Our Hispanic community needs to understand how important the Social Security system is for not only its retired citizens, but also its disabled workers.

There is a need for Social Security reform to ensure its stability, and Congress must act.

We must explain the truth: There is no free lunch.

We must take the time to do what needs to be done now, what is right, instead of passing a bad bill.

If Congress doesn't raise taxes, you cannot get a private investment account without forgoing a portion, possibly all, of your guaranteed benefit check.

Even without reforms, the Social Security fund will be able to meet 100 percent of its obligations until 2042.

Because Social Security is specifically designed to boost the retirement income of low earners with a progressive benefit formula, the program has played an enormous and necessary role in keeping Latinas out of poverty.