John,

This week, Social Security Works raised the alarm about a technical glitch to Social Security that, if left uncorrected, would result in millions of people receiving substantially lower Social Security benefits.

This glitch is the result of the unprecedented conditions of the COVID-19 economic crisis and would impact all of those turning 60 during the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression―more than four million people―and their families.

Now, Representative John Larson (D-CT)―author of the excellent Social Security 2100 Act―has introduced a solution! The Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act would:

• Prevent a cut in benefits for those born in 1960 or later

• Ensure the Average Wage Index (AWI) never drops below the previous year’s

• Increase benefits across the board by 2%

• Increase the special minimum benefit by 125%, lifting more people out of poverty

• Expand benefits for grandparents providing for dependent grandchildren, dependent students so they can better afford their education, dependent widows or widowers and SSI recipients―the poorest Social Security beneficiaries

Any time that Social Security adjustments are needed to make the system more just, right-wing forces try to use those adjustments as an opportunity to cut benefits. We must act now before Mitch McConnell and his Wall Street allies are able to exploit this COVID-19 notch to achieve their long-held goal of cutting Social Security.

Become a grassroots co-sponsor of the Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act today to protect and expand our earned benefits in the midst of the pandemic!

With a $2.9 trillion trust fund, our Social Security benefits are secure. But, the economic collapse caused by the pandemic has unearthed this technical glitch.

Social Security’s earned benefits are based on each worker’s individual earnings history appropriately adjusted to reflect the growth in aggregate economy-wide wages. While this is fair in normal times, these are not normal times.

Because of the pandemic, aggregate wage levels are highly likely to decline substantially this year. Because this drastic decline in aggregate wage levels is so unusual, our Social Security system does not take that possibility into account.

Representative Larson’s new bill corrects that error and protects us from future disasters.

Join Social Security Works and become a grassroots co-sponsor of the Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act to expand benefits during the pandemic and protect everyone born in 1960 or later from a cut in Social Security benefits.

Thank you for taking action today to demand Congress protect and expand Social Security!

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works