Whose Securit? What Social Security Means to Children and Families

Whose Security? What Social Security Means to Children and Families

Social Security is the single largest program that provides support to American children. It is also the primary, if not the only, source of life and disability insurance for many U.S. families, especially those headed by younger workers. The program is responsible for keeping many middle- and low-income children from falling into poverty when a parent dies or becomes disabled. This policy brief describes the role that Social Security plays in protecting America’s children and argues that the current debate ignores how privatization and benefit cuts will impact our most vulnerable population—children.