Issue Position: Social Security

Issue Position

Protecting Social Security

Social Security provides a critical safety net to senior citizens throughout our nation. Without Social Security, 37% of California's seniors would be living in poverty. Susan is committed to safeguarding Social Security and ensuring its continued solvency for current beneficiaries and future recipients.

Opposition to Social Security Privatization

Privatization places much of the risk of a secure retirement on the individual. Social Security exists for the same reason that insurance exists--it is a safety net in case of poor planning, stock market failure or if a bad economy eliminates a person's income from other sources. Privatizing our Social Security system makes it vulnerable to the very economic factors that its founders sought to counter balance.

Backlog Concerns

Susan has also asked tough questions of the Social Security Administration (SSA) about the disability claim backlog in San Diego. In recent years, cases have not been closed for months or years, and the problem only became worse after SSA shifted a portion of its backlog to San Diego from other regions. The hearing backlog is expected to be eliminated by 2013.

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