Notch Bulletin: Government Information On The Notch Is Contradictory

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Notch Bulletin: Government Information On The Notch Is Contradictory

By Michael J. Zabko, Executive Director, TSCL

Seniors who contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) for information about the Notch, BEWARE. The information you receive may not agree with Notch background information provided by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS). Recently TREA Senior Citizens League compared Notch information from both the SSA and CRS. TSCL has noted that SSA information reflects a negative bias denying the Notch problem as illustrated in the following chart:

Congressional Research Service	Social Security Administration
Notch years: "Benefits of retirees born in the 1917-1926 period as a whole are lower than those paid to people born in 1916 and those who were born 1927 and later." (10-year period.)	Notch years: "Notch refers to the differences in Social Security benefits paid to people born between 1917 and 1921 and those paid to people born before them..." (5-year period.)
Injustice: "Proponents of legislation to remedy the Notch maintain that up to 15 million people have been injured...or, that benefit disparities caused by them are often very large...and that these disparities were not intended...Critics of the legislation maintain that there is no injustice..."	Injustice: "The truth is that they are being treated fairly and getting the benefits that Congress intended."
Transition period for 1977 benefit formula changes: "Transition rules were designed to put the new system into place quickly to stem the raid rise in replacement rates. The speed of the new system's implementation was deliberate and reflected by legislative history..."	Transition period for 1977 benefit formula changes: "It (Congress) wanted to avoid an abrupt change for those about to retire, so it provided for a phase-in, or transition period."

We would like to think that government agencies like the Social Security Administration are simply the unbiased organizations by which laws are administered. But this would not be realistic. Information we receive on an issue such as the Notch can differ dramatically from our personal experience. When that happens, U.S. citizens have the right to question the information, and, if they feel so compelled, seek legislative correction. This is the mission of TREA Senior Citizens League and the grass roots efforts of our members.

We encourage those of you who are born during the Notch to share information with others who may not be getting all the facts. We also urge you to continue your efforts to keep up the pressure for Notch reform during this election period. Educate candidates on the Notch and how it affects you. Ask them to support legislation that would correct the Notch. Most importantly, register to vote now.

This article first appeared in Volume 5, Issue 7 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (June/2000). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here.