Social Security Under Attack By Bush Budget

President Bush has launched another attack on Social Security benefits. Currently, Social Security makes a one-time payment of $255 to a surviving spouse when a worker dies. The president’s new budget plan calls for the elimination of this lump-sum death benefit, which has been part of Social Security since its inception. The $255 surviving spouse benefit provides important support to elderly widows and widowers whose average monthly benefit is only $966. Eliminating this benefit would hurt over 800,000 widows each year. Over 10 years, this cut would total more than $2 billion.Social Security also pays monthly benefits to children whose parent has died. These benefits were earned by the parent and are part of the family protections provided through Social Security. The benefits are paid until the child turns 18. President Bush’s budget proposes to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16- and 17-year-old high school dropouts and children older than 15 if they do not attend school full time.

The administration claims these provisions are intended to encourage school attendance. This is nothing more than a punitive, back-door approach to the problem. Teens who are not in school still need food and shelter. They deserve to receive the benefits their parent earned for them – they depend on this benefit. The UAW believes that the best way to promote school attendance is through education policies and programs aimed at keeping youth in school. Denying vital income to this vulnerable group is not the right solution. Elimination of these survivor benefits for our most vulnerable teens would cost them $1.5 billion over 10 years.Action Needed!Please call your representative and senators and urge them to oppose Bush's proposals to cut Social Security survivor benefits for widows and teens. You can call your legislators toll-free at 1-888-355-3588.