TSCL`s Social Security Advocacy

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TSCL`s Social Security Advocacy

COLA Fairness - TSCL strongly believes that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that seniors are currently receiving does not accurately reflect how they must spend their money. The COLA, upon which Social Security benefits for seniors are based, is a consumer price index (CPI) that reflects how young urban workers tend to spend their money and substitute products when prices fluctuate. Older Americans spend a disproportionate share of their household budget on health care. Since health care costs are rising so fast - and since most health care spending cannot be substituted out for something cheaper – TSCL believes that seniors would be better served if their COLA was based upon a different consumer price index, one that already in fact exists.

Notch Reform - The Senior Citizens League members and supporters tend to be older, less affluent seniors. They are also, to a large extent, Notch babies - those individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter. TSCL feels that this is an inequity that was brought about because of the Social Security Act Amendments enacted and signed into law in 1977. Just years before they were set to retire, these individuals discovered they would have significantly lower benefits than originally anticipated. And the problem only grew and compounded with the inflation that occurred in the early 1980s. Thus, in order to make the Social Security program more equitable in general, and to correct a wrong done to Notch babies, we believe that some recompense for that injustice should be provided.

Totalization Agreement - continues to pose a threat to Social Security beneficiaries. If the President signs the final Executive Totalization Social Security Agreement with Mexico it could lead to Social Security benefits going to individuals who worked in the U.S. while illegal. Despite the efforts of TSCL and others, knowledge of the Totalization Agreement remains limited on Capitol Hill and the issue flies under radar for the most part. TSCL has expressed its support for two House resolutions opposed to the Totalization Agreement, those of Congressmen J.D. Hayworth (H.Res.20) and Virgil Goode (H.Con.Res.50). TSCL has placed ads in The Washington Times in opposition to the proposed agreement and will continue to closely monitor the Totalization matter during the upcoming session of Congress.

May 2007