It really is time to raise Social Security benefits

Sens. Tom Harkin and Mark Begich will be given a national audience tonight on The Ed Show.5 p.m. 

We can embolden these Social Security champions by making sure millions of progressives tune in to learn about the proposals. That’ll also make it clear to other senators that when they step up to strengthen Social Security, we’ll have their backs. 

Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Begich (D-AK) have given us something to fight for. Stand with them by joining Social Security Works and Democracy for America in a petition calling on their colleagues to join them. 

It’s important to sit up and take notice when Senators step out and introduce bills that would increase Social Security benefits at a time when all the other pillars of our retirement security are coming up short.
What they’re proposing is simple:

• Increase cost of living adjustments (COLAs), not decrease them.Instead of cutting benefits through a Chained CPI formula, Senators Harkin and Begich have proposed using a benefit formula designed specifically to take into account seniors’ rising living expenses such as healthcare, food, and housing.

• Ensure that the wealthy are paying their fair share into Social Security. Currently, Americans are only paying Social Security payroll taxes on their first $113,700. That means that Wall Street CEOs are not paying the same rate as the rest of us. By lifting the payroll tax cap on Social Security, we can extend the life of Social Security for decades to come.

• Increase Social Security benefits for almost all recipients by approximately $70 per month, or $800 a year. Senator Harkin’s bill would reform the benefit formula for all beneficiaries, but target those most in need. This would result in an across the board benefit increase, with the most going to those in the lower and middle classes.

Sound good to you? Tell them you agree by signing the petition now!