As questions swirl about possible cuts to the U.S. Social Security benefit system, a nonpartisan Wayne County group celebrated the program’s past and hoped for its strong future.
On Thursday, Aug. 14, nearly a dozen Wayne County Indivisible members gathered at 500 N. A St. to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Social Security system. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on that date.
They also thanked Social Security employees.
According to a news release, their third purpose was to bring attention to efforts to cut benefits and counteract a perception that the program is welfare. They said almost every salaried worker pays into the system, which invests those funds in to government-backed securities and then pays benefits back later.
Since 1935, Social Security has become the top source of funds for seniors, the release said.
In 2024, payroll taxes paid into Social Security reached $1.3 trillion.
Along with other sources of income, Social Security Administration had total income of $2.64 trillion. It paid $2.7 trillion to 69 million people that same year.
Members said 28% of Wayne County residents (more than 18,500) receive Social Security benefits, according to Social Security statistics.
Wayne County Indivisible says it aims to give residents an opportunity to show opposition to legislation they believe will harm the country. They focus on local members of Congress and their votes on this legislation.
A version of this article appeared in the August 20 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.