Fred Harris

LETTER: Exempting all SS Income from tax won’t help seniors who need it most

  Social Security has done a remarkable job keeping the vast majority of seniors out of poverty. Those seniors who still live in poverty should receive more help from the federal and state governments. But exempting all Social Security income from taxation won’t deliver one penny of help to our low-income seniors. What it will mean is the state will have less money to support the programs and services that matter most to our communities. Most seniors earning low incomes — and even many earning middle incomes — are already exempt from paying income tax on their Social Security benefits.