EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY

EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY: A STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

Social Security is a federal program of social insurance that helps protect and support American workers and their families by providing income benefits when a worker has retired, died, or become disabled.

In 2014, beneficiaries included 42 million retirees and their dependents, 6 million survivors of deceased workers, and 11 million disabled workers and their dependents.1 One of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the United States, Social Security is financed by workers and employers and has wide public support.

This fact sheet focuses on the old-age component of Social Security, which protects American retirees and their dependents. It then examines various proposals for reform and identifies public policy solutions for expanding Social Security to better protect retirees and their families, especially in financially vulnerable populations.

Read more and Download the Fact Sheet at GlobalPolicySolutions.org