A list of US states where seniors are most vulnerable to social security cuts
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Top 10 States Where Seniors Rely Most on Social Security
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Recent attacks on the Social Security Administration (SSA) by tech billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE team and certain members of the Trump administration are threatening the stability of this vital agency. These actions put at risk the financial security of millions of retired, disabled, and low-income Americans, while also disrupting the state and local economies that rely heavily on this income.Social Security's 'Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance' (OASDI) benefits represent about 5% of the nation's GDP, but they make up nearly 10% of the income that U.S. consumers can actually spend—unlike non-cash benefits or income allocated to businesses, governments, and nonprofits, which are also factored into GDP.Seniors in states such as Vermont, Oregon, and New Hampshire are among the most vulnerable to potential cuts in Social Security benefits, according to a new report from Retirement Living, reports Newsweek. The analysis highlights the states where retirees are most dependent on Social Security for basic living expenses in the US.The report comes at a time of major restructuring within the Social Security Administration (SSA), driven by policy shifts under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the SSA announced plans to eliminate 7,000 positions as part of a broader effort by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal spending.Critics argue that these cuts could delay or disrupt access to benefits for millions of vulnerable Americans. The closure of field offices and internal departments is already making it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to get the support they need. For over 40 percent of Americans aged 65 and older, Social Security is their only source of retirement income—making the stability of those benefits crucial for survival.Certain states pose especially high risks to retirees, not only due to their heavy reliance on Social Security but also because of elevated living costs and limited local support services.A spokesperson for RetirementLiving told Newsweek: "Our research shows that many retirees rely on Social Security as their financial lifeline, not just a supplement. That's why older adults in some states are more at risk than others. In places with higher economic vulnerability, a large portion of the senior population simply can't afford to lose any part of their benefit."Vermont ranks as the most vulnerable state, according to the report. It has the eighth-highest cost of living in the US, a senior poverty rate of 9.6 percent, and a high incidence of Social Security fraud.Massachusetts ranks third on the list. Retirees there struggle to stretch an average monthly benefit of $1,979.84 in a state with the second-highest cost of living and the 20th-highest senior poverty rate.The rankings are based on multiple factors, including the percentage of seniors who depend on Social Security, the cost of living, senior poverty rates , and the prevalence of fraud related to benefits.Vermont: 90.9 percent of seniors receive Social Security; the average check is $1,949.07; the cost-of-living index is 114.4.New Hampshire: 91.6 percent of seniors; $2,087.54 average check; cost-of-living 112.6.Massachusetts: 82.8 percent of seniors; $1,979.84 average check; cost-of-living 145.9.Washington: 90 percent of seniors; $2,003.81 average check; cost-of-living 114.2.New York: 83.1 percent of seniors; $1,922.40 average check; cost-of-living 123.3.Delaware: 90.1 percent of seniors; $2,085.16 average check; cost-of-living 112.6.New Jersey: 85 percent of seniors; $2,087.95 average check; cost-of-living 114.6.Rhode Island: 88.4 percent of seniors; $1,963.73 average check; cost-of-living 112.2.Oregon: 92.7 percent of seniors; $1,909.85 average check; cost-of-living 112.Hawaii: 83.9 percent of seniors; $1,895.23 average check; cost-of-living 186.9.Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, warned last month that the DOGE-led cuts to the SSA have already made it harder for seniors, people with disabilities, and their families to access the benefits they've earned.A recent survey echoes those concerns, revealing that 59 percent of working-age Americans fear Social Security may not be available by the time they retire.The prospect of further cuts at the SSA remains unclear, and several advocacy groups have launched legal actions seeking to reverse DOGE-ordered changes."When Social Security spending disappears from these communities, it's not just individual families that suffer," Ryan said. "Think of the 'trickle down.' Grocery stores, pharmacies, the small businesses that survive on that steady monthly flow of federal dollars."
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