Social Security and Medicare: A Foundation for Every Generation

AARP's mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age, which takes financial security, health, and peace of mind. We advocate with these goals in mind at state capitols, Congress, and federal agencies. 

Snapshot: What we've accomplished

• Social Security: Protecting the program that keeps roughly 23.5 million older Americans out of poverty.
• Retirement savings: Championing auto-IRA programs in 22 states, which reach lower-wage workers whose employers offer no plan.
• Prescription drugs: Winning Medicare's first-ever authority to negotiate drug prices, plus a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs.
• Direct help: Through AARP Foundation, helping low-income older adults find work and providing free tax preparation to millions each year.
   

The financial reality for many older adults

• One in three older adults struggle to meet basic needs today.
• About 40% of Americans 65 and older rely on Social Security for most of their income.
• One in five adults over 50 has no retirement savings.
• One in eight people ages 50 to 64 lives in poverty.
• The poverty rate for those 65 and older is 15.4%, and nearly 17% for women.
   

Support that reaches every generation

• Family caregiver tax credits in states like Oklahoma and Nebraska help caregivers of any age.
• Expanded caregiving resources through United Way's 211 hotline help families find support.
• Older adults provide an estimated $1.2 trillion in unpaid care each year, give $111 billion to charity, and contribute $13 billion to help students pay for college.

Broad public agreement

• 96% of adults say protecting Social Security is important, including 94% of those under 50.
• 90% say cutting payments for people in or near retirement would be unfair, including 85% of those under 50. 
   

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About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Media Contacts:  

Laura Segal, lsegal@aarp.org

Sarah Lovenheim, slovenheim@aarp.org