The Social Security Story in Charts and Graphs

47 MILLION AMERICANS DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY TODAY

Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law in 1935, millions of American workers have earned benefits by paying into the system, creating a safety net that keeps retirees, survivors of workers who die young and people with disabilities out of poverty.

 

Source: Social Security Administration.

 

SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT GOING BROKE

Contrary to Bush's scare tactics, Social Security is not going broke. Modest commonsense measures, such as lifting the cap on the amount of income taxed for the Social Security fund, would strengthen the program. Right now, the cap is set so low upper-wage earners do not pay Social Security on most of their incomes.

* The Social Security Trustees calculated the 2041 date. Using a slightly different method and set of assumptions, the Congressional Budget Office arrived at the 2052 date.

Sources: Social Security Trustees, The 2005 OASDI Trustees Report, and Congressional Budget Office, The Outlook for Social Security, June 2004.

MOST RETIREES RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THEIR INCOMES

Percentage of older Americans receiving Social Security benefits, by relative importance of benefits to total income

Source: Social Security Administration, Fast Facts & Figures
About Social Security, June 2003.

SOCIAL SECURITY MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER AS PENSION COVERAGE FALLS

Employers Cut Back on Pensions
Number of defined-benefit pension plans in the private sector

TAKE ACTION!

You can help preserve Social Security by volunteering to:

  • Circulate a pro-Social Security petition.
  • Contact your elected officials.
  • Write a letter in support of Social Security to the editor of your local paper.
  • Recruit volunteers.

Please volunteer today by filling out our on-line volunteer form.

Get the Facts on Social Security

What is Social Security? Learn about one of the most successful government programs in the history of the U.S.

What would privatization mean? Higher fees for Wall Street and lower Social Security benefits and more risk for you and your family.

Charts and graphs from the AFL-CIO that tell the story of Social Security.

Information on Social Security recipients in Pennsylvania by Congressional District.

Links to more information on the Social Security debate from the coalition of organizations working to protect Social Security.