In 2024, February 29th marks the day when someone making $1 million in wages stops paying into Social Security for the year.

For 94% of workers, we pay into Social Security all year long. But the ultra-rich take most of the year off from contributing to Social Security.

That’s not right! If millionaires and billionaires paid into Social Security on all of their income, we’d be able to expand benefits for millions of Americans and extend the lifespan of the trust fund.

Right-wing politicians and cable news pundits frequently say that we “can’t afford” Social Security. Their solution? Cut benefits for working people who’ve paid into the program for our entire lives. They never suggest that we simply require the wealthiest people in America to pay into Social Security all year long, just like the rest of us. If we do, we can afford to not just protect but expand benefits.

The Social Security Expansion Act, introduced by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) along with its House counterpart, introduced by Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Val Hoyle (D-OR), would do just that. This legislation would require the wealthy to contribute into Social Security on all their income over $250,000—including unearned investment income. It uses the additional revenue to increase Social Security’s modest benefits and keep the program strong through the end of the century and beyond.

Another piece of legislation, The Social Security 2100 Act, is sponsored by Rep. John Larson (D-CT). This bill, which also lifts the cap on Social Security contributions and uses the revenue to expand benefits, had the support of about 90% of House Democrats in the last Congress.

72% of Americans―including 51% of Republicans―support expanding, not cutting, Social Security by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share.

Instead of doing what the American people demand and making the wealthy pay their fair share, Wall Street-funded politicians in Congress are trying to set up a closed-door commission to cut Social Security and Medicare in secret, all while protecting tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.

Tell Congress:

Don’t cut Social Security and Medicare! Make millionaires and billionaires pay into Social Security all year long and oppose any closed-door fiscal commission that would harm our benefits!