News

  • Majority Of Older Americans Say Social Security Benefits Not Keeping Up With Rising Household Costs

    Comprehensive immigration reform has been topping the legislative agenda in Congress for months, but so far most policy wonks and lawmakers have kept quiet about the ways in which reform would affect Social Security. Millions would become eligible to collect Social Security benefits based on work done illegally, under invalid or fraudulent Social Security numbers. TSCL is concerned about the ethical implications of this, and we believe that it would put additional strains on the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. .According to studies performed for TSCL, many Notch Babies, particularly those who rely on Social Security for most, if not all, of their income, are at risk for living near or below the federal poverty level. For example, Notch Babies who retired in 1984 at age 65 with average benefits of 0 per month, would receive about ,839 this year. In the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC, that's only 8% above the federal poverty guidelines and qualifies for various assistance programs. .The opinions expressed in "Congressional Corner" reflect the views of the writer and are not necessarily those of The Senior Citizens League. … Continued

  • Legislative Update Week Ending November 7 2014

    In yet a third judicial ruling, The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a rule by the Trump Administration that hospitals will have to publicly disclose the prices they negotiate with insurance companies. .Social Security Administration data indicate that, since 2000, the ESF grew at an unprecedented pace. According to TSCL's new report since 2000, the SSA has received, on average, 8.8 million suspicious wage reports annually. Cumulative wages in the ESF since 1980 now total more than .2 trillion, unadjusted for inflation. Wages are of importance because Social Security benefits are based on an individual's earnings record, not the taxes paid in. .I'm 63, married, and recently earned about ,000 a year until I got laid off in March. My wife is younger but only receives a small income from providing part-time day care services. We don't have any savings. I'm not receiving any Social Security now. Can I receive Social Security benefits and get unemployment benefits? … Continued

Several unintended consequences have already resulted from the implementation of the new security policy. On Monday, customers of Verizon Wireless – the nation's largest wireless carrier – were unable to access their online accounts due to technical difficulties. In addition, those without access to text-enabled cellphones and those residing in areas with unreliable cellphone service found themselves locked out of their online accounts. .Apparel (men's shirts and sweaters, women's dresses, jewelry) .The Democrats are likely to use reconciliation to move President Biden's COVID-19 relief measure through Congress while sidestepping a GOP filibuster. .There will likely be court challenges to the President's actions, making it unclear how quickly any money would reach the unemployed. On top of that, it is unclear how many states will want to participate in this enhanced unemployment program or how many companies will want to suspend payroll taxes for employees only to have to pay them in 2021. .I worked in a California city police department for 30 years and I'm now entitled to a pension. For the past 8 years, I've also paid into Social Security for. Q & 038; April/May 2020 How Much May I Earn in the Year I Turn Full Retirement Age? .Support Grows for Key Bill .Congress Averts Shutdown .TSCL has concerns about this approach, since it would mean that Social Security's Old Age and Survivor's Insurance (OASI) trust fund would receive 0.9 percent less in payroll tax revenues, worsening the retirement program's financing. In a recent poll conducted by TSCL, this approach received virtually no support from respondents – less than 1 percent said shifting revenues from one trust fund to another would be the best way to fix the program's solvency. .The petitions that poured into Congressional offices this spring urged each Representative and Senator to support key bills like the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) Act, the Social Security Fairness Act, and the Notch Fairness Act, each of which would go a long way in protecting the earned benefits of seniors. The petitions also protested issues that our members feel strongly about, like amnesty for illegal immigrants and the pending Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico.