That so-called “pro-family” agenda of today’s Republican party? Not so much. Their latest idea: cannibalize Social Security to fund paid family leave, and have parents work longer into old age (or take lower benefits). It’s a backdoor attempt, both shrewd and…
by Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works and EOI board member Donald Trump and his administration are holding millions of young Americans hostage. In return for ending the deportation of Dreamers who were brought to this country as children…
The next time you hear a Very Serious Person’s pronouncement about Social Security’s supposedly impending doom, remember: an individual’s interest in seeing Social Security thrive is usually a) inversely proportional to their wealth but b) directly proportional to their empathy for others. How else to explain…
Social Security is crucial to Washingtonians’ economic security and our state’s economy Nearly 1.3 million Washington residents receive Social Security benefits, representing 18% of the state’s population, who in turn provide income for 30% of the state’s households.[1] Seventy-five percent…
Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess has announced his intention to implement a retirement savings plan for private sector employees whose employers do not provide any kind of retirement savings vehicles. In the Seattle metro region, that’s about a third of all…
Last week, the Social Security Trustees published their 269-page annual report on the health of the Social Security Trust Funds, which hold the assets that will help fund future retirement benefits for Social Security recipients. In sum, the future of…
Washington’s New Paid Family and Medical Leave Program How it will work: Washington’s paid family and medical leave program will work like insurance. Workers and their employers will both pay a small premium with each paycheck, and then workers will…
Last November voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 1433 to increase the minimum wage and establish a statewide standard for paid sick days. Initiative 1433 raised the minimum wage to $11 an hour on Jan. 1, 2017. That was an increase of…
Summary Social Security is a longstanding success of our democratic system. It provides financial security and stable incomes to 60 million Americans directly receiving retirement, disability, or survivor benefits.[i] In Washington state, 29% of households depend on Social Security income.[ii]…
What’s ahead, what the candidates say, and a forecast for Medicare [By Chris Farrell via Next Avenue] Social Security’s recently released 2016 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees on the system’s financial condition is 272 pages long and a doorstop.…
