Social Security should not be held hostage

		Friend, For 80 years, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American in full and on time. But if Congress does not do their job, the Social Security Disability Insurance trust fund – which protects 11 million Americans, including more than 1 million veterans and 3 million children – will see its reserves depleted in late 2016, resulting in a 20% cut in disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an economic lifeline that protects workers and their families from dire financial hardship. The average benefit earned by a worker with a disability is just $1,100 a month and without SSDI, about half of beneficiaries would live in poverty. Social Security works, the only problem it faces is from members of Congress who can't stop themselves from dismantling the system for their Wall Street friends. Please, join Social Security Works in supporting the Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act, which balances the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund and the Disability Insurance trust fund and ensures full payments on time through 2034. Congress should be expanding benefits for millions of Americans, never cutting them. Social Security is meant to be a universal system based on the principle that we are stronger together. 11 times in the past Congress has reallocated funds between the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance fund and the Disability Insurance fund to ensure both funds can meet their scheduled payments. But this is not your average Congress. Instead of being responsible stewards of Social Security, this Congress has manufactured a crisis by changing its rules and pitting retirees against people with disabilities. The new House rule mandates that the two trust funds can only be balanced if Congress approves a cut to retirement benefits or raises taxes. In response, Senator Ron Wyden (OR) and Representative Sander Levin (MI) have introduced the Social Security Earned Benefits Payment Act, which would responsibly reallocate funds between the trust funds, allowing all parts of Social Security to pay full scheduled benefits through 2034. Please, tell Congress to balance the trust funds responsibly without cutting retirement or disability benefits. Instead, Congress should be expanding benefits for millions of Americans, never cutting them! Social Security should not be held hostage, and certainly not by those who want to cut its modest earned benefits, narrow its coverage, or restrict its eligibility. The only path forward for Social Security is to expand benefits for everyone. One necessary step along the way is to rebalance the trust funds. Stand with Social Security Works and stand up to Republican hostage takers! Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works

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