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Crist Proposal Cuts Taxes for Seniors, Bolsters Social Security

Charlie Crist | Gulfport | Politics

If passed, the bill would put Social Security on a firm financial footing until 2064 and allow benefits to be paid after that, according to a financial analysis by the Social Security Administration.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Save Social Security Act of 2017 would extend Social Security’s solvency by 30 years, keeping the program on firm financial footing through 2064, according to an analysis by the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, filed the bill in March, his first as a member of Congress. Crist asked the Social Security Administration for an assessment of the impact of his proposal. The findings, released Aug. 2, say that, by 2064, the legislation would also close 2/3 of the remaining gap allowing the program to still pay 90 percent of benefits. (Click here to read the chief actuary’s assessment.)

In addition, the Save Social Security Act eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits for those making less than $100,000 a year and ‘scraps the cap’ on income above $300,000 per year, a fairer way to extend the life of the program, Crist said.

“Social Security is a contract the federal government made with Americans 82 years ago next week – if you work hard and pay into the system, it will be there for you in your golden years,” Crist said. “I’m proud that our bill helps bolster Social Security benefits for the 170,000 seniors I’m honored to represent in Pinellas County, keeping the program strong for future generations.”

Key Features of the Save Social Security Act:

Tax Cut for Middle Class Seniors

  • Ends the double taxation of Social Security benefits for most seniors, by increasing the threshold below which Social Security benefits would not be taxed to $100,000 in annual income.
  • Currently, seniors in the lowest 25 percent of the income tax bracket don’t pay taxes on their earned Social Security benefits. This bill would also eliminate taxation for the middle 50 percent of the tax bracket, leaving in place taxation for only the top 25 percent of high income seniors.

‘Scrap the Cap’

  • Currently, every worker in the U.S. pays into Social Security on up to $127,200 in annual income. The Crist proposal would continue this payroll tax also for every dollar earned above $300,000 per year, scrapping this so-called “cap” benefiting wealthier Americans.
  • Scrapping the cap would extend the life of the Social Security Trust Fund, currently solvent only for the next 17 years, for another 30 years, keeping the program solvent through 2064.

Fiscal Responsibility

  • Scrapping the cap brings in more revenue than is spent on the tax cut.

Crist represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes mid- and south Pinellas County.

For information about Crist, go to crist.house.gov.

File photo by Anne Lindberg, TB Reporter.

Charlie Crist | Social Security | Save Social Security Act | Politics | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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