck to earn their benefits, older Americans and their families deserve a say in any changes to Social Security. AARP is in the thick of this fight, and we have made our position clear.”

This fall, voters in Rhode Island’s 1^st Congressional District will have the opportunity to choose a new representative in Washington. It will be critical to find out what the candidates plan to do to protect Social Security before voting.

I encourage you to visit AARP's Social Security Resource Center has the answers to important questions, so that you will know how to access what you’ve earned. For those looking ahead to collecting Social Security, resources include a benefits calculator to help determine the amount of money received at various ages as well answers to common questions to help you understand your Social Security.

It also is a place to take action and tell your elected officials how important Social Security is to you and your family. Let them know Social Security isn’t a handout — we’ve paid into it our entire working lives. It's only fair that politicians protect the money we've earned. You can send a message and tell your lawmakers: People 50+ are the strongest voting bloc, we helped you get elected to office, and we will fight any cuts to our hard-earned Social Security!

In addition to making your voice heard, you will join AARP's online network and will receive urgent news and action alerts about the issues that matter the most to older Americans, as well as information about AARP activities, events, and member benefits.

Visit www.aarp.org/SocialSecurity today.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 11 at 11 a.m., for a tele-town hall with Secretary of State Gregg Amore, who will provide essential election information on how, where and when to vote. And you can always get the latest Rhode Island election information at www.aarp.org/RIVotes.