September 16, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Cathleen Simlar, Senior Communications Manager, AARP Michigan.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of Social Security, which has helped generations of Michiganders retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. It’s one of the most successful initiatives in American history, and a new AARP survey shows it’s still doing exactly what it was built to do. AARP is proudly honoring the legacy of Social Security—while fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security for older Americans today, and for our children and grandchildren. More than one in five U.S. residents - 69 million Americans - receives Social Security. Social Security lifts 511,000 Michiganders out of poverty every year. Without Social Security, 36.3% of people over 65 in Michigan would live in poverty. With Social Security, the poverty rate is 8.7%. For more than 834,000 Michiganders, Social Security is their primary source of income. Social Security benefits add $49.6 billion to Michigan’s economy every year. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund, which pays retirement and survivor benefits, is projected to be depleted in 2033. The Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund is not expected to be depleted within the 75-year projection period.
Online Resources:
AARP Pledge to Fight for Social Security
AARP Michigan
AARP Retirement Basics
About AARP: AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of Social Security, which has helped generations of Michiganders retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. It’s one of the most successful initiatives in American history, and a new AARP survey shows it’s still doing exactly what it was built to do. AARP is proudly honoring the legacy of Social Security—while fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security for older Americans today, and for our children and grandchildren. More than one in five U.S. residents - 69 million Americans - receives Social Security. Social Security lifts 511,000 Michiganders out of poverty every year. Without Social Security, 36.3% of people over 65 in Michigan would live in poverty. With Social Security, the poverty rate is 8.7%. For more than 834,000 Michiganders, Social Security is their primary source of income. Social Security benefits add $49.6 billion to Michigan’s economy every year. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund, which pays retirement and survivor benefits, is projected to be depleted in 2033. The Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund is not expected to be depleted within the 75-year projection period.
Online Resources:
AARP Pledge to Fight for Social Security
AARP Michigan
AARP Retirement Basics
About AARP: AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlightened on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And it is West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. I'm so
glad you have tuned in across whatever iHeartRadio station you
happen to be listening to. In this segment, we're joined
by Kathleen Simlar, Senior Communications manager with AAARP Michigan. AARP
dot org is the website. Will also be telling you
about another website you're going to want to check out,
(00:40):
AARP dot org slash. We earned it because we're talking
about in this segment social security and social security benefits.
It's the ninetieth anniversary of the Social Security program in Michigan.
Did you know that it all began in nineteen thirty five?
First check went to a woman named Ida May Fuller
(01:02):
of Vermont. In nineteen forty she paid in just twenty
five twenty four dollars and seventy five cents in taxes
and collected over twenty two thousand dollars in social security
benefits during her lifetime. Today, the program ninety years later
covers ninety seven percent of American workers and lots to
(01:24):
cover here. But most importantly, we keep on hearing different
things about when the Social Security Trust fund is going
to run out, and there are actually two trust funds,
but to hear to help us sort this all out,
We're going to bring Kathleen Simlar into this conversation because
it's important to really putting into perspective, especially here in Michigan,
(01:44):
how important the Social Security program is. Kathleen, thank you
for joining us.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
First of all, Oh, yes, thank you for having me. Yeah,
social Security is definitely one of the most important and
successful programs we have in this country, and I'm I'm
really pleased to be here to be able to talk
about it. I know there are some concerns and confusion
about a few things. Hopefully we can sear some of
that up.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, this is a big deal for AARP members. Let's
start with the obvious, Kathleen. If you do surveys, and
you guys do so much great work in terms of
subjects that older adults in this country are concerned about.
And when I say older, that's a relative argument. We
could do an entire radio segment and what's old in America.
(02:28):
But I think, as I recall, you have to be
fifty year older to join AARP, right.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Oh, no, that's on this no more. You can be
really eighteen year older to join AARP. Well, our discounts
and benefits there for people that are fifty and older.
But yeah, you can certainly use your legal adults.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
All right, So every twenty year old listening to us
right now, go to AARP dot work and sign up.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's interesting because we say what we do we do
for all, Yes, our work we're focused on people are
fifteen and older and helping people as they age, but
really it impacts everyone. We do good work, and so
security is one of those things fighting to protect it.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yes, indeed, so let's talk about the concerns. And we've
been hearing this a lot, specifically that the Old Age
and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund that's commonly referred to when
you hear reports in the news about Social Security Trust
Fund it is expected or projected to be depleted in
twenty thirty three. That's only eight years from now. Kathleen,
(03:33):
I would think a lot of AARP members are concerned
about this, reaching out to AARP and saying, Hey, what
are we going to do about this? Let's talk about
this on the ninetieth anniversary. What are you hearing from members?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh, you know, there is definitely a lot of concern
about this. You know, people are worried about it. You know,
there's just to get some perspectives. You know, in Michigan,
there's two point three million people that are on Social
Security and this is not an entitlement, you know, it's
their money, they paid into it, they earned it, they're
(04:06):
relying on it. Again from perspective, you know, the average
check in Michigan is sixteen hundred dollars a month, and
for about half of the people it's half their income,
and for about seventeen percent it's all of their income.
So the stability of the program is really critical for
a large number of people. You know, in terms of numbers,
that's about eight hundred and thirty four thousand people look
(04:30):
at Social Security as their primary income at Michigan. So
we'd be in a whole lot of trouble if if
there's any kind of disruption to that. Yeah, So the
trust Fund is on track to the one trust Fund
to be depleted very quickly, and we're using this ninetieth anniversary.
It is really an opportunity to start rallying people to
(04:52):
learning them and educating them that, you know, we need
to get our legislators on board to fixing this issue.
We cannot kick it down the road. We have to
work on it now and find a solution. It's just
too important to too many people. Our line is that
it's a lifeline, not a budget line, and so we
need attention to this right now. And you know, I
(05:15):
also want to say it doesn't mean that if the
trust fund runs out of money. Well, when the trust
fund runs out of money, that Social Security will stop.
That is something that people need to know. As long
as there are people paying into Social Security, there will
be Social Security checks coming. It's just there won't be
(05:35):
enough money to cover the full obligation. And so we
are seeing a potential twenty percent cut the benefits if
Congress does nothing at all. So that's what's approaching us.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, we're speaking with Kathleen Similar. Kathleen is senior communications
Manager AARP Michigan. As we talk about the Social Security
Program ninetieth anniversary of the program. Yet there's a lot
of skepticism, Kathleen, A lot of people listening to us
right now, especially if they're under forty. I know a
lot of younger people don't believe there's going to be
(06:11):
Social Security for them. You talked about Congress kicking the
can down the road in terms of a fix. If
they don't fix it, we're looking at a reduction in
benefits potentially. Some are estimating at least twenty to twenty
three percent reduction in scheduled benefits if Congress does nothing.
Talk about this factor of skepticism. In terms of the
(06:34):
people you're speaking with, I would assume even people who
are Social Security eligible age sixty two or over are
skeptical that it's going to be around a lot longer.
Are you hearing that as well?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh yeah, yeah, we've seen a lot of skepticism. We
did a survey and we've seen that there's been a
seven percent drop in confidence in the program since twenty twenty.
And again, young repeat what I said earlier that this
is a highly successful program. I mean, it should inspire confidence,
but I think the misinformation about Post Security just running
(07:09):
out of money completely is out there, and I know
younger people. I have three children in their twenties, they
don't believe it's going to be there for them. So
in my age, I'm sixty, I am, you know, planning
my retirement. My retirement plan includes what I've been told
with being my post security income. Not that I'm skeptical,
(07:30):
but I'm alarmed. You know that I am. I gonna
have to work longer than when I thought I had to. Yeah,
there's a there's a lot of skepticism, a lot of
unease out there, and there's also been so much you know,
happening in so many developments in Washington, and I think
it's raal people they don't know really what's happening. Things
has been happening so quickly. ARP is trying to cut
(07:51):
through that and be on the front lines fighting to
protect book security with every turn that we're encountering. So
I want people to have some assurance in that that
we are advocating out there, we are, you know, being
the guards on the front line.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Certainly it is important. I've got about a minute left.
What would you like our listeners to know in terms
of arp's efforts regarding social security. There's a website we
wanted to mention real quickly AARP dot org slash we
earned it. What will our listeners find their Kathleen, We've
got less than a minute left.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Oh, they will find information there on the different options
that are available for Congress to fix this. Your ARP
is not at this time getting behind any particular solution,
but there are solutions like raising the income cap, changing
the maximum retirement aids. There's all kinds of things they
can do, so I'd like people to go and get
(08:46):
educated on that and to reach out to their member
of Congress. I know over in the west side of
the state representatives Hulton. She was at our event recently,
our rally out there spl Security. You can contact her.
I know she is determined to protect it and to
do what she can. But it's always good as the
citizen to reach out to your member of Congress and
(09:07):
to start putting that pressure that you know, we need
to get this six. This is too critical, too important
to people's lives.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And better than waiting maybe a year until the trust
fund is expected to be depleted. Kathleen Similar, senior communications
manager with AARP Michigan, joining us on this segment of
West Michigan Weekend from iHeart Radio. Remember the website is
a RP dot org aa RP dot org and you've gone.
(09:34):
Also check out, as Kathleen just mentioned, AA RP dot
org slash we earned it.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
You've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan
Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and iHeartRadio
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlightened on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And it is West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. I'm so
glad you have tuned in across whatever iHeartRadio station you
happen to be listening to. In this segment, we're joined
by Kathleen Simlar, Senior Communications manager with AAARP Michigan. AARP
dot org is the website. Will also be telling you
about another website you're going to want to check out,
(00:40):
AARP dot org slash. We earned it because we're talking
about in this segment social security and social security benefits.
It's the ninetieth anniversary of the Social Security program in Michigan.
Did you know that it all began in nineteen thirty five?
First check went to a woman named Ida May Fuller
(01:02):
of Vermont. In nineteen forty she paid in just twenty
five twenty four dollars and seventy five cents in taxes
and collected over twenty two thousand dollars in social security
benefits during her lifetime. Today, the program ninety years later
covers ninety seven percent of American workers and lots to
(01:24):
cover here. But most importantly, we keep on hearing different
things about when the Social Security Trust fund is going
to run out, and there are actually two trust funds,
but to hear to help us sort this all out,
We're going to bring Kathleen Simlar into this conversation because
it's important to really putting into perspective, especially here in Michigan,
(01:44):
how important the Social Security program is. Kathleen, thank you
for joining us.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
First of all, Oh, yes, thank you for having me. Yeah,
social Security is definitely one of the most important and
successful programs we have in this country, and I'm I'm
really pleased to be here to be able to talk
about it. I know there are some concerns and confusion
about a few things. Hopefully we can sear some of
that up.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, this is a big deal for AARP members. Let's
start with the obvious, Kathleen. If you do surveys, and
you guys do so much great work in terms of
subjects that older adults in this country are concerned about.
And when I say older, that's a relative argument. We
could do an entire radio segment and what's old in America.
(02:28):
But I think, as I recall, you have to be
fifty year older to join AARP, right.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Oh, no, that's on this no more. You can be
really eighteen year older to join AARP. Well, our discounts
and benefits there for people that are fifty and older.
But yeah, you can certainly use your legal adults.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
All right, So every twenty year old listening to us
right now, go to AARP dot work and sign up.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's interesting because we say what we do we do
for all, Yes, our work we're focused on people are
fifteen and older and helping people as they age, but
really it impacts everyone. We do good work, and so
security is one of those things fighting to protect it.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yes, indeed, so let's talk about the concerns. And we've
been hearing this a lot, specifically that the Old Age
and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund that's commonly referred to when
you hear reports in the news about Social Security Trust
Fund it is expected or projected to be depleted in
twenty thirty three. That's only eight years from now. Kathleen,
(03:33):
I would think a lot of AARP members are concerned
about this, reaching out to AARP and saying, Hey, what
are we going to do about this? Let's talk about
this on the ninetieth anniversary. What are you hearing from members?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh, you know, there is definitely a lot of concern
about this. You know, people are worried about it. You know,
there's just to get some perspectives. You know, in Michigan,
there's two point three million people that are on Social
Security and this is not an entitlement, you know, it's
their money, they paid into it, they earned it, they're
(04:06):
relying on it. Again from perspective, you know, the average
check in Michigan is sixteen hundred dollars a month, and
for about half of the people it's half their income,
and for about seventeen percent it's all of their income.
So the stability of the program is really critical for
a large number of people. You know, in terms of numbers,
that's about eight hundred and thirty four thousand people look
(04:30):
at Social Security as their primary income at Michigan. So
we'd be in a whole lot of trouble if if
there's any kind of disruption to that. Yeah, So the
trust Fund is on track to the one trust Fund
to be depleted very quickly, and we're using this ninetieth anniversary.
It is really an opportunity to start rallying people to
(04:52):
learning them and educating them that, you know, we need
to get our legislators on board to fixing this issue.
We cannot kick it down the road. We have to
work on it now and find a solution. It's just
too important to too many people. Our line is that
it's a lifeline, not a budget line, and so we
need attention to this right now. And you know, I
(05:15):
also want to say it doesn't mean that if the
trust fund runs out of money. Well, when the trust
fund runs out of money, that Social Security will stop.
That is something that people need to know. As long
as there are people paying into Social Security, there will
be Social Security checks coming. It's just there won't be
(05:35):
enough money to cover the full obligation. And so we
are seeing a potential twenty percent cut the benefits if
Congress does nothing at all. So that's what's approaching us.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, we're speaking with Kathleen Similar. Kathleen is senior communications
Manager AARP Michigan. As we talk about the Social Security
Program ninetieth anniversary of the program. Yet there's a lot
of skepticism, Kathleen, A lot of people listening to us
right now, especially if they're under forty. I know a
lot of younger people don't believe there's going to be
(06:11):
Social Security for them. You talked about Congress kicking the
can down the road in terms of a fix. If
they don't fix it, we're looking at a reduction in
benefits potentially. Some are estimating at least twenty to twenty
three percent reduction in scheduled benefits if Congress does nothing.
Talk about this factor of skepticism. In terms of the
(06:34):
people you're speaking with, I would assume even people who
are Social Security eligible age sixty two or over are
skeptical that it's going to be around a lot longer.
Are you hearing that as well?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh yeah, yeah, we've seen a lot of skepticism. We
did a survey and we've seen that there's been a
seven percent drop in confidence in the program since twenty twenty.
And again, young repeat what I said earlier that this
is a highly successful program. I mean, it should inspire confidence,
but I think the misinformation about Post Security just running
(07:09):
out of money completely is out there, and I know
younger people. I have three children in their twenties, they
don't believe it's going to be there for them. So
in my age, I'm sixty, I am, you know, planning
my retirement. My retirement plan includes what I've been told
with being my post security income. Not that I'm skeptical,
(07:30):
but I'm alarmed. You know that I am. I gonna
have to work longer than when I thought I had to. Yeah,
there's a there's a lot of skepticism, a lot of
unease out there, and there's also been so much you know,
happening in so many developments in Washington, and I think
it's raal people they don't know really what's happening. Things
has been happening so quickly. ARP is trying to cut
(07:51):
through that and be on the front lines fighting to
protect book security with every turn that we're encountering. So
I want people to have some assurance in that that
we are advocating out there, we are, you know, being
the guards on the front line.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Certainly it is important. I've got about a minute left.
What would you like our listeners to know in terms
of arp's efforts regarding social security. There's a website we
wanted to mention real quickly AARP dot org slash we
earned it. What will our listeners find their Kathleen, We've
got less than a minute left.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Oh, they will find information there on the different options
that are available for Congress to fix this. Your ARP
is not at this time getting behind any particular solution,
but there are solutions like raising the income cap, changing
the maximum retirement aids. There's all kinds of things they
can do, so I'd like people to go and get
(08:46):
educated on that and to reach out to their member
of Congress. I know over in the west side of
the state representatives Hulton. She was at our event recently,
our rally out there spl Security. You can contact her.
I know she is determined to protect it and to
do what she can. But it's always good as the
citizen to reach out to your member of Congress and
(09:07):
to start putting that pressure that you know, we need
to get this six. This is too critical, too important
to people's lives.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And better than waiting maybe a year until the trust
fund is expected to be depleted. Kathleen Similar, senior communications
manager with AARP Michigan, joining us on this segment of
West Michigan Weekend from iHeart Radio. Remember the website is
a RP dot org aa RP dot org and you've gone.
(09:34):
Also check out, as Kathleen just mentioned, AA RP dot
org slash we earned it.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
You've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan
Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.