Making Sense Social Security

Editor’s Note: We’re publishing a series of “Making Sense” fact sheets on key economic issues to help you win the debate on the core issues facing middle-class families. Each fact sheet contains information, talking points and resources you can use to make the case for progressive policies. Yesterday: Curbing Wall Street. Today: Social Security. The […]

Livestreaming the closed door debt commission pt. 2

Last week I livestreamed the first closed door meeting of the president’s fiscal commission. I did this out of frustration that we received no response to a letter that we sent from 81 organizations representing over 61 million Americans, asking that all the work of the commission be done in the open. Letters were also […]

Social Security Works for Children

Although best known as a retirement program, Social Security can provide substantial income to children and their families. Children receive Social Security benefits either directly or indirectly when a working parent dies, becomes disabled, or reaches retirement age. • Over 6.5 million children under age 18, or nearly 9 percent of all U.S. children, benefit […]

McConnell (Literally) Showered with Insurance Cash Before Big Vote

The Billionaires for Wealthcare thanked Senator Mitch McConnell for his outstanding obstructionism by showering him with real cash this Sunday. Anticipating his ‘no’ vote on health care reform, the Billionaires offered him an advance on contributions from Big Insurance. Insurance industry executives at the Billionaires wanted to make sure Senator McConnell was given a very […]

Social Security Works for People With Disabilities

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/OASDIbenies.html In December 2008, over 9.3 million people received Social Security disability benefits 9.3 million people with disabilities, their spouses and children 7.4 million disabled workers under the full retirement age 1.9 million spouses or dependent children of disabled workers 870,000 disabled adult children of workers who are dead, retired or disabled 230,000 disabled widows […]

Social Security Works for People of Color

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=885 * The Social Security program itself is race blind; the benefits it pays are a function of a worker’s earnings history and family situation. * Studies show African Americans receive modestly more in Social Security benefits for each dollar they pay in payroll taxes than whites do. * African Americans earn 73 percent as […]