2012 · 14 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesDemographySocial PolicyPoverty PolicySocial DemographySocial Determinants Of HealthIncome DistributionPovertySocial ProtectionSocial Security FinancingSocial Security PolicySocial Welfare PolicyChildren In PovertyOld-age Poverty PreventionPoverty Alleviation Through Social SecurityPoverty Impact AnalysisPoverty Reduction ImpactSocial Assistance BenefitsSocial Insurance BenefitsSocial Welfare Spending
Social Security benefits play a vital role in reducing poverty. Without Social Security, according to the latest available Census data (for 2008), 19.8 million more Americans would be poor. Although most of those kept out of poverty by Social Security are elderly, nearly a third are under age 65, including 1.1 million children. (See Table 1.) Depending on their design, reductions in Social Security benefits could significantly increase poverty, particularly among the elderly.