Building an economy that works. For everyone.
Social Security is only one strong leg to stand on
Social Security has reliably delivered benefits to millions of people for over 50 years, and can continue to do so for generations to come. It is one strong leg of the retirement 'stool' upon which Americans rely.
The other 'legs' are workplace-based retirement plans and personal savings. Today, almost 50% of all working Americans are not covered by a retirement plan at work. This is especially true for employees of small- and medium- sized businesses, because there are few low-cost, well-managed, scalable and portable retirement plans are available on the market.
To bridge that gap, EOI is working with agencies and organizations here in Washington and across the country to create safe, portable retirement options for today's workers, called Retirement Security Accounts.
Featured Publications
Keeping Social Security Strong: Four steps we can take to preserve America's promise for every generation
The
Great Recession would have been far more devastating without the
steady flow of Social Security dollars into every community, supporting
families and main street businesses. With traditional pensions in
sharp decline, job security evaporating, and savings and home values
fluctuating wildly, Social Security is now more
important than ever to the American people.
Straight Facts on Social Security
11.20.2011
| Social Security is the bedrock of economic security for millions
of children, as well as working and retired Americans. The Social
Security system currently operates at a surplus, and with a few
minor tweaks, will continue to do so now and far into the future.
But we can improve on Social Security's winning formula.
Social Security 101: A Presentation (.psd)
11.20.2010
| Social Security is the bedrock of economic security for millions
of children, as well as working and retired Americans. The Social
Security system currently operates at a surplus, and with a few
minor tweaks, will continue to do so now and far into the future.
But we can improve on Social Security's winning formula.
Rebuilding the Foundation: Three steps toward a secure, dignified retirement for all
07.18.2011
| A secure and dignified retirement is one of the hallmarks of America’s
middle class. Today, few Americans can afford to save for retirement
on their own. This brief proposes three steps to ensure retirement
security for every American.
Public Pensions in Washington State
05.03.2011
| In the United States, an employer-provided retirement plan has
long been considered an essential complement to Social Security
and personal savings. But public pensions have increasingly come
under attack as private sector employers have scaled back their
pension offerings to all but the most highly compensated employees,
and public budgets have been decimated by a deep recession and anti-tax
ideology.
Restoring America’s Middle Class Starts with Keeping Social Security’s Promise
01.10.2011
| Social Security is one of the great achievements of American democracy,
and it is more important now than ever. Instead of looking for ways
to cut Social Security, elected leaders should be looking for ways
to strengthen the program and increase benefits. Strategies for
doing so are detailed in this brief.
Choose a policy focus
Policy Success
With
our partners, EOI delved into the data, starting a statewide campaign
to educate Washington citizens about the dangers of Social Security
privatization.
Policy Impact
John Balkenhol's pension disappeared just when he needed it most.
Retirement Security: News and Opinion
More retirement security news and opinion »
Staff Contact
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thanks to Matthew James Taylor.