The Truth Staff
On august 14, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, a retirement program for some retired workers 65 years and older. On Tuesday, August 14, 2024, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur joined the staff of the Area Office on Aging to celebrate the 89th anniversary of the historic program that, in addition to providing retirement benefits, also provides life insurance and a disability insurance protection.
“This is an important milestone that has had a profound impact on older adults,” said Justin Moor, CEO of the Area Office on Aging. “We’re grateful for all you do to protect Social Security,” he told Kaptur.
Kaptur thanked Moor and the AOoA staff for their work over the years. “You make life better for our country,” she said.
Kaptur noted that there are over 175,000 recipients of the benefits of Social Security in her House district. “It is a lifeline,” she said of the program that is important, she added, for three things. “If you work, deductions come out of your paycheck; it is insurance for the disabled and it is a survivorship program.
Indeed, according to the Social Security Administration’s fact sheet, about 90 percent of those in the workplace – ages 21 to 64 – were insured by the program in case of severe disability. Most critically the program provides a foundation of retirement protection for just about everyone in the United States – 97 percent of older adults, aged 60 to 89 – either receive retirement benefits through Social Security or will receive such benefits.
To complete the celebration at the AOoA last week, Kaptur and Moor cut the cake for the staff to enjoy.
