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Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Martin O’Malley has voiced concerns over proposals to increase the retirement age. This comes after a Republican Study Committee (RSC) suggested adjusting the Social Security eligibility age from 67 to a higher age due to increased life spans.

O’Malley, during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, said, “[Americans] want their government to strengthen [Social Security] and expand it — not to cut it, contract it or gut its customer service. For those who would advocate raising the age, I think we have to be mindful of people who do hard work their whole lives, and die sooner.”

The discussion around Social Security reform has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Congressman Bill Pascrell expressing opposition to forcing Americans “to work until death.” Congressman John Larson also condemned the thought saying, “Underfunding of SSA is an attack on hard-working Americans and their earned benefits — this is no entitlement, but earned benefits.”

Another view:
The RSC has argued that increasing the age is needed due to a lack of funds for social security. In addition, they invoke President Biden’s past support for raising the retirement age. President Biden has proposed increasing payroll taxes on those earning over $400,000 to maintain the program’s funding.