Social Security benefits play a vital role in reducing poverty in every state. Without Social Security, 22.1 million more Americans – and 173,000 more Mississippians – would be poor, according to the latest available Census data. Although most of those whom Social Security keeps out of poverty are elderly, nearly a third are under age 65, including 1.1 million children.
Social Security is particularly important for elderly women and minority families, who have fewer retirement resources outside of Social Security.  Women tend to earn less than men, take more time out of the paid workforce, accumulate less savings, and receive smaller pensions.  Women also live longer than men, on average, so many outlive their spouses and savings, leaving them increasingly impoverished as they age.  Social Security brings 8.8 million elderly women out of poverty.  Depending on their design, reductions in Social Security benefits could significantly increase poverty, particularly among the elderly.
Social Security lifts more than 173,000 Mississippians out of poverty.  With Social Security, 14.5% of the elderly in Mississippi live in poverty.  Without Social Security, the poverty rate for those Mississippians aged 65 and over would be 56.9%.   Of the 647,420 total Social Security beneficiaries in Mississippi, 407,115 are 65 or older, 190,954 are age 18 to 64, and 49,351 are under age 18.
This analysis does not take into account other changes that would occur in the absence of Social Security.  If Social Security did not exist, many elderly individuals likely would have saved somewhat more and worked somewhat longer, and many might live with their adult children rather than in their own households.  Other studies confirm, however, that Social Security has made a very large contribution to reducing poverty and that cutting Social Security benefits could substantially increase poverty among the elderly.
Source/more: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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