Democrats and Voters Support Expanding Social Security
By Sabrina Jacobs
An average of 66 million Americans receive Social Security benefits each month. This amounts to $1 trillion in benefits spent throughout the year. Social Security not only provides retirement benefits, but benefits for disabled workers and families that have lost a breadwinner as well. It’s also one of the largest anti-poverty programs for children.
Social Security will face a funding shortfall around 2035, which will result in benefits being cut by about 20 percent if Congress does not act. It’s critical that Congress works on improving Social Security so that coverage can expand and those who depend on Social Security have the funding that they need.
A new poll by Data for Progress finds 90 percent of voters believe that Social Security should continue to exist 10 years from now. This includes 92 percent of Democrats, 91 percent of Republicans, and 88 percent of Independents.
Clearly, Social Security is supported across the board, regardless of political affiliation. In fact, voters deeply understand its essential role in society and are willing to pay for it rather than see it end. Data for Progress finds 76 percent of voters, including 83 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of Independents, would rather pay a little more into Social Security to ensure it remains fully funded.
In order to ensure the longevity of Social Security, Democrats have proposed various solutions to expand funding and better help those who are currently covered. To match the higher cost of living, Democrats want to expand benefits for all beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Republicans want to change Social Security so that Congress has to approve funding for the program every year. Voters prefer Democrats’ plan to expand coverage. After learning about the different plans for Social Security, 57 percent of voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate if the election were held today, while 33 percent say they would vote for the Republican candidate, and 10 percent say they don’t know.
In fact, voters overwhelmingly reject the Republican plan to change Social Security so that Congress has to approve it each year. This plan would put funding at risk and leave those who depend on Social Security funding in danger of not receiving it if the government were to shut down or become gridlocked.
Eighty-two percent of voters agree that the government should leave Social Security as it is, with guaranteed funding to cover benefits for all beneficiaries. This includes 84 percent of Democrats, and 81 percent of both Republicans and Independents.
Voters also don’t have confidence that Republicans will be able to accomplish their plan to change Social Security. Forty-eight percent of voters, including 53 percent of Democrats and and 47 percent of Independents, believe that the Republican Party is unlikely to require Congress to approve Social Security funding each year. Forty-four percent of Republicans don’t have faith in their own party to change Social Security, saying it’s unlikely that the GOP will be able to carry out its plan.
From a messaging stance, voters generally associate the Democratic Party with expanding Social Security benefits and the Republican Party with changing Social Security. Only 27 percent of voters associate the Democratic Party with changing Social Security so Congress has to approve funding for it each year, but 44 percent of voters associate the Republican Party with this proposal. Twenty percent of voters associate neither party with the change.
Voters are also slightly more likely to associate the Republican Party with ending Social Security within the next five years. While 35 percent of voters associate neither party with that position, only 21 percent associate it with the Democratic Party and 39 percent associate it with the Republican Party.
However, voters overwhelmingly agree that the Democratic Party wants to expand Social Security. Fifty-three percent of voters believe that the Democratic Party wants to expand Social Security benefits for all beneficiaries, while only 19 percent associate that position with the Republican Party. Fourteen percent of voters believe that neither party supports expanding Social Security benefits for all beneficiaries.
While they agree that Democrats are more likely to expand Social Security, voters still tend to believe that their own party is best when it comes to supporting senior citizens. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats believe that the Democratic Party supports senior citizens, and 51 percent of Republicans believe that the Republican Party supports senior citizens. Independents are more split, with 30 percent associating support for seniors with Democrats, 14 percent associating it with Republicans, 35 percent associating it with both parties, and 21 percent associating it with neither.
Overall, 38 percent of voters believe that Democrats support senior citizens, and 24 percent believe that Republicans support senior citizens.
Social Security is a crucial earned benefit that seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors rely on. The goal must be to expand Social Security benefits rather than limit them and allow funding to be at the mercy of Congress each year. Democrats are working toward a solution that will protect Social Security, expand coverage, and support senior citizens. The Republican Party is willing to risk the well-being of seniors and those who are disabled by putting Social Security funding at risk every single year. Voters understand that the Democratic Party is working toward expanding coverage and supporting senior citizens, and as the midterms approach, that message must be loud and clear.
Sabrina Jacobs is a digital fellow at Data for Progress.