Today is Wider Opportunities for Women's (WOW) 2nd Annual Blog Day. This year's theme: America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours). Right now, the President and Congress are deciding how to balance America's budget. When making these decisions, out nation's leaders need to hear about what matters when it comes to the budgets of all Americans - young and old.
Visit the America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours) event page to find out how you can get involved in this day-long event and to read blogs from participating national and state organizations.
Below is a blog authored by Alisha Howell, Communications & Program Coordinator at WOW.
America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours) Event Page
My grandmother Leila passed away earlier this year at the age of 86. Over the past six years I saw her health deteriorate and her long-term care needs suck up her assets until her sole income was Social Security. After years of spending down her assets, she qualified for Medicaid which supplemented what Medicare A and B were unable to cover.
Now, imagine if there was no Social Security. After spending down her assets, what or who would my grandmother depend on for her foundation of financial support? Undoubtedly, my mother would decide to pay for all of my grandmother’s expenses, saving less for her own retirement and jeopardizing her economic security by falling into debt.
Social Security alone and supplemental supports were not enough for my grandmother to age in place, but did help to lower the cost to my mother, her caregiver. My mother’s budget would have been worse off without the dependable income of Social Security which provided my mother with enough financial relief to take care of her needs and that of her children and my grandmother.
This is just one example of the sacrifices and challenges each of us face to make ends meet and take care of our loved ones. The tight budgets of so many American families will be affected by the decisions made in Washington regarding our nation’s budget deficit. The nation’s deficit is certainly a heavy burden and important issue that must be addressed. But it bodes well for Congress to debate solutions to the deficit that will not tamper with the programs and services implemented to bring financial stability to those who need it the most. Social Security is not the cause of our nation’s deficit and cutting its benefits should not be the solution.
America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours) Event Page
Dear Uncle Sam, Will You Keep the Promise of Social Security?