Here's where the presidential candidates stand

If you have paid attention to the 2020 presidential race, you have probably heard that many candidates are supporting Medicare.

Yet another subject – social security – has so far been largely absent from the debate.

Americans rely on Social Security benefits to earn a retirement income, if they are disabled and help take care of their spouse and dependents.

However, the reserves used to partially fund the program are expected to be exhausted by 2035, according to the latest projections from the Social Security Administration Board. At that point, the system will only be able to pay 80% of retirees' benefits if nothing has been done before.

Social security is a topic that should be addressed at the debate stage, said Nancy Altman, chairperson of Social Security Works Social Defense Group, as one in four Americans receives program support and polls show that many people are concerned by his future.

"It would be a real public service and help people decide who to vote for," Altman said.

Here is what we know so far about the position of the main presidential candidates on this issue. The listed Democrats were selected from among those ranked first in a national poll released by Quinnipiac University on July 2nd.

"As President Trump has repeatedly said, he's committed to protecting social security," said Kayleigh McEnany, national press secretary for Trump's 2020 campaign.

"On June 24, he reiterated this promise, highlighting the considerable time his administration spent on social security protection," said Mr. McEnany. "Meanwhile, Democrats should make painful cuts to social security and other aid programs to pay for their $ 93 trillion Green New Deal and health care care. health by the government. "

Congressional Democrats met last September to create the Expand Social Security Caucus, following Trump's statements that the party would "destroy your social security."

Proponents of social security expansion are contesting the program's $ 26 billion cuts proposed by the president in its 2020 budget.

However, at a press conference in March, CAMO Acting Director, Russell Vought, said the president was proposing to reform the "autopilot" programs while protecting seniors by not altering social security financing or health insurance.

The campaign of the former vice president has apparently not taken a public position on social security reform. However, in the past, Mr. Biden has raised ideas, particularly with regard to control of resources, raising the retirement age or capping income from the payroll tax. Currently, employers and employees each pay 6.2% on salaries up to $ 132,900.

Biden spoke about social security in a speech delivered in May 2018 on the middle class and the economy at the Brookings Institution.

"Paul Ryan was right when he developed the tax code, what was the first thing he decided to pursue? Social Security and Medicare," Biden said in his speech. "Now we need to do something about social security and Medicare, that's the only way to find a place to pay for that."

In that speech, Biden said that he did not know many people on the 1% who depend on Social Security in retirement.

He called for a "progressive tax code for growth" and the closing of loopholes such as strengthening the base of some assets. This would help generate income to "ensure that social security and health insurance can stay," he said.

Harris, a California senator, has teamed up with other senators earlier this year to introduce a bill to expand social security. The other presidential candidates who support this legislation are: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-V.), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Among the features of this legislation, called the Social Security Expansion Act, include expanding the solvency of the program until 2071, the increase in benefits and the l & # 39; Cost-of-living adjustment, the update of the special minimum benefit for low-income workers and the addition of student benefits for children up to 22 years of deceased or disabled workers.

"We need to expand social security and provide our seniors and other beneficiaries of this essential program with greater dignity and peace of mind," Harris said in a statement in February.

On June 29, Harris tweeted that as president, she would oppose any cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Sanders introduced the Social Security Expansion Act alongside Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) In February.

This bill benefits from the support of other Democratic presidential candidates, including La Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

The proposal provides for an increase in benefits of approximately $ 1,342 per year for seniors who earn less than $ 16,000 a year. In addition, all income over $ 250,000 would be subject to the Social Security Pay Tax.

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"It's time to extend Social Security, not cut it," Sanders said in a statement announcing the bill's introduction.

"At a time when more than half of Americans over the age of 55 have no savings for retirement, our job is to expand social security to ensure that everyone in this country can take advantage of their retirement. retirement with the dignity that he has acquired and that all people with disabilities can do. live with the security they need, "he said.

Sanders supports the same reforms in his presidential campaign platform.

Note that Sanders is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. As a senator from Vermont, he is not a member of any party.

As a Senator representing Massachusetts, Warren has spoken out in favor of protecting the funding of the Social Security Administration to allow its field offices to function and ensure that the agency is able to provide seniors with the resources they need.

"I think we should increase funding for the Social Security Administration so that you have the resources to make sure our seniors get the benefits they've earned," Warren told a social security officer at of a congressional hearing held in February 2018.

In 2016, Warren introduced a bill to provide social security recipients with a one-time payment of 3.9% of the average annual benefit to offset a zero cost of living adjustment that year. In 2015, it introduced a budget amendment aimed at extending social security by expanding its solvency and increasing its benefits.

In April, Warren tweeted about social security from his presidential campaign account. "We have to expand it, not make cuts," she said.