Noël Bonam is the state director of AARP Maine.

On Aug. 22, Gov. Janet Mills signed a special Social Security proclamation at the Maine State House, recognizing the program’s vital role in providing economic security to nearly 370,000 Mainers. This event reminds us not only to honor Social Security’s legacy, but to recommit ourselves to protecting its future.

Since 1935, Social Security has helped provide economic security to millions of Americans. It was created when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act during the Great Depression. Over the years, it has grown to help disabled workers and families as well. Today, more than 67 million Americans, including more than one in four Mainers, depend on Social Security, and it is a promise we need to keep for future generations.

Social Security is more than just a retirement program. It supports people with disabilities, families who have lost loved ones and even children, 20,000 of them in Maine alone. It lifts hundreds of thousands out of poverty and allows older Mainers to age with dignity and security.

In our state:
• 274,680 Mainers receive retirement benefits.
• 48,170 are disabled workers.
• 25,697 are spousal or survivor beneficiaries.
• 20,674 are children.

Altogether, these payments inject $7.2 billion into Maine’s economy every year, strengthening local businesses, communities and families alike.

The average monthly payment for a retired Mainer is $1,816, or just over $21,000 per year. For a disabled worker, it’s $1,451 monthly. These benefits are not lavish, but they are often the difference between living in poverty and not. In fact, thanks to Social Security, roughly 102,000
older Mainers are lifted out of poverty. Without it, nearly 40% of those 65 and older in Maine would be living below the poverty line. Because of Social Security, that number drops to just over 8%.

Social Security is not “going broke.” It is a pay-as-you-go system, funded by payroll taxes. As long as people are working, benefits will be paid. However, the trust fund surplus that helps cover future obligations is projected to run out in 2035. If Congress fails to act, benefits could be
cut by up to 20%.

Another challenge we must address is the declining quality of customer service at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Long waiting times, limited office staffing and difficulties reaching SSA by phone have made it harder for Mainers to get the help they need. This is especially alarming as 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, and demand for services continues to grow.

The SSA must recommend providing timely, transparent and accessible service. And Congress must ensure that the agency has the resources it needs to do its job effectively, and the oversight to guarantee that it does.

Social Security is one of the most successful programs in our nation’s history. We owe it to those who came before us, and those who will come after us, to make sure this essential lifeline remains strong, sustainable and responsive to the needs of all Americans.

At AARP, we have worked with every administration and Congress, regardless of party, to protect and strengthen Social Security. As we mark this 90th anniversary, we are not just looking back in celebration. We are looking forward to it with determination.

Let’s come together to ensure Social Security remains a bedrock of security and dignity, not just for another 90 years, but for every generation to come.