Our Social Security system is neutral with regard to race and ethnicity, but because Latino Americans tend to have lower earnings over the course of their working years and little access to employer sponsored retirement plans, Social Security is particularly important to them. Even as our economy has improved, income inequality has been a critical issue in the Latino community. For many Latino Americans, the realities of a lifetime of low wages amounts to little or no savings for retirement. Therefore, Latino Americans disproportionally depend on Social Security to earn vital but modest retirement, disability, and survivors’ protections for themselves and their families. Social Security should not only be protected for Latino Americans; it should be expanded.
