Why Your Vote Matters for the Future of Social Security

Learn why Social Security’s future is a critical issue for voters and what questions to ask candidates about protecting benefits.

Key takeaways

• Protect Social Security by asking candidates how they’ll strengthen benefits.
• Understand why congressional action is needed to avoid future payment cuts.
• Recognize the long-term importance of Social Security for future generations.

Summary

Social Security remains a vital issue for millions of Americans who rely on benefits they earned through a lifetime of work. AARP’s Nancy LeaMond emphasizes that Congress must take action in the coming years to prevent significant cuts to Social Security payments, and she highlights the importance of keeping the issue front and center during election season.

She encourages voters to ask candidates how they plan to strengthen Social Security without reducing benefits and to discuss the program’s future with younger family members and friends. By making Social Security a priority at the ballot box, voters can help shape decisions that affect current and future generations.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full transcript

[0:00:00] I’m here today with a message for everyone out there depending on Social

Security.

[0:00:02]

[0:00:04] You earned it through a lifetime of hard work, and now you’re

[0:00:08] counting on it to be there.

[0:00:09] As much as anyone in this country, you understand how important

[0:00:13] Social Security is to your own life and your household budget.

[0:00:16] You also know how important it will be in the lives of your kids and grandkids,

[0:00:21] who may not be thinking about it yet.

[0:00:23] You get it, and you probably know that Congress needs to act in the next few

years to prevent your checks from being cut by 20%.

[0:00:31] The leaders that we, the American people, elect this fall will play a crucial role

in Social Security’s future, so it deserves to be a top issue in every candidate’s stump

speech and in every voter’s decision.

[0:00:45] So today, I urge you to ask candidates how they’ll strengthen Social Security

for generations to come without cutting your payments.

[0:00:53] And talk to your younger friends and family to let them know just how

important this fight is for their own futures