AARP Reaffirms Strong Opposition to Cutting Social Security Benefits to Reduce a Deficit It Did Not Cause

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2010

Contact: AARP Media Relations (202) 434-2560

AARP Reaffirms Strong Opposition to Cutting Social Security Benefits to Reduce a Deficit It Did Not Cause

WASHINGTON— With a renewed media focus on the possibility of the President’s deficit commission recommending changes to Social Security, AARP restated the organization’s firm opposition to cutting Social Security to reduce a deficit that it didn't cause.  AARP Executive Vice President John Rother offered the following statement:

“AARP has long said that addressing Social Security's long-term financing is important, but it must be done with the goal of achieving retirement security, not deficit reduction. Social Security hasn’t contributed a single dime to the current deficit. It is financed separately from the rest of the federal budget with contributions Americans make over a lifetime of hard work. Any attempts to cut Social Security benefits to reduce a deficit it didn’t cause would undermine retirement security and place an unfair burden on future generations.

“AARP renews its call on both parties to act in the coming few years to shore up the system’s long term ability to pay promised benefits to retirees, survivors, and those with disabilities.  We should not wait for a crisis to develop to act – Americans should be confident that their earned benefits will be there for them when they need them. 

“Social Security is critical to the economic security of tens of millions of Americans, and our recent polling and analysis show that Americans will continue to rely on its benefits for a secure retirement. AARP calls on our elected leaders to focus on the impact on real people when debating any changes to Social Security, and to reject any budget driven cuts from the discussion about how to strengthen this vital program that provides guaranteed inflation-protected benefits for 53 million Americans today.”

For more information, visit www.aarp.org.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA su Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.