Think about all that money you put into Social Security over your lifetime. Now think about your parents and grandparents who depend on those checks every month.
How do you feel after hearing President Barack Obama say he cannot guarantee those checks will go out August third if Congress does not agree on the U.S. debt ceiling?
Did you feel angry, frustrated or scared? Is it real or a scare tactic?
WFMY News 2 did some digging to find out the likelihood Social Security checks won't go out in August. The U.S. Social Security Administration said there has never been a time when checks have not gone out because of a budget crisis.
That does not mean it couldn't happen, and just the threat makes you nervous. But, government shutdowns and wars haven't stopped the checks yet.
John Llewelyn is a professor of communications at Wake Forest University. He said scare tactics raise the stakes and sharpens everyone's focus.
So, why do we sometimes fall for it? Llewelyn said because sometimes the scary information is true.
He said a politician doesn't want his or her reputation attached to a disruptive event, like the debt ceiling, and something will get done to avoid it.
WFMY News 2's Tanya Rivera wanted to ask some of our local leaders about it.
She talked with Senator Kay Hagan about the debt ceiling and why lawmakers are leaving such an important issue to the last minute.
Her answer was, "If I had that answer, I would have a crystal ball in front of me."
After several questions about whether the Social Security checks will go out in August and the Senator dodging them, Rivera asked, "Are you looking across the aisle, saying 'stop the scare tactics and let's get down to business'?"
Sen. Hagan replied by saying each and every day and every hour.
WFMY News 2 asked republican Congressman Howard Coble for a statement. He said it's the nature of a divided government.
Decisions are gonna be difficult to make. No surprise there.
But, on Social Security checks Rep. Coble said he has agreed to sign a letter with 40 other house members that urges the president to make sure Social Security, Medicare and military are paid regardless of what happens.
He also said in the last two weeks alone his office received 295 emails or phone calls on the debt ceiling.
WFMY News 2