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Loophole in Senate Immigration Bill to Pay More Than $966 Billion in Social Security to Two Million Illegal Workers

June 15, 2007 (Washington, DC) – The immigration bill being debated by the Senate would allow over two million illegal workers who received Social Security numbers prior to 2004 to receive more than $966 billion in Social Security benefits by 2040. Despite a provision in the bill that would prevent individuals who performed illegal work and then obtained a Social Security number after 2007 from receiving credit for Social Security taxes paid in previous years, the legislation does nothing to prevent aliens who illegally obtained "non-work" Social Security numbers prior to 2004 from claiming benefits.  Read more>>

Social Security COLA Doesn't Fairly Reflect Seniors' Costs

Alexandria, VA (June 6, 2007) - It's a well-known fact among seniors:  The longer you spend in retirement, the less your Social Security check covers.  That happens, even though Social Security is one of the few forms of retirement income that's adjusted annually for inflation.  "The buying power of Social Security benefits gets eroded over time because the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) doesn't fairly reflect the cost increases that affect seniors the most," says Ralph McCutchen, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL).  "We seniors often say that we 'live on a fixed income.'  But in reality, we live on a shrinking one," he points out.  Read more>>

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New Study Uncovers Millions of Mexican Beneficiaries Who Could Receive Billions Based on Illegal Work

May 24, 2007 (Washington, DC) – The Social Security "Totalization Agreement" between the U.S. and Mexico, which has already been signed between the two nations and is awaiting the President's signature, would cost the United States an estimated $207 billion through 2040, according to a new study conducted by TREA Senior Citizens League. Read more >>

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48 Million Seniors Forecast to Receive Second Smallest Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment Ever in 2008, According to This Week's Trustees Report

Trustees Suggest COLA Could Also Be Smallest Ever at 1.2 Percent

April 25, 2007 (Washington, DC) – In its annual report released to Congress earlier this week, Social Security's Trustees announced that the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2008 – the annual adjustment provided to seniors each year to help them keep up with inflation – is forecast to be just 1.4 percent, and could be as low as 1.2 percent.

Since the COLA went into effect in 1975, it has never been lower than 1.3 percent, and has failed to exceed two percent only three times in its 32 year history.

That increase means that a senior with an average benefit of $1,044 would see a bump of just $14.60 per month beginning in January 2008. Read more >>

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ILLEGAL WORKERS COULD ACCESS BILLIONS IN SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY, SAYS SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

March 29, 2007 (Washington, DC) – The "Earnings Suspense File" (ESF), used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to track names and Social Security numbers that do not match government records, almost doubled during the five most recent years tracked to $585 billion, potentially making millions of today's illegal workers eligible for billions of dollars in benefits under an immigration amnesty plan.

The chief cause of growth in the file is unauthorized work by non-citizens, according to SSA Inspector General Patrick P. O'Carroll. Read more >>

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LARGEST INCREASE EVER FORECAST FOR MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS IN 2008

22 Million Americans Would Receive No Increase in
Social Security Checks Next Year as a Result

February 13, 2007 (Washington, DC) – Medicare Part B premiums – which cover doctors' visits, tests, and outpatient hospital care – are forecast to increase by $15.90 in 2008, the largest amount in the history of the program, according to a new analysis by TREA Senior Citizens League.  Read more >>

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SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO RELEASED AFTER 3-1/2 YEAR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT BATTLE

December 29, 2006 (Washington, DC) – After numerous refusals over three and a half years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the first known public copy of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement. Read more >>

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SENIORS SNARED IN MEDICARE MEANS TEST TRAP

December 27, 2006 (Washington, DC) - An insidious Medicare law comes into effect next week that has severe financial implications for seniors. And it will punish those who have tried to put some money away to help pay for their retirement.
 
The government let seniors make financial decisions in 2005, such as cashing out on a large distribution from an IRA or modest capital gains from a real estate investment property, and then announced means testing publicly in 2006. It then said the extra income makes those seniors “wealthy” and is hiking their Medicare premiums giving them no chance to make alternate decisions, such as cashing in less money or spreading it out over time. Read more >>

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Medicare Part B Premiums to Wipe Out Entire Social Security
Cost of Living Increase by 2012 for Almost 10 Million Seniors

December 6, 2006 (Washington, DC) The Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), intended to help seniors keep up with rising inflation, will be completely eliminated for an estimated 9.9 million seniors due solely to disproportionately rising increases in Medicare Part B premiums by the year 2012, according to a new study released today by TREA Senior Citizens League. Read more >>

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Despite Today’s 2007 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Announcement, Many Seniors Will Receive Smaller Social Security Checks Next Year For The First Time

October 18, 2006 (Washington, DC) – Earlier today, the Social Security Administration announced that the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2007 would be 3.3 percent. That increase means that the average senior with a benefit of $1,011 will see a bump of $33 per month beginning in January.

But for the first time in history, many seniors will actually see a reduction in their Social Security checks due to a little-known provision that was originally created to protect a person’s Social Security benefits from being reduced due to increases in Medicare premiums. Read more >>

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Medicare Premiums May Shrink Your Social Security Check Next Year

September 28, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) - Imagine opening your Social Security check next January and discovering that your benefits are lower than what you received this year - a good bit lower - and that your Medicare premiums have taken a huge jump. Read more >>

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House Passes Bill Honoring Seniors
TREA Senior Citizens League Mentioned Numerous Times on House Floor

September 20, 2006 (Washington, DC) – The House passed a bill last night introduced by Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) and originally co-sponsored by Walter Jones (R-NC) that honors our nation's seniors for their part in helping to make America great. Read more >>

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Updated Medicare Part B Premium Projections for 2008 and 2009

Projections Include Means Testing Estimates for Seniors with More Than $80,000 a Year in Income

September 19, 2006 (Washington, DC) – TREA Senior Citizens League has revised its projections of future premiums for Medicare Part B for 2008 and 2009 based on last week’s announcement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Read more >>

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Immigration Amnesty Would Impose Stiff Price On Retired and Working U.S. Citizens

September 11, 2006 (Alexandria, VA ) Pending "guest worker" immigration amnesty legislation would impose a steep price on both retired and working legal U.S. citizens, warns one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Read more >>

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Medicare Premiums Expected to Jump 450 Percent for Some Seniors as Means Testing Takes Effect for First Time in History
50,000 Seniors Predicted to Abandon Medicare for Private Insurance in 2007, Leaving System Burdened with Nation’s Oldest and Sickest

September 6, 2006 (Washington, DC) – The Department of Health and Human Services will announce Medicare Part B premiums for 2007 later this month, which will increase significantly for all seniors. Excluded from their announcement will be the fact that some seniors will see their premiums jump by as much as 450 percent in just over two years. Read more >>

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Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment Voted Most Important Issue Facing Seniors
Poll Ranks COLA Higher Than Medicare, Overall Social Security Reform and Importation of Prescription Drugs

August 1, 2006 (Washington, DC) – In a scientific poll of 522 seniors released today, seniors ranked the need for a fair Social Security COLA, the small annual increase they receive each year to keep up with inflation, as the most important issue they face. Read more >>
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Guest Worker Legislation Would Add New Cost Burden to Medicare, Meaning Higher Costs to Seniors

July 24, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance costs will soar for seniors if Congress enacts "guest worker" legislation. Read more >>
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As Seniors Confront Medicaid Cuts, Guest Worker Legislation Would Add New Burden to Medicaid

July 13, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – Pending legislation passed by the Senate would give access to Medicaid to millions of immigrants who are illegal now, costing the program billions in new spending. Read more >>
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Illegal Immigrants Could Receive Billions When Bush Signs Social Security Agreement with Mexico
Freedom of Information Act Lawsuit Filed Today Against State Department, Social Security Administration to Learn Extent of Giveaway

June 29, 2006 (Washington, DC) – TREA Senior Citizens League filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit today after numerous refusals over three years by the U.S. Department of State and Social Security Administration to provide virtually any pertinent information regarding the impact of the Totalization Agreement with Mexico on the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund. Read more >>
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Bipartisan Support Near Record Levels for Correcting Social Security Notch

June 27, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – A bipartisan effort to provide "Notch Babies" either a $5,000 lump-sum payment or improved monthly Social Security benefits is nearing the highest level of support in well over a decade. Read more >>
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Congressmen Gonzalez and Jones Introduce Resolution to Honor Seniors
TREA Senior Citizens League Plays Major Role in Development and Introduction of Bill

June 16, 2006 (Washington, DC) – Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), immediately joined by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) as an original co-sponsor, introduced a resolution honoring our nation's seniors for helping to make America great. Read more >>
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Higher Medicare Premium Costs May Cut Social Security Benefits Next Year

June 8, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – Higher Medicare premiums are likely to cut Social Security benefits for many seniors in 2007. Read more >>
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Be Our Guest? Immigration Amnesty Could Giveaway Social Security Benefits

May 25, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – Guest worker immigration reform legislation would allow immigrants, even those in this country illegally, to collect Social Security benefits on past illegal employment, even if the job was obtained through forged or stolen documents. Read more >>
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Medicare Premium Sticker Shock Ahead

February 27, 2006 (Alexandria, VA) – Next year, for the first time, the Part B Medicare premium will be determined by income, a type of "means testing" that undermines a founding principle of Medicare. Read more >>
 
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Seniors Would Be Surprised to Learn How to Government Calculates COLAs

December 27, 2005 (Alexandria, VA) – The Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment is not figured on increases in the costs of retirees. The government calculates it using the increase in costs of younger workers. Read more >>

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Press Release Archive
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Archives 2006

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