Notch Reform Bulletin: The Cost of Benefits For Illegal Work?

The government will spend about $33 billion more than expected for Social Security benefits over the next ten years.  The $33 billion, enough to make a significant down payment on Notch Reform, was not appropriated by any act of Congress.  To the contrary, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) quietly inserted the $33 billion into the budget as a “technical revision.”

According to the CBO, the revision was necessary because of changing assumptions about population contained in the 2003 Social Security Trustees Report.  “Somewhat unexpectedly,” the CBO says, “those assumptions suggest that more people will reach 62—the age for early-retirement benefits—starting in 2007, than previously thought.”

Who are all these new Social Security recipients that the government didn’t know about?  According to the 2003 Social Security Trustee’s report, the estimate of Social Security recipients is “significantly higher” because revisions reflect the higher than expected 2000 Census counts of “other than legal” immigrants, and other non-citizens living abroad who are covered by Social Security benefits.

What does this say about our national priorities?  Notch Babies, seniors born from 1917 through 1926, made up the bulk of the fighting forces in World War II.  Notch Babies worked and paid for their benefits the LEGAL way.  Yet Notch Babies receive lower benefits than other retirees with similar work and earnings records.  The disparity was caused by law changes that did not work as anticipated.  Notch Babies have worked and lobbied for a correction for more than 20 years. No government budget office has ever taken the initiative to increase the Social Security budget on their behalf as a “technical correction.”  On the other hand, our government rewards “other than legal” persons by allowing them to collect Social Security benefits based on illegal work.

Should we allow $33 billion in benefits for “other than legal” persons to remain on the books?  By rights, that $33 billion should be re-directed, earmarked for payment of Notch Reform benefits for honest senior citizens. 

Please contact your Members of Congress and let them know about this CBO budget revision.  Then ask him or her to support re-directing this funding for Notch Reform.  Please ask them to co-sponsor “The Notch Fairness Act,” H.R. 97 and S. 1418.

Sources:  “The Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update,” August 2003, page 23. The 2003 Annual Report of the Social Security Trustees, March 2003, pages 78-81.

December 2003

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