What AARP Is Doing to Strengthen Retirement Security

How AARP keeps fighting for your retirement security

AARP continues to support efforts by states to create retirement savings opportunities for their residents. In January 2026, with AARP’s backing, Minnesota launched a state-sponsored auto-IRA program for workers who don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. In 2025, Nevada, New York and Rhode Island launched their auto IRAs.

AARP is also acting to protect and strengthen Social Security. In spring 2025, AARP members sent more than 2 million messages via emails and calls to Congress to raise concerns about proposed changes at the Social Security Administration that would have affected telephone service for beneficiaries. After hearing the concerns from AARP members, SSA dropped the proposals.

In May 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a drug industry challenge to a landmark, AARP-backed law that gives Medicare the authority to negotiate prices for some prescription drugs. The court’s decisions left the law in place, making it easier for older Americans to manage their expenses in retirement. 

“AARP fought hard for this new law giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices because no American should ever have to choose between filling a prescription and paying for groceries, rent or other basic necessities,” says Bill Sweeney, AARP's senior vice president of government affairs.

AARP calls on lawmakers and employers to protect retirement security 

With the 2026 Social Security trustees' report projecting that the surplus in the program's trust funds will be depleted by 2034, AARP is pressing lawmakers to find bipartisan solutions to shore up Social Security's finances without cutting the benefits recipients have earned. 

“This should be a wake-up call: Congress needs to act,” said AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan upon the report's release. “Americans have worked hard and paid into Social Security their entire lives, and they deserve to count on it when they retire. No family should see any cuts to what they’ve earned in Social Security. Today, more than 71 million people rely on Social Security, and as America ages, ensuring it stays strong will become even more critical.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AARP’s position on retirement security?

AARP supports a comprehensive approach to help people secure their financial future once they stop working full-time. Our efforts include protecting Social Security and pensions and increasing access to effective retirement plans and savings options, such as 401(k) accounts and auto IRAs. 

Retirement savings options should be broadly available regardless of industry, job type or employment status. Incentives and subsidies for retirement security options must be designed to effectively support those who face the greatest challenges in saving, including efforts to reduce wealth inequalities.

What has AARP done on retirement security?

Since its founding in July 1958, AARP has worked with employers, Congress and presidential administrations of both parties to ensure that Social Security is protected and workers have access to additional tools to build financial security in retirement, such as pensions, 401(k) plans, work-and-save auto IRAs and more.

For example, AARP backed ERISA, which became law in 1974, improving protections for qualified pension plans. AARP further improved pension protections in 1986, when we helped pass legislation that requires employers to include new hires age 60-plus in pension plans and continue pension contributions and accruals for people working beyond age 65. For more about AARP’s history advancing retirement security for all, see our article “AARP’s Impact: Milestones Through the Years.”

Nearly 56 million private-sector workers don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings option. In recent years, AARP has helped 21 states enact state-facilitated auto IRAs and other work-and-save programs that have already enabled more than 1.2 million people to start saving for their financial future.

Why does AARP prioritize retirement security?

Rising prices and longer life expectancies make it increasingly important for people to better understand how to plan for their financial security after they stop working full-time and to have accessible options that help them achieve their retirement savings goals. Improving retirement security for more people is why AARP works to provide resources and tools that help people age 50 and older better understand how much money they might need in retirement and which pathways can help them build financial security.

How does retirement security affect people over 50?

According to an AARP survey, 20 percent of adults age 50 and older have no savings for retirement, and 26 percent don’t think they will ever be able to afford to retire. Even those who have been able to save for retirement are worried about rising prices that affect whether they’ll be able to cover costs for basic expenses, health care and family caregiving.

“Every adult in America deserves to retire with dignity and financial security. Yet far too many people lack access to retirement savings options, and this, coupled with higher prices, is making it increasingly hard for people to choose when to retire,” said Indira Venkateswaran, AARP's senior vice president of research.

What legislation is AARP supporting on retirement security?

In recent years, AARP has worked with lawmakers in 21 states to enact legislation creating state-facilitated retirement savings options for workers without employer-sponsored plans. Nearly 56 million U.S. adults work for employers that don’t offer options such as pensions or 401(k) plans. As of April 2026, more than 1.2 million workers have started saving for retirement through these state work-and-save programs.

AARP also supports the implementation of the federal SECURE 2.0 Act, passed in late 2022, which helps more Americans build retirement savings through automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans, higher catch-up contribution limits for older workers and other incentives to boost retirement savings.

How can members get involved?

There are many ways AARP members can help the organization advocate for retirement security. You can sign up to become a mobile or online activist. Once you sign up, AARP will send you notifications and emails about actions you can take, such as writing to your congressional representatives to urge them to protect Social Security or to your state representatives about work-and-save retirement options.

You can also share your story with AARP about challenges you have faced in building financial security for retirement. Real voices can have a real impact on lawmakers’ decisions about laws that affect retirement savings options.