News

  • Legislative Update For Week Ending February 22 2013

    All Americans will one day become seniors, and so it should be the priority of all members of Congress to make retirement planning easier and to defend and strengthen programs like Medicare and Social Security for future generations. .The Senior Citizens League enthusiastically supports the Audiology Patient Choice Act and the Social Security Fairness Act, and we were pleased to see support grow for them this week. For more information about these and other TSCL-backed bills, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website. .What are the potential complications and risks? … Continued

  • Category Issues Social Security Notch Faqs Feed

    Married living with spouse — annual income is less than ,360 (,030) and resources less than ,600 per year. .TSCL's legislative agenda .Do you have a mortgage? A recent survey by national mortgage banker American Financing found that 44% of Americans between the ages of 60 and 70 have a mortgage when they retire. Of that group, almost one-in-three expect to be paying on their mortgage for at least eight more years. Life insurance can cover mortgage payments if you die, and a term life policy can be timed to end with debt payments. … Continued

The Social Security Disability Trust Fund (SSDI) is rapidly closing in on becoming the first of the two Social Security Trust Funds to become fully insolvent. The disability trust fund, which is separate from the one that pays retirement and survivors benefits, is due to have funding problems by 2016. .Sources: "Salaries of Members of Congress," Ida A. Brudnick, Congressional Research Service, February 1, 2012. .Because the House of Representatives has 435 members its rules are much less complicated than the Senate's, which has 100 members. If the House had the same rules as the Senate, nothing would ever be accomplished. .According to the National Council on Aging, 34% of older households hold credit card balances, and another 29% still owe money on a mortgage, home equity line of credit, or both. Digging out requires work and making changes. Reducing debt requires increasing income, restructuring your budget, and other changes. Here are some things to consider: .Report Says Drug Prices in U.S. Almost 3 Times Higher than Other Countries .Before spending the money, you may be able to accomplish a lot of your own retirement planning by exploring free or low-cost resources in your community. Try starting with educational programs offered by your local senior center, community college or public universities. Ask about classes and workshops specifically designed to help people over 60 learn about and think through major aspects of retirement and aging. Here are some questions to help get you started: .This week, House Republicans revived the AHCA after lawmakers affiliated with the Freedom Caucus endorsed a new version of it. A new amendment put forth by Congressman Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) would allow states to opt out of the ACA's essential health benefits mandate and allow them to do away with a provision that prevents insurers from charging sick individuals more for their coverage. .The President's final memo waives all interest on student loans held by the federal government through the end of 2020 and allows people to delay payments until Dec. 3This will help those who are repaying student loans. .If adopted, H.R. 1553 would base annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) on the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E).