Human Rights Campaign

Human Rights Campaign
WORKING FOR LESBIAN AND GAY EQUAL RIGHTS.
919 18th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20006
phone (202) 628 4160
fax (202) 347 5323
e-mail hrc@hrc.org

STATEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

The Social Security system is projected to be in deficit early in the next century unless changes are made to the program which will accommodate the influx of retirees from the baby boom generation. Maintaining current payroll tax levels and current benefit levels will lead to insolvency, although when that insolvency will occur depends on the growth rate of the economy. The pending crisis has led to various proposals to reform the Social Security system, including changing the program to a fully funded system whereby current beneficiaries are paid from their past savings. Another proposal would change the system from a defined benefits program to a defined contribution program, much like a 401(k) plan. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian political organization, has not yet taken an official position on such systemic changes to the Social Security program.
However, as an organization representing the interests of gay and lesbian people and many people living with HIV and AIDS, we do support policy changes that should be considered in any overall reform of the Social Security system. A national dialogue on Social Security reform should address the definition of "survivor" when a beneficiary dies. The discussion should also address the loss of health care benefits which occurs when a recipient of social security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) returns to work. The Human Rights Campaign's work to achieve equal treatment under the law for lesbian and gay people includes support for same-sex marriage. While this country's understanding of gay and lesbian family issues has grown over the years, the public, for now, seems not yet ready to define same-sex unions as marriage. However, public opinion polls clearly show growing support for granting gay and lesbian people the benefits of marriage that heterosexual couples enjoy. In 1996, for example, 46% of voters favored granting social security benefits to gay and lesbian partners [1]. In 1998, that figure jumped to 57% [2]. We would hope that a discussion of Social Security reform would consider expanding the definition of "survivor" to encompass non-traditional relationships.
People with HIV disease, as their illness progresses, often become disabled and can not work. Therefore, many such people come to rely on public assistance in the form of SSI and SSDI payments. Recently, new treatments have led to dramatic improvements in the health of many (although certainly not all) people living with HIV. In theory, those who are feeling healthy once again should be able to return to the work force and end their reliance on public assistance.
However, many people with HIV can not take advantage of their restored health because by returning to work they risk losing the Medicaid and Medicare coverage they gained through their eligibility for cash assistance. If they lose comprehensive insurance coverage, they lose access to the life saving therapies that keep them healthy in the first place. Social Security reform should address this catch-22 for people with HIV disease and other disabling conditions. As people living with disabilities get off public assistance, they should be able to continue receiving Medicaid and Medicare benefits including prescription drugs and personal assistance services (PAS). In addition to helping people become contributing members of society, such reform would save money. If only 75,000 (I%) of the 7.5 million Americans with disabilities became successfully employed, savings in cash assistance would total $3.5 billion over the work life of the individuals.
While these issues may not be central to the larger issue of keeping the Social Security system solvent, they are important issues to keep in mind as we engage in a broad discussion of reform. The Social Security system has meant longer and more healthy lives for millions of Americans. As we enter the next century, we hope not only to keep the system working, but to make the system better and more accessible to more people.
The Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. HRC effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.

1 Lake Research, Inc. September 1996
2 Lake Snell Perry and Associates and American Viewpoint, November 1998