Nancy J. Altman

Nancy J. Altman is president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition. She has a 40-year background in the areas of Social Security and private pensions. Her latest book is The Truth About Social Security. She is also the author of The Battle for Social Security and co-author of Social Security Works!

Articles by this author

New polling from Data for Progress shows that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are united in their support for policies that would radically restructure the current system. (Photo: Floris Van Cauwelaert/flickr/cc) Views
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
You Might Be Surprised at How Far Americans Are Willing to Go to Overthrow the Power of Big Pharma
As the 2020 election looms, "Morning Joe" pundits love to talk about "electability." The out-of-touch television personalities chide the left for advocating policies they perceive as unpopular with the electorate. Yet, "electability" appears differently to primary voters, who increasingly see...
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Congress should address our nation’s looming retirement income crisis by increasing Social Security’s modest benefits. (Photo: Courtesy of AFGE, Flickr | CC 2.0) Views
Friday, September 06, 2019
Joni Ernst Wants to Cut Social Security Behind Closed Doors
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) just said out loud what Republican politicians usually only talk about in secret meetings with their billionaire donors: The GOP wants to cut our earned Social Security benefits—and they want to do it behind closed doors so that they don’t have to pay the political price...
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Our coalition is still growing, but already is made up of organizations representing tens of millions of people united around four principles that guide our efforts to smash pharmaceutical corporations’ monopoly power. (Photo: AP) Views
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Dear Politicians: Lower Drug Prices Now
Across 34 states today, the American people had one unified message for their elected representatives in Washington, D.C.: lower drug prices now. We are proud that Social Security Works is a founding member of a new broad-based coalition that is dedicated to breaking the stranglehold pharmaceutical...
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Social Security is 84 today. Notwithstanding constant attacks by many, Social Security’s current projected shortfall, modest in size and still years away, is not a " crisis," as too many politicians assert, but a call for simple maintenance. If your car needs an oil change, it's not a crisis. But if you do nothing, and wait until your engine is blown, it can become a crisis. (Photo: Joey Gannon/Wikimedia/cc) Views
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Social Security Isn’t in Crisis. It Just Needs a Tune-Up
Eighty-four years ago Wednesday, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law. He advised future generations to continue building on the program’s foundation, which he explained “represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete.”...
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Social Security and Medicare are proof that the American people can come together through our representatives in Washington to improve the lives of all of us. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Views
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
It’s Medicare’s Birthday—Let’s Offer It to Everyone
Fifty-four years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law. Over half a century later, Medicare has proven its tremendous worth. Before Medicare, nearly half of all seniors were uninsured. Now, virtually all Americans who have reached their 65th birthday are covered. Medicare is...
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Reprensetative John B. Larson (D-Conn.), accompanied by members of the House Ways & Means Committee and Social Security advocates, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill to announce the introduction of the Social Security 2100 Act. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) Views
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Today's Congressional Hearing Is A Huge Milestone In The Fight To Expand Social Security
Today, the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing on the Social Security 2100 Act, which expands the benefits of both current and future beneficiaries, while ensuring that all benefits—scheduled, as well as proposed—will be paid on time and in full throughout the 21 st century and...
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Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Intergenerational Warfare Is a Scam—We Need to Expand Social Security and End Student Debt
President Franklin Roosevelt famously remarked about attacks on Social Security, “It is an old strategy of tyrants to delude their victims into fighting their battles for them.” We can see that strategy at work today. The “tyrants” are the billionaire class, ideologically opposed to contributing...
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Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Beware Trump's Sneak Attack on Social Security
Donald Trump’s recent budget proposal included billions of dollars in Social Security cuts. The proposed cuts were a huge betrayal of his campaign promise to protect our Social Security system. Fortunately for Social Security’s current and future beneficiaries, he has little chance of getting these...
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Saturday, May 11, 2019
The Remarkable Mothers of Social Security
This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the remarkable Mothers of Social Security. Without them, this essential program may never have been born. It certainly would be much less successful and effective. The Mothers of Social Security pushed for an expansive, ambitious program. When necessary, they...
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President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act while John Dingell Sr., behind him, watches. (Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia, modified from the original.) Views
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
This Political Family Has Been Fighting for Social Security and Medicare for All Since the 1930s
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is a leader in the fight to improve Medicare and expand it to cover everyone in America. With Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), she is one of the two lead sponsors of the Medicare for All Act of 2019 , which was just introduced with more than 100 cosponsors. Dingell and...
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