Congressional Response: Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-17th, NY) Responds to Your Notch Petition

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Congressional Response: Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-17th, NY) Responds to Your Notch Petition

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Social Security “notch.” I appreciate your interest in this matter.

I am pleased to inform you that I have long been a supporter of legislation which would correct the Social Security “notch.” As you may know, the “notch” came about as the result of a badly designed 1977 bill to correct legislation passed in 1972 that accidentally gave large increases in Social Security benefits to people born between 1912 and 1916. The 1977 bill resulted in huge discrepancies in the level of benefits for people born between 1917 and 1926.

A congressionally mandated commission studied this issue and released its final report on December 29, 1994. Unfortunately, the commission’s principal conclusion was that the “benefits paid to those in the ‘notch’ years are equitable, and no remedial legislation is in order.” I do not believe the formation of this commission was necessary. This problem can still be solved easily if Congress passes legislation to correct the Social Security “notch.” You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of HR 97, legislation which would allow “notch” recipients to choose either a change in their benefit computation to compensate for the benefit shortfall or a $5,000 lump sum payment. Please be assured that this legislation has my strong support, and I will continue to work hard to rectify this unfair situation.

Once again, thank you for contacting me regarding this issue. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

November 2004