Means Test for Social Security

Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm’s proposal to turn Social Security into a welfare program (Editorial Pages, Sept. 4), “A Means Test for Social Security,” is clearly at odds with the views of the public on this issue.

In a national survey released last month by Yankelovich, Skelly and White, Inc., the clear majority of Americans over age 25 opposed any tampering with Social Security benefits either through reductions in cost-of-living adjustments or increased taxation of benefits. Nearly nine in 10 opposed any cuts in Social Security benefits as a means of reducting the federal budget deficit.

The American people understand--even if some politicians don’t--that Social Security isn’t the real cause of the federal deficit. They have made it clear in survey after survey that they don’t want Social Security used as a political football, to be kicked around every time the budget is debated.

Unfortunately, Lamm is misreading the consensus on this issue. He fails to understand that the public strongly supports Social Security precisely because it isn’t a means-tested welfare program. He also ignores the findings of countless experts who predict that Social Security will remain financially solvent well into the next century.

Finally, the fact is that only 10% of those receiving Social Security benefits have total incomes of $25,000 per year or more. At the same time, fully 70% of all beneficiaries have total incomes (including Social Security benefits) of less than $14,000 per year. That’s hardly a profile of affluence or undeserved benefits.

CYRIL F. BRICKFIELD

Washington

Brickfield is executive director of the American Assn. of Retired Persons.