Protecting Social Security's Beneficiaries: Achieving Balance Without Benefit Cuts

Almost 50 million Americans-- nearly one in four households-- receive monthly Social Security checks. In addition to the over 31 million retirees who collect Social Security, the program is the nation's largest children's program. Dependent children of workers who have died, become disabled, or retired receive monthly wage-related benefits as a matter of right until their late teens. Social Security is also the nation's largest disability program, providing disabled workers and their families wage-related benefits, also as a matter of right.