Now that Republicans have gained control of the house, you can bet that they’ll push legislation to make cuts to Social Security and Medicare (they’ve been eyeing cutting or privatizing these programs for years). However, with Dems in control of the Senate, passing such legislation into law will likely meet with some serious roadblocks. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is the #1 cheerleader for this effort, but his plan isn’t just to make cuts here and there, his agenda would sunset, or eliminate altogether, all federal legislation over five years, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Some GOP lawmakers want a complete overhaul of these programs, including raising the age for seniors to claim benefits to 70 years old. Currently, the full retirement age is 66 for those born from 1943 to 1954, and 67 for anyone born 1960 or later.
Medicare would also be at risk, and under a plan developed by the Republican Study Committee, senior citizens would have to wait five more years to claim Medicare (current eligibility is 65). The same committee argues that the reason for the change in age qualifications for these programs is that Americans are living longer. However, while Americans are living longer than former generations, a recent Gallup poll showed that the average age of retirement in the U.S. is actually 61.
When I read about Rick Scott’s and the GOP’s plans to raise the age eligibility for these programs I was livid (I still am). I’m 60 years old and work as a veterinary technician in a very busy hospital. Although I love my job, it’s both physically and emotionally demanding. There’s no way I can keep working full-time for another 10 years in my field.
I imagine that this goes for many other Americans as well. Those individuals who work in physically demanding jobs such as construction, factory work, nursing, farming, ranching, roofing, and carpentry may not be able to work until 70 because of injuries or disabilities sustained on the job, and adding insult to injury, would be unable to obtain medicare benefits until 65.
The GOP plan would place a serious burden on working Americans as well as increase the incidence of hardship and poverty for older individuals. Those who would be hardest hit would be low-income and rural citizens and those who have to stop working due to health issues or having to care for family members. According to recent data, 12% of seniors live on an income of less than $10,000 a year while 55% live on $25,000 a year.
Rick and Scott and his fellow republicans of course blame the Democrats and Obamacare for the reason for such cuts, but let’s not forget that members of Congress and the Senate don’t have to rely on social security and medicine alone when they retire. For example, House representatives receive generous retirement packages which include a lifetime pension and a taxpayer-matched savings plan with taxpayer-paid contributions of up to 5% of their salary while serving in Congress. This is on top of social security and medicare benefits.
Social Security is not going broke (as many conservatives claim). Social Security has a $2.85 trillion surplus and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 13 years. After that, if no changes are made, Social Security the government can still pay out 80% of promised benefits.
Millions of older Americans rely on social security and medicare benefits, benefits that they have been paying into for decades. The GOP’s attack on these programs is just another example of how those in power care little for the working American.