Social Security

Talking Points

• Social Security, a widely popular program considered the bedrock of American financial security for the past 90 years, is under attack by the Trump Administration and in danger of a partial or total collapse.

• The Trump Administration has actively sowed chaos and confusion by spreading widely discredited lies about the program, closing or attempting to close many of its regional offices and laying off thousands of Social Security Administration (SSA) workers. 

• The goal is to open the door to privatization, an outcome that would benefit Wall Street but hurt working families. 

• The stakes are particularly high in North Carolina, where four SSA offices are scheduled for closure in 2025 as well as in Chatham County, with its rapidly aging population and where nearly 3 out of every 10 residents are age 65 years or older and the fastest-growing segment of the population is age 85 or older. 

• This is a winning issue that must continue to be center stage for the Democratic Party. It enjoys broad bipartisan support and the party must redouble its efforts to reach members of Congress through phone banks, letter writing campaigns, social media and public protests and mobilization of citizens of all political persuasions (e.g., “hands off Social Security” rallies).

Background

• Before Americans had Social Security, almost half of seniors lived in poverty. Even those who’d spent a lifetime working didn't always have enough to put food on the table or health care they could count on. 

• Democrats helped change this by passing the Social Security Act in 1935, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Along with Medicare, signed into law in 1965, the programs were a promise we made as a country to help keep Americans secure after a lifetime of hard work. 

• All workers contribute today to Social Security and earn its benefits, and nearly one in 3 households has at least one person who receives Social Security. 

• 40 percent of people who rely on Social Security have no other source of income; they live paycheck to paycheck. (https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/transcript.pdf) 

• In 2025, about 73 million Americans will receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, according to the SSA, with nearly $1.6 trillion in benefits paid out annually. (https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/social-security/what-trump-has-done-with-socialsecurity#:~:text=In%202025%2C%20about%2073%20million,changes%20to%20bolster%20its% 20finances). 

• In North Carolina, Social Security beneficiaries receive an average monthly income of $1,832, according to Kiplinger. Benefits are adjusted annually to keep up with inflation (https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/social-security/average-social-security-check-by-state-howdoes-yours-compare).

• In 2024, North Carolina ranked #9 in the country in total benefits paid by the SSA for Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI), not including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), with more than 2.2 million recipients receiving $3.8 billion. (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-states-receive-most-social-110017647.html) 

• The income Social Security provides is vital for retirees, families who have lost a breadwinner, and workers who have experienced a career-ending injury or illness — helping them put food on the table, pay the rent, heat their homes, cover medical bills, and more. 

• Currently there are more than 1,200 Social Security field offices nationwide, as well as 23 teleservice centers that provide assistance over the phone. (https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/social-security/what-trump-has-done-with- socialsecurity#:~:text=Trump%20names%20new%20Deputy%20Commissioner,provide%20assistance %20over%20the%20phone). 

• As is the case with Medicare, Social Security also serves younger generations, sparing them from the financial challenges of supporting family members and friends. (https://press.aarp.org/2025-4-30-AARP-Bulletin-May-June2025#:~:text=WASHINGTON%E2%80%94Announced%20today%2C%20the%20AARP,well%2D being%20of%20older%20adults).

Impact

• Millions of Americans are outraged by the Trump Administration’s plans to close Social Security Administration (SSA) offices and slash the agency’s workforce by nearly 1 in 8 employees, and by the constant stream of missteps that are sowing chaos and confusion. 

• The SSA announced plans in the spring of 2025 for a “massive” restructuring aiming to reduce the agency’s workforce of roughly 57,000 — already down by more than 9 percent since 2015 — by another 12.3 percent to 50,000. (https://blog.ssa.gov/socialsecurity-announces-workforce-and-organization-plans/) 

• The SSA also has closed or plans to close nearly four dozen offices in 24 states, according to a listing on the website of the Department of Government Efficiency, the federal office that is charged with reducing federal spending. (https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/social-security-office-closures-will-hurt-rural-andtribalcommunities#:~:text=The%20federal%20workforce%20reductions%20pursued,for%20A mericans%20in%20rural%20areas). 

• In North Carolina, as of late May the following Social Security offices were scheduled for closing:

  • June 23 – 2123 Lakeside Drive, Franklin

  • June 24 – 2805 Charles Blvd., Greenville

  • June 24 – 1865 W. City Drive, Elizabeth City

  • August 1 – 730 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids

• The closures are happening in spite of a new requirement that stronger identity-proofing measures be put in place to counter fraud and abuse. So millions of recipients and applicants will now need to visit agency field offices rather than interact with agency employees over the phone, making office closures particularly difficult for rural area 3 residents. (AP article, 3/19/25) (https://apnews.com/article/social-security-officesclosures-doge-trump-b2b1a5b2ba4fb968abc3379bf90715ff)

• The elimination of 7,000 Social Security jobs — more than 12 percent of the workforce — and other cuts have led to long waits, dropped calls and other widespread service issues (Washington Post, 3-25-25) and Democrats say the worsening problems create a clear link between Trump’s chaotic style and Americans’ day-to-day well-being. (msn.com) 

• While new SSA Administrator Frank Bisignano has vowed to protect the personal data of recipients and not to privatize Social Security or cut benefits, he’s stopped short of ruling out structural reforms. (https://www.newsweek.com/what-new-social-security-headfrank-bisignano-has-said-about-overpayments-2069248) 

• Not ruling out structural reforms allows for laying off thousands of employees and closing offices around the country, an indirect way of potentially bringing the system to its knees. 

• The attacks on Social Security predate the 2nd Trump term. As a first-term president, he tried to slash both Social Security and Medicare programs in every budget. 

• Trump and his MAGA allies are shredding that sacred trust and have called Social Security a “Ponzi Scheme” and warned “there’s a lot you can do in terms of cutting.” (https://democrats.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/09/2024_Democratic_Party_Platform_8a2cf8.pdf) 

• However, Democrats agree that some structural reforms are needed, particularly to address a significant decline in SSA customer service. The average time it takes to get a decision on an initial claim for disability benefits has more than doubled since 2016, from four to eight months, and callers to Social Security’s toll-free helpline have experienced waits averaging as long as 40 minutes to speak to a representative. (https://usafacts.org/data-projects/disability-benefit-wait-time) 

• The 2024 Democratic Party platforms stated in part:

  • Democrats will improve Social Security’s funding by “asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share,” but the platform did not formally commit to raising the income ceiling on Social Security payroll taxes, applying Social Security taxes to net investment income, or adjusting the limit before retirees begin paying taxes on their benefits. (https://democrats.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/09/2024_Democratic_Party_Platform_8a2cf8.pdf)

• If unchecked, the Trump Administration’s recent actions will devastate the ability of an already-overstretched SSA to serve the public and deliver Social Security payments, resulting in a de facto back-door benefit cut to the American people. 

• At the same time, the Democratic Party is confident that the impact of the Trump administration’s reckless actions on key issues such as Social Security will backfire ahead of midterms, putting Democrats in a strong position to win back battleground contests, including Sen. Tom Tillis’ Senate seat in North Carolina.

Recommendations

Individual Action

• To protest proposed cuts to Social Security, individuals can contact their elected officials, participate in organized advocacy efforts, and educate themselves and others about the program's importance. Specifically, they can write letters or emails, make phone calls, attend rallies, and share information on social media. For example:

  • Use online tools like Action Network or Common Cause to draft letters and emails to representatives and senators, expressing your opposition to Social Security cuts and urging them to protect the program. Also by calling their offices to voice their concerns. 

  • Attend “Hands Off” rallies and protests aimed to protect Social Security held in government buildings, SSA offices and elsewhere. 

  • Join organizations like AARP or the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association that advocate for Social Security. They often host events and rallies, provide information, and offer guidance on how to advocate for the program. 

  • Educate others by sharing information about Social Security’s current challenges -- including how cuts would impact different individuals and communities – and use social media platforms to spread awareness and engage in conversations about the program.

Democratic Party / Collective Action

• Social Security is a winning issue for the Democrats as it is also widely supported by Republicans and Independent voters alike. As the U.S. population ages, it’s clear that more Americans will need Social Security than ever before. 

• The Democratic Party’s 2024 national platform states: “Generations of Americans have paid into these programs, with every paycheck of their lives. We’ll never back down from our ironclad commitment to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." 

• It adds: “Middle-class Americans pay 6.2 percent of their income to support Social Security and the self-employed pay twice that. But people with multi-million dollar incomes pay a fraction of 1 percent. We’ll strengthen the program and expand benefits by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.” (https://democrats.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/09/2024_Democratic_Party_Platform_8a2cf8.pdf) 

• In the first months of the Trump presidency, Democrats fought and held rallies all over the country – including in Chatham County -- to keep SSA offices open and to block Musk and his cronies from accessing SSA’s databases. 

• On April 1st, Senate Democrats launched a Social Security “War Room” to fight back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on Social Security. It includes coordinated oversight of the Social Security Administration and Trump, Musk, and DOGE’s attacks on Social Security; caucus-wide videos to underscore the impacts of the Trump administration Social Security cuts; reports on newly found impacts in states, wait times, and more; Social Security Administration office visits in War Room members’ states as well as Republican districts; and town halls focused on Social Security. (https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-democrats-launchsocial-security-war-room-to-fight-back-against-trump-admin-attacks) 

• Fortunately, there is evidence that the pushback from both the party and regular citizens may be working in some areas, particularly regarding overpayment recovery and in-person service requirements. For example, the Trump Administration:

  • Announced a policy requiring beneficiaries to appear in person at Social Security offices for certain transactions, including applying for benefits and making direct deposit changes. But following criticism and concerns about accessibility for beneficiaries, it rescinded the in-person requirement and stated that enhanced fraud prevention tools would allow most claims to be processed over the phone. (https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5341780/social-securityadministration-identity-requirements) 

  • Initially reversed a Biden-era policy that limited overpayment clawbacks to 10% of a beneficiary's monthly check, reinstated the 100% withholding policy, meaning the entire benefit could be withheld to recover overpayments. Following criticism, the Trump administration retreated from the 100% withholding policy and implemented a 50% withholding rate for overpayments of retirement, family, survivor, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. (https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/trump-administration-social-securityoverpayment-clawbacks-withholding-50-percent/)

• Sen. Ron Wyden (Oregon), the top Democrat on the committee that oversees Social Security, recently said: “For much of the country, Washington might as well be Mars for all the connection it has to them. But Social Security is something where there is connective tissue between the government and the people.” (https://www.msn.com/enus/news/politics/democrats-seize-on-a-new-issue-to-use-against-the-gop-socialsecurity/ar-AA1DHwYS?ocid=BingNewsSerp) 

• In its effort to protect Social Security, there are nonprofit organizations that the Democratic Party can collaborate with, chief among them is AARP with its clear and concise message to Congress: 

  • Social Security must make payments on time, as it has for 90 years. 

  • Claims must be processed on time. 

  • Customer service must be their top priority. (https://press.aarp.org/2025-4-30- AARP-Bulletin-May-June2025#:~:text=WASHINGTON%E2%80%94Announced%20today%2C%20the%2 0AARP,well%2Dbeing%20of%20older%20adults).