WASHINGTON (AP) – A group prominent in the fight against President Bush’s plan to push for private accounts in Social Security says people near or in retirement are relying increasingly on the federal program, underscoring the need to protect their benefits.

The AARP was making that point in a report Monday on the economic and health status of Americans age 50 and older. For people in this group, the report found that the quality of their lives was improving.

But the incomes of older people have dropped from five years ago, according to the study.

“Real growth in Social Security benefits coupled with real declines in total income mean that people aged 62 and older were even more dependent on Social Security for their retirement income than they were a decade ago,” the AARP report said.

This shows “the need to strengthen Social Security’s guaranteed benefit and not subject beneficiaries to an increased risk.”

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said Bush’s plan would protect benefits and therefore give future retirees a better standard of living once they stopped working.

Duffy said that the voluntary personal accounts, when added to traditional Social Security, will exceed current benefits.

“The highest risk approach is doing nothing and looking the other way because that will guarantee a 27 percent benefit cut or a 50 percent tax increase that will severely impact those on fixed incomes,” Duffy said.

Charlie Jarvis, chairman of USA Next, a group that bills itself as an alternative to the AARP, said the report is intended to confuse people.

“When the average person receives $920 a month in Social Security, that really is a terrible commentary on the present Social Security system,” he said. “It means it is in a monstrously decrepit state financially.

“The answer is not raising taxes or cutting benefits or playing games with the retirement age,” he added. “The answer is to allow people to own Social Security while absolutely, completely protecting people with a financial floor that can be guaranteed.”

The AARP’s “quality of life index” found gains on most indicators.

“If current trends continue many in the 50-plus population can expect steady improvement in the quality of their lives and bright prospects for the future,” said John Rother, the AARP’s director of policy and strategy.

“However, uncertainty remains because of the greater responsibility people are required to take for their own retirement,” Rother said.

This includes not only the partial privatization plan but a decline in traditional pensions, reductions in retiree health benefits and weakness in personal income and job growth, he said.

The study analyzes 25 indicators and tracks measurements, among them economic and health status, independent living and long-term care.