En español | WASHINGTON, DC—AARP today sent a letter to President Trump in response to his recent statements suggesting elimination of the current dedicated funding for Social Security. The full text of the letter to the President, signed by AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins, is below:

 
“On behalf of our 38 million members and all older Americans nationwide, we write to ask you for a more complete explanation of your recent statements suggesting elimination of the current dedicated funding for Social Security. The foundation of Social Security, for 85 years, is that workers and employers pay into the program, and workers earn their benefits. AARP believes permanent elimination of payroll contributions would put Social Security benefits at risk for both current and future retirees.
 
“Social Security is arguably the most important and successful program in our nation’s history. It is the largest source of retirement income for most Americans and provides nearly all income (90 percent or more) for one in four seniors. The American public overwhelmingly supports Social Security, and that support remains high across party lines and age groups. 
 
“Suspending, reducing, or eliminating the contributions to Social Security made through the payroll tax will interfere with Social Security’s long-term funding stream. As AARP said in a letter to President Obama in 2012, payroll tax holidays “undermine confidence in Social Security and put at risk the program’s dedicated funding stream and the hard-earned benefits of millions of Americans and their families. 
 
“The American public deserves to hear your plan on how you would replace that funding, and how people can count on receiving their hard-earned Social Security benefits.” 

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.