From the Center for American Progress (http://www.americanprogress.org):
On February 18th, the last of the nation’s millionaire earners will stop contributing to Social Security for the entire year, even though 94% of Americans contribute all year long.
Why? Here’s the deal:
- Currently, America’s highest earners catch a break thanks to the payroll tax cap of $132,900. Rich Americans don’t have to pay Social Security payroll taxes on any dollar earned over $132,900.
- In contrast, 94% of American workers contribute the 12.4% payroll tax to Social Security all year long.
- As an increasing share of income goes to millionaire and billionaire earners, it means less funding goes to Social Security—because so much income is above the cap. As a result, Social Security’s trust funds have lost $1.4 trillion since 1983, the last time the program saw major changes.
- If Trump’s claims about his 2016 income are true, he stopped paying into Social Security that year just 40 minutes into January 1st.
Lifting the payroll tax cap would not only require the richest Americans to contribute their fair share, but would also allow Social Security benefits to be expanded at a time when many families struggle to save for retirement and pensions are increasingly a thing of the past.
That’s why Senate Democrats just introduced the Social Security Expansion Act, which would “subject any income above $250,000 to the existing 12.4% Social Security payroll tax.” The bill, which is also being introduced in the House, would also increase Social Security benefits, “with low-income seniors receiving a boost of nearly $1,300 a year.”
The American public overwhelmingly favors expansion of this vital program. Meanwhile, President Trump—who ran on a promise not to cut Social Security—has called for a whopping $72 billion in cuts to the program in his fiscal year 2019 budget.
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