To the Editor:

As Social Security celebrates its 75th birthday on Aug. 14, many older Floridians may not know that the government is suggesting changes to the program to reduce the federal operating budget deficit.

AARP Florida strongly opposes these suggested changes. While the deficit clearly needs to be reduced, it’s important to remember that Social Security hasn’t contributed a single penny to the federal deficit. Instead, AARP Florida believes any changes to Social Security should focus on keeping the program strong for current and future generations.

Financed by money that hard-working people contribute, Social Security is the one reliable source of income for older Americans and other beneficiaries.

Some 20 percent of Floridians over age 65 rely on the program for all of their income, while 40 percent of African-Americans in Florida depend on it for their entire income as well. It provides financial security to build upon, offers economic security for disabled workers and provides income to the spouses and children of deceased workers. In essence, its benefits keep millions of Americans out of poverty.

Today, Social Security is financially strong and is in no immediate danger of going broke. In fact, over the years, it has built up a surplus of $2.5 trillion. Even without changes, it could pay full benefits until 2037 and nearly three-quarters of promised benefits for decades beyond.

Social Security needs changes to continue to pay the benefits that have been

promised to current and future generations.

The changes do not have to be drastic, but the sooner we act, the better. Any changes should be designed to help Americans prepare for a secure retirement. Companies can go bankrupt, pensions can be terminated and the stock market can crash. But Social Security

benefits are a constant.

Cutting them or privatizing the program is not the answer. Americans cannot afford the social insecurity that will come from risky proposals that put everyone’s retirement plans in jeopardy. If the government wants to restore confidence in our nation’s budget picture, they should deal with what has actually caused the deficit.

Doug Heinlen

AARP’s Florida state president