Ben Belton is the Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and former Director of Global Partner Engagement in AARP’s Office of International Affairs where he was responsible for targeted international outreach and positioning AARP as a global thought leader. As Director, he developed and led efforts to shape the international discussion on population aging. He speaks at domestic and international forums and manages the Aging Readiness and Competitiveness Initiative – an original body of research highlighting global policy innovations.
Prior to joining AARP International, Mr. Belton was the Chiplin Senior Fellow at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Center’s Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr., Social Justice & Advocacy Award. At the Center, he managed a portfolio encompassing health equity, elder justice, Social Security Disability Insurance, and strategic partner development.
In the administration of President Barack Obama, Mr. Belton served as Senior Advisor to the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. In that role, he advised the Acting Commissioner on key policy, regulatory and external affairs issues. He also served at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and within the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Belton played an integral role in planning the 2015 White House Conference on Aging and moderated policy sessions during the conference’s regional forums. Throughout his time in the Obama administration he worked closely with the White House, federal agencies and stakeholders on policy issues impacting older persons.
Mr. Belton has over 14 years of experience in aging, having also worked at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and on the first Obama for America campaign, where he helped direct strategic outreach to older voters.
He has also served on numerous boards, councils and committees for the National Alliance for Caregiving, HelpAge USA, Dementia Friendly America, NGO Committee on Ageing, New York; and the national Eldercare Locator.