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Another Murray Response on Social Security
- By Jerry Taylor
- Published 07/11/2011
- Social Security Info
Dear Mr. Hirschman:
Thank you for contacting me about the Social Security system. It is good to hear from you.
As you know, Social Security was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to address the widespread poverty experienced by seniors during the Great Depression. Social Security provides retirees with a foundation of economic security, with almost 90 percent of people aged 65 and older receive some of their family income from Social Security. With the average retiree benefit is about $1,164 per month, or $13,968 a year, Social Security payments are by no means extravagant, but they have provided America's seniors with vital protection against poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of American seniors would live in poverty today without Social Security.
Social Security is a basic American value. It is a promise that if you work hard, you will have some security when you retire or if you become disabled. It is a safety net to keep seniors out of financial poverty. And it is a pledge that if your spouse or parent passes on, you will continue to have the support and security you need. Social Security is most often thought of as an earned retirement program, but it is also a comprehensive family insurance program, protecting families of deceased and disabled workers from sliding into poverty. Indeed, three in ten beneficiaries receive survivors' or disability insurance benefits.
I have long been a supporter of ensuring our Social Security safety net stays strong by fighting misguided attempted to privatize the program and opposing plans that would have cut benefits to middle class seniors, widows, and survivors. I have also supported legislation that would eliminate the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provisions to ensure all federal employees and retirees receive their full pay and benefits. In addition, I have supported efforts to cut down on backlogs at the Social Security Administration to ensure quick responses for disability claims.
I strongly believe that we must fight to preserve Social Security so that future generations have confidence in the program. I believe that any reform made to Social Security must safeguard Social Security's guaranteed benefits; provide protection for workers when they are disabled; protect against benefit reductions for women, minorities and all others; and protect our budget from ever growing deficits.
As we move forward in addressing the long term solvency of Social Security, rest assured that I will continue to stand up for future generations. Should legislation regarding Social Security come before the Senate in the 112th Congress, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me about the Social Security system. It is good to hear from you.
As you know, Social Security was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to address the widespread poverty experienced by seniors during the Great Depression. Social Security provides retirees with a foundation of economic security, with almost 90 percent of people aged 65 and older receive some of their family income from Social Security. With the average retiree benefit is about $1,164 per month, or $13,968 a year, Social Security payments are by no means extravagant, but they have provided America's seniors with vital protection against poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of American seniors would live in poverty today without Social Security.
Social Security is a basic American value. It is a promise that if you work hard, you will have some security when you retire or if you become disabled. It is a safety net to keep seniors out of financial poverty. And it is a pledge that if your spouse or parent passes on, you will continue to have the support and security you need. Social Security is most often thought of as an earned retirement program, but it is also a comprehensive family insurance program, protecting families of deceased and disabled workers from sliding into poverty. Indeed, three in ten beneficiaries receive survivors' or disability insurance benefits.
I have long been a supporter of ensuring our Social Security safety net stays strong by fighting misguided attempted to privatize the program and opposing plans that would have cut benefits to middle class seniors, widows, and survivors. I have also supported legislation that would eliminate the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provisions to ensure all federal employees and retirees receive their full pay and benefits. In addition, I have supported efforts to cut down on backlogs at the Social Security Administration to ensure quick responses for disability claims.
I strongly believe that we must fight to preserve Social Security so that future generations have confidence in the program. I believe that any reform made to Social Security must safeguard Social Security's guaranteed benefits; provide protection for workers when they are disabled; protect against benefit reductions for women, minorities and all others; and protect our budget from ever growing deficits.
As we move forward in addressing the long term solvency of Social Security, rest assured that I will continue to stand up for future generations. Should legislation regarding Social Security come before the Senate in the 112th Congress, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
