OPINION:
Currently, people older than 62 who are on Social Security are given only a $24,800 annual allowance to earn income through working. This equates to roughly $500 per week. For every $2 earned after this arbitrary ceiling, $1 is taxed toward their Social Security, discouraging their incentive to work.
Who in their right mind wants to work knowing they are getting only $1 out of every $2 they earn?
During these days of high inflation, every dollar counts. This is putting an unnecessary strain on married couples who are battling the high cost of living.
A simple solution should garner bipartisan support: Simply double the Social Security allowance to $49,600 for married couples who file their taxes jointly, and both receive Social Security benefits.
Generally speaking, married couples share most everything, so should they not be able to have the option to share their individual Social Security allowance?
That extra “marriage-penalty-free” income would make a world of difference — and, I daresay, would not affect Social Security solvency in the least.
Perhaps President Trump’s tariff revenue could be used as a supplement to such an amendment. Now, that’s what I would call making America great again!
LUANA DUNN
Glen Burnie, Maryland
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