On August 14, America will celebrate the 91st anniversary of Social Security, one of the most successful and enduring promises our nation has ever made. For more than nine decades, Social Security has helped workers retire with dignity, supported families after the loss of a loved one, and provided critical income to people with disabilities.

For Alabama, Social Security is more than a federal program. It is an economic engine, a source of financial stability, and a lifeline for communities in every corner of our state.

Nearly 1.2 million Alabamians receive Social Security benefits. Those benefits generate an estimated $23.6 billion in economic activity each year, supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening the economies of small towns and major cities alike. From the grocery store in Grove Hill to the pharmacy in Birmingham to the restaurant in Fairhope, Social Security dollars circulate through our communities every day, helping sustain economic growth and consumer spending.

Even more importantly, Social Security helps ensure that hundreds of thousands of our neighbors can live with dignity and independence. According to recent data, Social Security lifts approximately 338,000 Alabamians out of poverty. Without it, many older adults, people with disabilities, and surviving family members would face significantly greater financial hardship.

Social Security is not a handout. It is not an entitlement in the way critics sometimes describe it. With every paycheck, Americans pay into Social Security, building the benefits they have earned and deserve. For generations, Alabama’s workers, teachers, nurses, farmers, factory employees, first responders, small business owners, and countless others have helped make this promise possible.

As we mark Social Security’s 91st anniversary, AARP is encouraging every Alabamian to take one simple but important action to participate in My Social Security Day on Friday, August 14. Visit SSA.gov and create or log into your Social Security account to learn about what you’ve earned through your years of hard work.