It Is Never Too Early to Learn About Social Security and Its Future

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Social Security is the nation’s most successful anti-poverty program and it remains a fundamental pillar of the American economy—one that is critical to the long-term economic security of today’s young people. The new edition of A Young Person’s Guide to Social Security, released today by the Economic Policy Institute and the National Academy of Social Insurance, gives young adults the information they need to participate in debates about Social Security’s future. The 60-page guide is written by young authors for students and young workers and explains why Social Security is not in grave danger as oft-reported.

The release coincides with tomorrow’s seminar for Washington interns, “Demystifying Social Security,” sponsored by NASI. Authors Kathryn Anne Edwards and Alexander Hertel-Fernandez will speak at the day-long seminar and will be available Wednesday, July 11, for press interviews in person, on the phone or in a studio.

“Social Security is the best deal most young people don’t even know they have,” said Edwards. It is insurance that is not only effective and important, but irreplaceable. Young people need to get the message that it’s not somebody else’s security, it’s your security. It’s not your grandparents’ program, or your parents’ program, it’s your program. And it’s yours to lose.”

The new edition reflects the latest official estimates for Social Security in the 2012 Social Security Trustees’ report. The printed edition is free and available through NASI. E-mail your request to nasi@nasi.org. The publication is also available online in a downloadable format through EPI or NASI.