More Than Half of Pennsylvania’s Veterans Rely on Social Security

August 18, 2025

PENNSYLVANIA – Following the 90th anniversary of Social Security last Thursday, Affordable Pennsylvania and the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF) released a report detailing how Social Security benefits Pennsylvania veterans and their families.

Social Security is an earned benefit that is part of the contract our government made with those who served. Under the Trump administration, cuts to Social Security's staffing, local offices, and even funding are threatening to break that contract.

According to the report, about 657,000 veterans live in Pennsylvania and more than half of the Commonwealth’s veterans receive Social Security. Even before retirement age, many veterans rely on Social Security, with veterans under 62 making up one-third of all veterans who receive SSI.

“I enlisted in the Army in 2003 and served two tours in Iraq. I answered the call for my country - but now my country is not interested in following through on the promises it made its veterans,” said Will Lillich, U.S. Army veteran and PA-10 constituent. “Social Security is more than a policy - it’s a promise made to our seniors, veterans, and disabled Americans. But the Trump Administration has made it very clear that they plan to cut existing and future benefits, including this program. And when all of this is used to pay for bigger tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, it’s not about cost saving. They’re just taking from working people to give to the rich.”

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. Failing to deliver this benefit, which they have rightfully contributed to and earned, is a total betrayal of our promise to our service members,” said Rachele Fortier, executive director for Affordable Pennsylvania. “Social Security is a lifeline for seniors, especially in this time of rising costs. We must be able to keep our promise to our veterans, our seniors, disabled Americans, and all those who rely on Social Security to live with dignity.”

“Social Security is a benefit – and a promise – that no one who has earned it should ever have to worry about losing,” said Sharita Gruberg, vice president for economic justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Alongside our friends and partners at  Affordable Pennsylvania, we won’t stop fighting  the Trump administration’s attacks on Social Security and working peoples’ rights overall.”

Read the full report from Affordable Pennsylvania here.

Read more about how Social Security is more at risk than ever under this administration:

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently likened the “Trump accounts” created by the Republican Tax Law to a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.”

• The recently passed Republican Tax Law depletes Social Security Trust Funds faster.

• Trump's recent pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics previously denounced Social Security as “a Ponzi scheme” arguing that “at some point…you’re just going to have to sunset the darn thing.”

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