Social Security
Social Security plays a more significant role in the overall income of rural counties than it does in non-rural counties in nearly every state. As such, schemes to privatize Social Security or cut benefits would have a disproportionate impact on rural America. The statistics are sobering:
Over 90 percent of counties in America with high senior populations are rural.
13 percent of rural seniors live in poverty, compared with 9 percent of metropolitan seniors.
15 percent of rural women over aged 60 are poor compared to 11 percent of men.
80 percent of rural seniors over aged 85 with incomes of less than $10,000 are women.
Social Security is crucial to the economic independence of seniors who have worked hard and paid taxes all of their life based on the promise that their investment will ensure security in their final years.
Work in rural communities is more physically demanding and dangerous, making Social Security’s disability insurance protections vital. More than 20 percent of those in rural areas have a disability.
Social Security income in rural communities is important to seniors, to disabled workers and their families, and to Main Street businesses and local governments. We need policies that will strengthen and protect Social Security.