Protect Social Security

Protect Social Security Take Action! In February, President Obama created the National Commission  on Fiscal and Financial Reform to put America “on the path  towards fiscal reform and financial responsibility.”  However,  AAUW’s worried that members of the Commission view cuts to  Social Security as a potential way to cut the deficit.  Send a  message to members of the Commission today and let  them know that cutting Social Security benefits is  unacceptable. Social Security, which turned 75 in August, is one of our  country’s most successful anti-poverty programs, providing  benefits to children, disabled workers, surviving spouses, and  retirees. Without Social Security benefits, more than half of  older women would fall into poverty.  In addition, more than  two-thirds of unmarried women would be living below the  poverty line without the help of Social Security, which also  supports more children than Temporary Assistance for Needy  Families (TANF), also known as welfare.  Social Security legally can’t borrow money to pay benefits  and therefore does not contribute to the federal deficit, and  cutting benefits will not reduce the deficit.  While fiscal  discipline is needed, we must tell the Commission that it  should not come at the cost of hurting Social Security  beneficiaries.  The Social Security program currently has a  surplus of over $2.5 trillion and is expected to be able to pay  full benefits for another quarter of a century, giving Congress  ample time to make adjustments to future benefits through  the normal legislative process.  The members of the Commission, both Republican and  Democrat, will make recommendations to Congress for  balancing the budget and for related fiscal issues by  December 1.  These recommendations could fast-track cuts  to Social Security, including reducing monthly benefits,  privatizing accounts, and raising the retirement age – a  benefit cut that places the greatest hardship on older  Americans. In these tough economic times, cutting social programs  like Social Security could be devastating to women and  families across our nation. Now more than ever, these  linchpin safety-net programs need to be protected and  expanded, not cut. Take Action! Tell the members of the National Commission on Fiscal  and Financial Reform that cutting Social Security benefits  is not the right path to fiscal responsibility.  Simply click on  the “Take Action” link in the upper right corner or copy and  paste the following URL into your Internet browser.  Then  follow the instructions to compose and send your message. http://www.capwiz.com/aauw/issues/alert/?alertid=15876146 AAUW is committed to a Social Security system that provides  lifelong protections for women and families.  For more information,  read our position paper on women and retirement security.