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Social Security Reform Essay

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Perhaps no group has as much at stake in the debate over Social Security reform as African Americans. Elderly African Americans are much more likely than their white counterparts to be dependent on Social Security benefits for most or all of their retirement income. Yet Social Security benefits are inadequate to provide for the retirement needs of the elderly poor, which leaves nearly 30 percent of African-American seniors in poverty.
As the debate over Social Security reform heats up, several questions have been raised that are of particular interest to the African-American community:
· Is the current system fair to African Americans?
· What is the best way to increase savings …show more content…

· What is the best way to increase savings and wealth in the black community?
· Would African Americans be helped or hurt by privatizing the system?
· How would other proposed Social Security reforms impact minority workers and retirees?

Fact Sheet
Social Security is Important to African Americans o Social Security has made a difference in the lives of African Americans o Without Social Security, the poverty rate for elderly African American beneficiaries would increase from 21 percent to 60 percent. o Social Security is the only source of retirement income for 37 percent of elderly African Americans. o African Americans face different situations when it comes to retirement.o Social Security is race neutral – individuals who are in identical life situations are treated the same. People, however, are rarely in identical situations. African Americans tend to have lower earnings than whites and less pension coverage. Therefore, Social Security benefits are disproportionately important to them.o African Americans have lower life expectancies than whites. The average African American male currently aged 65 can expect to live to about age 79,

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