Progressives declare Social Security benefits should be increased to help the most vulnerable

Senior citizen center in Beaverton, Oregon

Marsha Hunt---As the debate on the budget is heating up for the coming months, there is a move by many in Congress not to cut Social Security but expand benefits. This would mean an increase in benefits of about $70 for each retiree and removing the income cap on wage-earners contributions.

While the Republicans in Congress have clamored for reductions in Social Security benefits, and Obama has appeared to agree to much of this; many legislators are concerned about their constituents and the increased medical costs and cost of living increases that have taken place, as seniors fall further and further behind in being able to keep up with the increasing pressures on income.

Every year Social Security proclaims its solvency, as the naysayers seem to look past the statistics from the offices and instead proclaim the need to reduce costs. At the same time, seniors have been rallied by AARP and MoveOn to support an increase in benefits.

Paul Krugman, one of the nation's leading economists, maintains Social Security benefits should be increased. He has examined the claims from conservatives that there should be entitlement reforms that include cuts to Social Security. He tells us, however, as a reminder that these are not entitlements in the same way as other programs, and points to the fact that America's retirement systems are failing, leaving many seniors with increasingly reduced pensions. Cuts to Social Security would mean hardship for many people.

National Council of Women's Organizations , Center for Community Change (October 2013) offers five key policy changes it says will preserve the Social Security system and help to ensure that it functions well enough to help needy individuals that include women, same-sex spouses, and low-income people.

These policy changes include caregiver credits for those who provide unpaid care for people in need and therefore lose part of their potential earnings as a result. It also includes restoration of student assistance, ensures benefits meet the needs of seniors and their spending habits, increases the special minimum benefit and ensure coverage for LGBT families.

These options, and the need to increase benefits for seniors, reflect an aging population's view of what is actually occurring in terms of the future of those whose earning years have ended and who rely upon the money they contributed to a government program they hope will remain throughout their senior years.

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Marsha Hunt is a youthful senior who worries about Social Security and believes it needs to be there to help people make it through their post-employment years.