Social Security Solvency
Special | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Kyle Dyer with Alton Dillard, Erin Maruzzella, Paul Teske, Melanie Kesner, & Chris deGruy Kennedy.
A few times a year Colorado Inisde Out goes "On The Road" to host a unique conversation with a live audience. On this special edition of CIO we do a deep dive into Social Security and it's solvency. There are challenges and opportunities to come and our expert panelists talk about the landscape for both those who are currently depending on Social Security as well as those who will in the future.
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Colorado Inside Out is a local public television program presented by PBS12
Social Security Solvency
Special | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
A few times a year Colorado Inisde Out goes "On The Road" to host a unique conversation with a live audience. On this special edition of CIO we do a deep dive into Social Security and it's solvency. There are challenges and opportunities to come and our expert panelists talk about the landscape for both those who are currently depending on Social Security as well as those who will in the future.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Read INSIDE CIO THIS WEEK, a blog offering the latest highlights, insights, analysis, and panelist exchanges from PBS12’s flagship public affairs program.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF COLORADO INSIDE OUT.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON A TOPIC THAT RAISES ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AS WELL ABOUT AURORA FUTURES AND THAT IS SOCIAL SECURITY.
68 MILLION AMERICANS WILL RECEIVE A SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT EVERY MONTH THAT INCLUDES OLDER AMERICANS AND ALSO MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT RINGS UP TO $1.5 TRILLION IN BENEFITS BEING PAID OFF DURING THE YEAR.
SOCIAL SECURITY PAYS MORE EACH YEAR THAN IT COLLECTS IN REVENUE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR AMERICANS CURRENTLY AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS?
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
WE HAVE AS OUR INSIDERS A FAMILIAR FACE ALTON DILLARD A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF AARP COLORADO.
AARON MARIZELA.
NEXT TO AARON IS PAUL TESKY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
AND DIRECTOR OF YOUNG INVESTABLES.
ROUNDING OUR GROUP IS OFFICER AT BELL POLICY CENTER.
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE AMERICANS TURNING 65 EVERY DAY.
OTHERS THINK I NEED TO WORK LONGER.
A PERCENTAGE OF OUR PAYCHECKS IS TAKEN OUT SO WHEN WE RETIRE THERE WILL BE A MONTHLY CHECK OR SOME KIND OF STIPEND AS WE AGE.
THIS IS MONEY THAT WE ALL HAVE EARNED, RIGHT?
THE TRUST FUNDS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ARE PAID ARE PROJECTED TO RUN SHORT OF MONEY IN 2035.
ONE YEAR LATER ESTIMATED LAST YEAR.
IT IS CONCERNING.
YOU DO LOOK AT POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GOING TO COMPLETELY BROKE IN 2035?
>> EXACTLY.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS AS YOU SAID SOCIAL SECURITY REDUCED POVERTY AMONG OTHER GENERATIONS.
THE BAD NEWS, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE RETIRING AND FEWER WORKERS.
THE PROGRAM'S FINANCES ARE CHALLENGED.
WE WILL NOT RUN OUT OF MONEY AS SOME PEOPLE SORT OF THING BUT HAVE TO REDUCE BENEFITS IF WE DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
IN 2035ISH ABOUT 75% OR 80% OF THE BENEFITS WILL STILL BE AFFORDABLE AND PAYABLE.
PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO LOSE 20-25% IF NOTHING IS DONE BETWEEN THEN.
THE OTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS THAT I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT DO IT SOON.
THERE WAS A SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE EARLY 1980s.
WE SET UP THE GREEN SPAN.
IT CREATED THE TRUST FUND.
IT MADE SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR 50 YEARS.
>> I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 13.
I LIKE THE USE OF THE TERM BENEFITS SINCE ENTITLEMENT HAS A WEIRD VIBE IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.
I'M GOING TO BE OPTIMISTIC.
WE ARE USING THE WORDS CONGRESS AND DO SOMETHING IN THE SAME SENTENCE.
THE LAST THING THAT CONGRESS HAS EVEN PASSED.
THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PUTS US IN THAT SITUATION WE CAUGHT UP IN PLAYING POLITICAL CHECKERS AND PLAYING CHESS AND NOT HOLDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SIMPLY DO THEIR JOBS.
AS A FRESHLY OLDER AMERICAN.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE KEEP RAISING OUR VOICES AND MAKING SURE ONCE PEOPLE SORT THROUGH THE POLITICS, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
>> I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE SOCIAL ECOSYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT WAS FIRST ENACTED.
WE DIDN'T HAVE WORKPLACE PENSIONS WHEN SOCIAL SECURITY WAS INITIALLY ENACTED IN THE 30s.
PEOPLE WEREN'T SAVING FOR RETIREMENT.
THEY WERE IN GENERATIONAL FAMILIES.
WORK WAS ON THEIR FARMS.
YOUNGER GENERATIONS MOVED TO THE CITIES AND IT SPLIT THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN I THINK OF THE THREE LEG OF THE STOOL THAT WOULD KEEP OLDER ADULTS AFTER PEOPLE CHOOSE TO RETIRE IT IS NOT SOCIAL SECURITY.
IT IS ALL SORT OF PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT COME TOGETHER THAT MAKES SURE WE CAN HAVE AGENCY.
>> SAVING OURSELVES AND WITH HOPEFULLY WITH A BUSINESS A 401(k) OR SOME KIND OF RETIRE PROGRAM.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
>> I WILL SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THIS.
DO WE CUT BENEFITS OR INCREASE THE REVENUE INTO THE PROGRAM?
IT IS WORTH REMEMBERING THE AVERAGE ANNUAL BENEFITS OF $22,000.
IT IS STILL IN THE BOTTOM THIRD OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
WE NEED TO BE INCREASING REVENUE RATHER THAN CUTTING BENEFITS.
IT IS NOT A CHALLENGE THAT SOME MIGHT SUGGEST.
WE ARE TALKING 1.2% OF GDP OVER THE NEXT 75 YEARS.
PEOPLE'S PAY IN SOCIAL SECURITY IS $168,000 OF INCOME.
THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE UNDER THAT THRESHOLD MORE OF PEOPLE'S EARNED DOLLARS.
IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS INCREASE THE INCOME THRESHOLD AND HAVE PEOPLE PAY MORE INTO SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN THEY HAVE HIGHER AND HIGHER INCOMES.
>> YOU HAVE FOUND WITH YOUR GROUP YOU ADVOCATE FOR 18-34 YEARS OLD.
THEY SEE SOMETHING THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF.
>> CONDUCTED A PILOT SURVEY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AARP.
THIS SURVEY OUR RESULTS SHOW FOUR OUT OF FIVE ADULTS ARE EXPECTING TO RETIRE AND HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY BE PART OF THAT RETIREMENT PLAN.
92% OF THOSE YOUNG ADULTS WERE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY COULD HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
SO WE SEE SOCIAL SECURITY AS AN ISSUE NOT JUST FOR OLDER FOLKS BUT OUR GENERATION, OUR EARNINGS ARE GOING TOWARDS SOCIAL SECURITY.
WE ALL WANT TO KNOW THAT IS GOING TO BE THERE WHEN WE RETIRE.
WE SEE THIS ISSUE AS SOMETHING THAT YOUNG FOLKS AND OLDER GENERATIONS SHOULD COME TOGETHER NOW TO ADDRESS SO THAT IT IS THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MY GENERATION, GENERATION Z AS WELL.
>> AND IN DISCUSSIONING THE COALITION SHE MENTIONS ALSO THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING.
AND SEE ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS SOMEHOW VOTING THE ACT ITSELF HAS BECOME POLITICAL WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
THERE IS VOTING AND THERE IS POLITICS.
I HAVE SEEN A FENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE 65 AND UPS ARE THE ONES EARLIEST VOTERS, THE MOST FREQUENT VOTERS.
HERING ABOUT MULTI GENERATION COALITION IS HEARTING.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM DRIVING TO THE POLLS, WE HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT IMPACTING YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT INCLUDES SOCIAL SECURITY.
THAT IT INCLUDES FRAMING AROUND ISSUES.
I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T SEEING THEMSELVES IN THE POLITICAL DEBATES THEY ARE NOT SEEING THEMSELVES IN THE PLATFORMS OF THE CANDIDATES.
USING SOCIAL SECURITY AS AN EXAMPLE.
IF WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AS AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPACTING GENERATIONS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THERE IS WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT TO LEGISLATORS AND ASKING THEM TO TAKE ACTION.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD DRIVE YOUNG ADULTS TO POLLS.
IT NEEDS TO BE FRAMED AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE IN A WAY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE NOW THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED.
>> WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE US TO HELP MAKE IT SOLVENT.
>> IMPACT PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.
WHEN YOU ASK WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW, WE NEED BETTER WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS IN LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS OLDER ADULTS TO WORK.
INFLUENCE POLICIES FOR RISK SCALING AND UPSCALING WORKERS IN COLORADO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WORKFORCE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOUSING AND YOUNG ADULTS.
IT IS NOT YOUNG VERSUS OLD.
IT IS ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING.
>> OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE TABLE IS RAISE RETIREMENT AGE.
WHICH IS KIND OF INKWETABLE.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DESK JOBS LIKE ME IT IS NOT SO HARD ON YOUR BODY.
IF YOU ARE CARRYING PACKAGES YOUR BODY IS WORN DOWN.
IT IS TOUGH TO KEEP THAT RETIREMENT AGE.
I THINK CONSERVATIVES MIGHT PREFER THAT.
THERE IS A REASON SOCIAL SECURITY HAS BECOMED THE THIRD RAIL OF AMERICAN POLITICS.
PEOPLE WANT THEIR BENEFITS.
MY GUESS IS IN THE TEN YEARS WE HAVE TO FIX IT WE WON'T DO IT QUICKLY WHICH WOULD BE BETTER.
BUT BECAUSE OF POLITICS WE WILL DO IT AT THE LAST MINUTE BUT I DON'T THINK WE WILL CUT BENEFITS.
OLDER FOLKS VOTE.
>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.
SOCIAL SECURITY IS A POPULAR PROGRAM.
I WILL SAY WHILE THOSE IDEAS RAISING RETIREMENT AGE OR REDUCING BENEFITS I DON'T SEE THEM NECESSARY AS SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
AS WE HAVE SEEN GROWING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.
IT IS NOT GETTING IN TO SUPPORT THESE SYSTEMS.
PEOPLE THROW OUT THERE IS MISMANAGEMENT OR INEFFICIENT.
SOCIAL SECURITY IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL RUNNED SUFFICIENT PROGRAMS.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING MORE LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATURE WE ARE PASSING BILLS EVERY YEAR, TAKING ACTION EVERY YEAR.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE BIG SOLUTION.
OFTEN YOU MAKE PROGRESS WAS YEAR AND COME BACK THE NEXT YEAR.
I WISH D.C. WOULD OPERATE MORE LIKE THAT.
YOU SEE THESE BURST OF ACTIVITY THEY GET SOME BIG THINGS DONE IN CONGRESS.
WE SAW BIG THINGS DONE IN 2021.
MAYBE THIS HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
>> I WOULD GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE PEOPLE IN COLORADO THAT WORK HERE IN COLORADO.
THEY ARE RECOGNIZED PEOPLE OF GETTING THINGS DONE.
THEY HAD A BILL PASSED IN THE COLORADO LEGISLATURE AND TO TAKE BIRTH DATES AND GRADUATION YEARS OFF OF YOUR RESUME FOR INCREASED EQUALITY IN THE WORKFORCE DEPENDING FOR AGE TO REDUCE AGEISM IN HIRING POLICIES.
THAT HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR.
I'M PROUD OF THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO GET THAT KIND OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS INCREDIBLE.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST SESSION IN JANUARY YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR A WHILE.
THINGS HAVE HAPPENED LOCALLY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SAVINGS PLAN WHILE YOU ARE WORKING.
A FAIR AMOUNT OF COLORADOANS DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF PLAN.
THERE WAS A SAVINGS PLAN THAT THE STATE DID ISSUE FIVE YEARS AGO.
>> YES.
IN THE 2020 SESSION WE PASSED THE SECURE SAVINGS PLAN IN COLORADO.
THEY WERE ALSO PART OF THE COALITION TO HELP PASS IT.
I GET TO VOTE ON IT ON A LEGISLATOR.
THEY LED THE POLICY AT THAT TIME.
IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
WE HAD EIGHT IN TEN COLORADOANS EMPLOYED BY SMALL BUSINESSES.
NINE OUT OF TEN THOSE WORKING IN AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES NOT HAVING EMPLOYER SPONSOR HEALTH CARE.
SINCE THAT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2020 WE HAVE HAD 50,000 COLORADO SIGN UP FOR THE SECURE SAVINGS PLAN.
THEY ARE PAYING THEIR OWN MONEY INTO INTO FUNDS INTO AN ACCOUNT THAT WILL PAY BACK LIKE A TRADITIONAL IRA WHEN THEY RETIRE.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOLKS ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE HAD A 45% INCREASE EM EMPLOYERS OFFICERING THEIR PLAN.
>> THERE IS THAT EQUITY LENS.
JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DOESN'T WORK BEHIND A DESK THAT SHOULD NOT DISQUALIFY THEM FROM HAVING THAT BENEFIT.
THERE IS A SIMILAR EFFORT GOING FEDERALLY.
WE WILL SEE WHAT THE CHANCES WILL BE.
PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD HAVE THE RIGHT TO THAT BENEFIT.
THAT'S WHY I SAID OFF THE TOP I WILL CALL IT A BENEFIT AND NOT AN ENTITLEMENT.
>> ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS AROUND ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL SECURITY, IT CAN'T BE JUST YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO START SAVING MORE.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY.
LIKE PUTTING THE BURDEN, PUTTING THE BURDEN ON YOUNG PEOPLE IT IS NOT EQUITABLE.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAVING BECAUSE THEY CAN OR THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T.
WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT DON'T RELY ON YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAVE.
THE COLORADO SECURE SAVINGS PLAN IS ABSOLUTELY AN ESSENTIAL BILL THAT WE PASS.
BUT I THINK TO WHAT CHRIS SPOKE EARLIER WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE APPROACHES AND MULTIPLE FIXES.
WE CAN'T RELYING ON ONE FIX TO ADDRESS THIS MASSIVE ISSUE.
>> IF I CAN JUMP QUICK ON THAT ALSO.
TIMES CHANGE AND THE ECONOMY CHANGES.
I WAS ABLE TO FULLY LAUNCH MAKING $17,000 A YEAR.
NOW PEOPLE HAVE KIDS AT HOME 26, 28, 30, 32 WHO ARE UNABLE TO LAUNCH THEY CAN'T SCRAPE UP 2500 BUCKS A MONTH.
THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT.
>> THE NUMBERS 940,000 WORKERS IN OUR STATE WHO DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS.
40% OF OUR COLORADO WORKFORCE.
THIS WILL HELP.
YOU DO A LOT OF WORK WITH GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE COMMUNITIES AGE FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE.
>> YES.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND ISOLATION.
IT IS ABOUT A NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE AND SUPPORTS PEOPLE INDEPENDENCE AND AGENCY TO AGE IN THEIR OWN HOME AND THEIR OWN HOME.
THE AARP HAS AGE FRIENDLY STATES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT WAS OVER 800 COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAD COMMITTED TO HAVE AGE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GROW UP AND GROW OLDER WITH A QUALITY OF LIFE.
OUR AGE FRIENDLY PLAN IS CALLED LIFELONG COLORADO.
WE ARE WORKING OWN BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES.
MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT GOOD FEELINGS BUT IT IS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WHEN WE ARE ALL DOING WELL.
>> THE COST OF CARE AND ELDER CARE AND GOOD CARE IS HIGH.
TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT RESOURCES.
IT IS HARD TO HELP NAVIGATE.
>> IT IS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF SENIOR NAVIGATORS.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVE HELPING OLDER ADULTS.
HAVING A PROFESSIONAL COME OVER AND SAY, THAT LOOSE RUG IS A TRIP HAZARD.
JUST THING LIKES LIKE THAT.
BUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO DO PROACTIVELY DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED IT.
LIKE WE ARE TALKING WITH THE OVER UPCOMING DECADE.
LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL THINGS GET TIGHT.
YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR OWN AGEING PROCESS.
>> BECAUSE THE COST OF CARE WILL ONLY GO UP.
YOU LOOK A LOT INTO THAT.
THE CARE INDUSTRY.
>> INDEED.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PLACE WHERE THE COST OF CARE IS ON AVERAGE $7,000 A MONTH.
THIS IS FOR HOME CARE.
LET ALONE BEING IN A SKILLED FACILITY.
THESE ARE HIGH COST.
WE ARE NOT PAYING THEM NEARLY ENOUGH.
WE WILL BE SHORT MORE THAN 100 CARE WORKERS.
THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY WORK.
THE HOUSING COST IN COLORADO HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC.
IF YOU ARE GETTING PAID $15 AN HOUR YOU CAN'T LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WORK.
WE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH CARE WORKERS.
THE MORE YOU HAVE THE LESS LIKELY PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IF YOU MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN WORKERS YOU AVOID THE TON OF THE LONGER TERM COSTS.
>> IN AUGUST 7TH A TAX CREDIT FOR CARE WORKERS TOOK PLACE WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH TO CARE FOR OUR OLDER LOVED ONES?
>> EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
PUTTING IN PLACE A $1,200 CREDIT FOR CARE WORKERS.
THAT APPLIES TO CHILD CARE WORKERS.
WE BELIEVE IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT IS ONE STEP THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.
>> ON BOTH ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH ISSUE.
WE HAVE FIGHTS AGAINST IMMIGRATION.
TOUGH BATTLES THERE.
HAVING MORE IMMIGRATES AND PAY SOCIAL SECURITY IS A BENEFIT FOR THE COUNTRY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET INTO THE CONVERSATION AND COULD HELP.
>> I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE TO BRING INTO THIS CONVERSATION.
WE ARE THE SANDWICH GENERATION.
WE ARE RAISING CHILDREN AND STARTING TO CARE FOR OUR OLDER PARENTS.
I THINK IT IS AN ENTRY WAY TO GET YOUNG ADULTS INTERESTED WHETHER THIS WILL BE THERE FOR THEM OR NOT.
>> IT IS CAREGIVERS OF ALL AGES TOO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE CARING FOR THEIR PARENTS WHO ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UNPAID CAREGIVERS.
IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU ARE PUTTING IN THOSE HOURS AND NOT PAYING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY THEN YOU ARE NOT RECOUP SOCIAL SECURITY DOWN THE ROAD.
ARE YOU ABLE TO PAY INTO A SYSTEM THAT WILL PAID YOU THE BENEFIT LATER IN LIFE.
IT IS TIED IN THE WAY WE ARE CARING FOR WORKERS AND CAREGIVERS.
>> WE TALK ABOUT THE HIGH AND THE LOW OF THE WEEK.
I WANT TO DO WITH YOU ALL.
LET'S END WITH AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE.
PLEASE SHARE ONE THING YOU HOPE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
THE CHANGE THAT YOU THINK IS REACHABLE.
THAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN AS WE REACH IN HOW MANY YEARS SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENCY.
WHAT IS YOUR HOPE?
>> I'M EXCITED THAT THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO ME IS RUNNING THIS GREAT PROGRAM WITH YOUNG INVINCIBLES.
IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.
>> I'M EXCITED BY THE SURVEY THAT WE DID.
I THINK SEEING THE MAJORITY OF YOUNG ADULTS ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT, WILLING TO LEARN ABOUT IT.
EXCITED ABOUT PUSHING THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SO SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT.
WORKING TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER YOUNG ADULTS.
>> EDUCATING ALL OF US AND THE AUDIENCE IS SO IMPORTANT.
>> STATE LEGISLATURE GIVES ME HOPE.
CONGRESS TAKES ACTION FROM TIME TO TIME.
USUALLY NOT WHEN THE PROBLEM -- YOU HAVE ADVANCE NOTICE THEY GET THERE.
STATE LEGISLATURES THEY ARE DOING THIS WORK YEAR AROUND.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE IN THE RED STATE OR BLUE STATE.
THEY ARE NOT ALMS GLAMOUROUS.
THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS INTERESTING FOR THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT.
STATE LEGISLATURES ARE WORKING ON THIS STUFF AND THINKING ON THESE PROBLEMS EVERY DAY.
>> TYING ALL THE POINTS HERE.
IT GOES BACK TO I'M FEELING POSITIVITY NOT ONLY IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BUT CIVIC EDUCATION.
EVEN THOUGH THINGS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY ARE NOT A MUNICIPAL ISSUE.
GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHICH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS TASKS WITH GETTING TO WHICH AND.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, TALKING TO WHO WILL FIX YOUR POTHOLES AND REPLACE THE STOP SIGN.
IF YOU GET INTO THAT MENTALITY BUT THEN YOU RAISE IT THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU GOT AN ENGAGED CITIZENRY.
>> WORKING ON CHANGING AGEISM.
FROM POLITICS TO CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN FRIENDS.
THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL IN CHANGING THE LENS AND THE CONVERSATIONS.
I FEEL HOPEFUL EVEN YOUNGER GENERATIONS NOW ARE TALKING ABOUT AGEISM.
IT IS NOT JUST OLDER ADULTS.
IT IS YOUNGER DULLS -- ADULTS AS WELL.
THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
WE ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF BEING OLDER.
THE BENEFITS OF KEEPING OLDER ADULTS CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> DO WE WRITE TO OUR LAWMAKERS?
DO WE CALL?
DO WE LISTEN?
HOW DO WE GET THEM ENGAGED?
>> I SAY JUST SHOW UP.
WE READ THE EMAILS AND RESPONSIBLE THE PHONE CALLS.
WHEN WE ARE IN SESSION JANUARY THROUGH MAY YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATIONS TO ANY LAWMAKERS.
>> JUST WALK RIGHT IN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SHARE YOUR STORIES.
TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STORY YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AN EXPERT IN THE FACTS IN THE STATISTICS.
YOU ARE THE EXPERT IN YOUR STORY.
SHOWING UP AND USING YOUR VOICE AND SHARING YOUR STORY IS WHAT MAKES THAT DIFFERENCE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR JOINING US AND BEING SO ENGAGED.
THANKS TO YOU FOR WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND HOW THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME OR LISTENING TO OUR PODCAST AND MANY THANKS TO AARP COLORADO FOR PARTNERING WITH US.
I'M KYLE DYER, I WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON PBS12.
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