Dear John,

Today Social Security celebrates its 88^th anniversary. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law on August 14, 1935, and it has been America’s most successful anti-poverty program ever since, keeping millions of American families who cannot work because of age or disability out of poverty.

Today, this crucial program benefits over 65 million Americans a year with an average benefit of only around $1,600 a month. Without these meager benefits, the elderly poverty rate would explode to nearly 40 percent.  

But Congress is allowing one of America’s most important programs to be starved of administrative funds. Morale among workers at the Social Security Administration (SSA) has plummeted; SSA was ranked as the worst large federal agency to work for.  Experienced staff with years of training are leaving in droves. Wait times at field offices, on the phone and for a disability hearing are all increasing. But neither the House nor Senate has given SSA the funds to even keep up with inflation.

Wish Social Security a happy anniversary by writing to your Senators and Representative to urge them to adequately fund SSA. American families pay into Social Security and deserve to have help and assistance when needed.  

In Solidarity,

AFGE

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