Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Martin O’Malley cautioned against raising the retirement age for the program, stating that it would disproportionately impact blue-collar workers. This comes after the Republican Study Committee (RSC) proposed increasing the age of Social Security eligibility to account for increases in life expectancy. Democratic lawmakers criticized the RSC’s budget proposal, with Rep. Bill Pascrell expressing concern about forcing Americans to work until they “drop dead.”
O’Malley emphasized the importance of strengthening and expanding Social Security rather than cutting or contracting it during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing. He highlighted the challenges faced by individuals who engage in physically demanding work throughout their lives and may have a shorter life expectancy. The RSC’s proposal referenced President Biden’s past support for raising the retirement age and the need for action to prevent Social Security from becoming insolvent within a decade.
Additionally, O’Malley supported Biden’s push for guaranteed 12-week paid leave for lower-paid workers, pointing out the lack of such benefits in the U.S. compared to other developed economies. Biden’s proposed increase in SSA’s budget aims to address administrative struggles within the agency, such as staffing issues and a backlog in disability status applications. O’Malley urged Congress to pass Biden’s proposed investment into SSA, describing it as a positive step forward for the program.
