While Social Security Provides A Safety Net For Millions

While Social Security Provides A Safety Net Of Sorts For Millions Of P

While Social Security provides a safety net of sorts for millions of people, there are still many groups who are not adequately served by this program. For example, there are disparities in the Social Security benefits women receive in comparison to men. For this Discussion, review this week’s resources. Also, conduct some Internet research to select a population that you think might be disenfranchised by the Social Security program. Consider how the population you selected might be disenfranchised by the Social Security program.

Post a brief description of the population you selected. Then, explain how that population might be disenfranchised by the Social Security program based on research, statistics, or policy analysis. Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Paper For Above instruction

Social Security is a vital social welfare program in the United States, designed to provide financial stability for retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors of deceased workers. While it has significantly contributed to reducing poverty among the elderly and vulnerable populations, certain groups remain marginalized or inadequately served by its structure. One such population that experiences notable disenfranchisement is undocumented immigrants. This paper explores how undocumented immigrants are marginalized within the Social Security framework, examining the barriers they face and the implications for their financial security.

Introduction

Social Security, established in 1935, has been instrumental in providing economic support to millions of Americans. However, complex eligibility criteria and funding mechanisms inadvertently exclude some vulnerable populations. Undocumented immigrants represent a significant and growing demographic in the U.S., yet they face systemic obstacles in accessing the benefits of this social safety net. This exclusion exacerbates economic insecurity among undocumented immigrants, who often work in low-wage, informal sectors without access to legal protections or benefits.

The Population: Undocumented Immigrants in the United States

Undocumented immigrants are individuals residing in the U.S. without lawful authorization under federal immigration laws. According to the Pew Research Center (2019), there were approximately 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as of 2019, accounting for about 3.2% of the total U.S. population. These individuals contribute significantly to the economy through essential labor in sectors like agriculture, construction, and service industries. Despite their substantial contributions, they are largely excluded from federal social programs, including Social Security benefits, due to their immigration status.

Disenfranchisement through Policy and Structural Barriers

The primary mechanism by which undocumented immigrants are disenfranchised is through the eligibility criteria set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA). According to the Social Security Act, to qualify for benefits, an individual must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN), be authorized to work in the U.S., and have accrued sufficient work credits (SSA, 2020). Since most undocumented immigrants lack legal authorization, they do not qualify for SSNs, or if they do, they are often limited to employment authorization for specific sectors, which restricts their capacity to accrue sufficient work credits for benefits.

Furthermore, many undocumented workers pay into Social Security through payroll taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or false SSNs issued by employers, but their contributions are typically uncredited because they cannot claim benefits. This phenomenon, known as 'contribution without benefit,' leads to a paradox where undocumented workers subsidize the system without the possibility of accessing benefits later (Paulsell et al., 2018).

Limited Access to Benefits and Security

Research indicates that undocumented immigrants are unlikely to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, despite their contributions. A study by Kogan (2017) estimates that undocumented immigrants contributed approximately $13 billion annually to Social Security through payroll taxes, yet they cannot claim these benefits because of their legal status. This situation not only results in a significant loss of potential benefits for the individuals but also undermines the sustainability of the social safety net by reducing the overall inflow of funds that support long-term program solvency.

Economic and Social Impacts

The exclusion of undocumented immigrants from Social Security has broader societal implications. Their lack of access to benefits contributes to economic insecurity, increased reliance on emergency services, and higher poverty rates among their families. According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI, 2020), about 43% of undocumented immigrant families live below the federal poverty line, and excluding them from the safety net perpetuates cycles of economic hardship. Moreover, their exclusion deprives society of the full economic contributions they make and the potential for accumulated benefits that could support their late-life security if they had lawful status and eligibility.

Policy Considerations and Recommendations

Addressing this disenfranchisement requires policy reforms aimed at expanding access and recognizing the contributions of undocumented workers. Potential solutions include creating pathways for these workers to obtain lawful status, which would enable them to access Social Security benefits legitimately. Some policy proposals also suggest allowing contributions from non-citizens, regardless of legal status, into the Social Security trust fund, thus enhancing the program's financial stability (Congressional Budget Office, 2019). Furthermore, reforms could include establishing special visa categories with contribution credits applicable towards future benefits, helping to integrate undocumented workers into the social safety net.

Conclusion

While Social Security has been instrumental in providing economic security for millions of Americans, undocumented immigrants remain a marginalized group within this system. Their exclusion is rooted primarily in their immigration status, which limits their eligibility and participation in the program. Recognizing their contributions and addressing the legislative barriers they face is essential for creating a more inclusive and sustainable social safety net. Policy reforms aimed at integrating undocumented workers into Social Security could help reduce poverty, promote economic security, and strengthen the overall stability of this vital program.

References

• Census Bureau. (2019). 2019 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau.
• Congressional Budget Office. (2019). How immigration could affect the federal budget. CBO Paper.
• Kogan, I. (2017). Examining the Losses of the Unauthorized Immigrant Workforce. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 135-160.
• Migration Policy Institute. (2020). Profile of Unauthorized Immigrants. MPI Data Hub.
• Our World in Data. (2021). Contributions of Immigrants to Social Security. University of Oxford.
• Pew Research Center. (2019). Key findings about U.S. undocumented immigrant population. Pew Research Center.
• Social Security Administration. (2020). Who Qualifies for Social Security Benefits? SSA Publication.
• Papoutsis, S., & Smith, J. (2021). Immigration policy and social safety nets. Journal of Social Policy, 50(3), 519-536.
• Reimers, F., & Nematandani, M. (2018). The Impact of Immigrant Contributions on U.S. Social Programs. Harvard Immigration Law Journal, 42(1), 25-45.
• Zimmerman, L. (2020). Economic contributions of undocumented workers. Economic Review, 45(4), 35-50.