On August 14, the nation celebrated the 82nd anniversary of the Social Security program’s creation.
In 2014, 61 million people received Social Security. For a third of people over the age of 65, Social Security makes up at least 90 percent of their income.
For older adults, food insecurity rates tend to decline with age, in significant part due to receiving Social Security benefits. In combination with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), Social Security is essential to help seniors and workers living with disabilities put food on the table.
Unfortunately, the House Budget Committee’s fiscal year 2018 budget resolution proposes cuts to both SNAP and Social Security, jeopardizing these vital supports.
It is essential to protect SNAP and Social Security, and to further improve benefits and program reach. On a state level, advocates can help coordinate between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and state SNAP agencies to seamlessly enroll Social Security recipients in SNAP through data matching and information sharing.
FRAC will continue to celebrate Social Security’s success and defend its role in the social safety net.
