Bobby Khan’s Plan to Strengthen Social Security Benefits
Social Security is a promise made to the American people—a promise that after a lifetime of hard work,
they will have financial security in retirement. But today, that promise is under threat. Rising costs,
government mismanagement, and inflation have put many retirees in a financial chokehold. It’s time for
real solutions to ensure our seniors can retire with dignity, not desperation.
Here’s how I plan to protect and strengthen Social Security so that no American retiree has to struggle to
make ends meet.
1. Increase Social Security Payouts
The Problem:
The current average monthly Social Security benefit is around $1,900—barely enough to cover rent in
most cities, let alone rising healthcare and living expenses. Meanwhile, inflation continues to eat away at
fixed incomes, pushing millions of seniors closer to poverty.
My Plan:
- Adjust Social Security payments to reflect the REAL cost of living. Instead of relying on outdated COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) formulas that underestimate inflation, we need a new model that
reflects housing, medical costs, and other real-life expenses that affect seniors. - Raise the minimum Social Security benefit. Right now, many retirees—especially those who worked in lower-wage jobs—receive barely livable benefits. I will push to increase the baseline amount seniors receive so no one who paid into the system is left behind.
- Provide extra benefits for the most vulnerable. Seniors over 75, those with disabilities, and those who depend solely on Social Security should receive additional financial relief to keep up with the economy.
2. Protect Social Security from Cuts & Mismanagement
The Problem:
Politicians in Washington treat Social Security like a piggy bank, raiding funds for their pet projects while
threatening cuts to benefits that Americans EARNED. We’ve seen reckless spending elsewhere while they
tell retirees to “tighten their belts.” Enough.
My Plan:
- Ban politicians from using Social Security funds for anything other than Social Security. Right now, Washington bureaucrats mismanage and divert funds, putting retiree benefits at risk. I will fight for a law that locks Social Security funding so it can’t be touched for other wasteful programs.
- Stop any attempt to raise the retirement age. Some politicians want to push the retirement age to 70 or beyond. That’s a slap in the face to hardworking Americans. I will block any legislation that raises the retirement age and ensure workers get what they were promised.
- Eliminate fraud and abuse within the system. Every year, billions of dollars in fraudulent claims and bureaucratic waste drain Social Security. We need to audit and overhaul the system to ensure benefits go to the people who actually worked for them—not scammers and government inefficiencies.
3. Ensure Social Security Stays Solvent for Future Generations
The Problem:
We’ve heard for years that Social Security is running out of money. Politicians in Washington have failed
to make the necessary adjustments to keep the system strong. If we don’t act now, future generations will
face benefit cuts.
My Plan:
- Lift the payroll tax cap for ultra-wealthy earners. Right now, millionaires and billionaires stop paying Social Security taxes after $168,600 in income. That means a CEO earning $10 million pays the same
amount into Social Security as someone earning $168K. That’s absurd. I propose raising or eliminating this cap for top earners to ensure long-term funding for the program. - Encourage work incentives for seniors. Many retirees want to keep working, but the current system penalizes them by reducing benefits if they earn too much. We should allow seniors to work without
being punished for it. - Invest Social Security funds smarter. Right now, Social Security funds sit in low-yield accounts that barely keep up with inflation. We need to explore secure, high-return investment options to grow the fund responsibly—without taking unnecessary risks.
4. Expand Survivor & Disability Benefits
The Problem:
Millions of widows, widowers, and disabled Americans rely on Social Security benefits, but many of
them are struggling due to outdated policies.
My Plan:
- Increase survivor benefits. Right now, many widows and widowers lose a significant portion of their household income when their spouse passes away. We need to increase survivor benefits to ensure they don’t fall into poverty.
- Improve disability benefits. The Social Security disability system is underfunded and slow, leaving many disabled Americans waiting months—or even years—to receive payments. We need to cut the red tape and ensure faster, fairer processing for those who need it.
- Ensure cost-of-living adjustments apply to ALL beneficiaries. Some Social Security benefits haven’t kept up with inflation, leaving certain groups (like disabled Americans and widows) behind. That needs to change.
5. Stop Over-Taxing Social Security Benefits
The Problem:
Many seniors who paid into Social Security their entire lives are now being taxed on the very benefits
they earned. That’s wrong.
My Plan:
- End or reduce federal taxes on Social Security benefits. Retirees should be able to keep more of their own money, not hand it back to the government in taxes.
- Expand tax credits for retirees. We need to lower the tax burden on seniors—especially those on fixed incomes—by expanding tax credits and deductions for medical expenses, housing, and caregiving costs.
6. Allow Americans to Pass Social Security Wealth to Their Families
The Problem:
Right now, if a retiree passes away before collecting much of their Social Security benefits, their family
sees little to nothing. That money is gone.
My Plan:
- Allow unused Social Security funds to be passed on to children or spouses. If a retiree doesn’t use all of their benefits, their family should be able to inherit what they paid in.
- Create a “Family Security Fund” option. Retirees should have the choice to allocate a portion of their benefits into a family security account that can be used for children, grandchildren, or spouses after they pass away.
The Bottom Line: Protecting Americans, Not Politicians
Social Security isn’t a handout—it’s an earned benefit that Americans have paid into their entire lives.
The government has no right to cut it, mismanage it, or force retirees into poverty.
I will fight to:
- Increase benefits so seniors can live with dignity
- Ban the government from raiding Social Security funds
- Keep the retirement age at a fair level
- Make wealthy earners pay their fair share
- End unfair taxes on Social Security payments
- Ensure Social Security is solvent for future generations
It’s time to put Americans first—not Washington politicians.
Bobby Khan for Congress – Fighting for America’s Retirees