Social Security and the Debt Ceiling - Barron's
What we all hate most in life is uncertainty, so all the political rhetoric about the debt ceiling and apparent political shenanigans by just about every lawmaker with a microphone are, to say the least, disconcerting, especially when they suggest that American seniors may not get their Social Security payments – a necessity to most – on time. That our lawmakers are using Social Security as a pawn in negotiations about the debt ceiling is most unfortunate, but is it a realistic threat? Well, according to this Barron’s article by Elizabeth O’Brien, the danger of delaying Social Security payments is, in fact, real, but also quite unlikely. First of all, the government defaulting on its debt has never happened before and almost certainly won’t now. And secondly, even in a worst case scenario, Social Security would be at the top of the priority list to receive whatever payments could be made. Click here to read the Barron’s article.