When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law 85 years ago, he expressed hope that the program would offer Americans a "measure of protection" from the "hazards and vicissitudes of life." True to FDR's vision, Social Security has protected workers from some of the costliest hazards and vicissitudes of life — including loss of income from retirement, disability and the death of a family breadwinner.

This year, Americans have faced "hazards and vicissitudes" unseen for 100 years — a deadly global pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. Now as the program provides basic financial security to 68 million Americans, the program itself needs protection. Not only are Social Security's resources strained by the pandemic; the program's opponents seek to undermine and eventually dismantle it amid a national crisis.

Social Security is more crucial today than ever before. Employer-provided pensions have all but disappeared. Income inequality rages. Retirement savings are historically low while the cost of growing old has soared. Most seniors depend on Social Security for the majority of their income. And without Social Security, 40% of elderly Americans would live in poverty.

Now COVID-19 is endangering seniors' lives and their financial security. The recent surge in Social Security claims from the pandemic may strain Social Security's finances at a time when the system is already fiscally challenged. And without a boost from Congress, Social Security's trust fund will be exhausted by 2035, after which the program will still pay nearly 80% of benefits (an outcome no one who supports Social Security wants).

That's why in the face of relentless efforts to undermine it, the National Committee supports legislation in Congress that would fully fund and even expand Social Security. And fortunately, the broader public — those who paid for, depend on and cherish their earned benefits — have an opportunity to elect new leaders who will protect older Americans, people with disabilities and their loved ones against the "hazards and vicissitudes" of life that President Roosevelt understood so well.

The National Committee endorses the House-passed "Delivering for America Act" (H.R. 8015), introduced by U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), which would prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from implementing changes that would reduce its service reliability and efficiency during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our members, as older Americans, know only too well how urgently this legislation is needed. Many of our members rely on the Post Service for the delivery of prescription drugs to remain healthy and to live their lives with dignity and safety. The U.S. Postal Service also serves as an important means of participating in the wider community, with millions of seniors preferring to exercise their right to vote by means of absentee ballots. Especially as the coronavirus is striking older Americans so severely, there is no excuse for tampering with — and possibly severing — this vital lifeline. That's why this bill is an essential step to adequately fund and protect the U.S. Postal Service.

Now the Senate and President Trump must act to ensure delivery of first class and parcel packages in an efficient and timely manner.

We're just weeks away from the historic 2020 presidential election. And there are important policy differences between the presidential candidates when it comes to issues impacting Social Security and Medicare. With the first presidential debate to take place on Tuesday, September 29th, we want to know your response to the following question:

What issues do you want the presidential candidates to address to voters?

Take our poll now!

Did you know that a team of experts in the field of Social Security policy is available to answer your questions about benefits? For 37 years, the National Committee has been helping thousands of our members and supporters with a broad range of concerns on Social Security.

Whether you're currently retired or approaching retirement, the National Committee's "Ask Us" section can help answer your questions about Social Security. You can either search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns at www.ncpssm.org/ask-us-recent/ or email your question to [email protected].

This week's question is: I'm 5 years older than my wife. We're both still working and planning to continue for 3 or 4 more years. I've worked continuously and have a higher income. I want to ensure my wife receives the largest monthly payment if I die before we both reach 70. If I never claim, could she claim my "70-year-old" benefit when she reaches 70?

Click here to read the answer.

A permanent payroll tax cut could deplete Social Security trust funds by 2023 (August 25, 2020, CNBC, Lorie Konish)

What Expanding Medicare would mean for Seniors (August 20, 2020, WMKV, Interview with NCPSSM President & CEO Max Richtman)

Opinion: Trump's election year gamble: Messing with Social Security and Medicare (August 29, 2020, MarketWatch, Paul Brandus)

Why Are Trump And The Republicans So Afraid Of Competition When It Comes To Drug Prices? (August 24, 2020, Forbes, Robert Laszewski)

COVID + Influenza: This Is a Good Year to Get a Flu Shot, Experts Advise (August 28, 2020, Kaiser Health News, Julie Appleby and Michelle Andrews)