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Blog2023-02-16T14:29:22-04:00
2707, 2023

Philadelphians Flock to NCPSSM/AARP Town Hall on Social Security

By |July 27th, 2023|AARP, Max Richtman, President Biden, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

More than 150 Philadelphians turned out at Center in the Park for a town hall emphasizing Social Security’s importance to the Black community, co-presented by NCPSSM and AARP Pennsylvania. Attendees learned about their earned benefits and played Social Security-themed games — including Social Security Plinko and “What does Social Security Mean to You?”

The event featured a public forum with panelists Max Richtman (NCPSSM President), Carolyn Colvin (former Social Security Commissioner), and representatives from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. The town hall portion was moderated by Philadelphia radio personality Frankie Darcell of WDAS-FM.

Attendees included near-seniors (aged 55-65) and workers who have already retired. “I learned many things, from beginning to end,” said Lue D., a retired pharmaceutical manager, who says she appreciated the forum’s debunking of Social Security myths and misinformation. “It reinforced to me that we need the truth about Social Security in order to talk about it more intelligently out in the community.”

Attendees watch the panel discussion on the importance of Social Security

During the public forum, National Committee president and CEO Max Richtman corrected several harmful Social Security myths:

*Social Security is not going bankrupt;

*The trust fund is not full of “worthless IOUs”

*Politicians are not ‘stealing’ from Social Security;

*Undocumented immigrants are not draining the system’s finances.

Without naming names, Richtman said that myths and misinformation “are designed to undermine the support and faith that Americans have in Social Security” by those who wish to cut and privatize the program. Fortunately, he said, “the polling we’ve seen shows 80-90% support for Social Security across the board.”

L-R, Panelists Allison Schilling, Sarah Martinez, Carolyn Colvin, and Max Richtman

The benefit to Black families was a major theme of the forum’s panel discussion. Ava, a retiree in the audience, said that she “hadn’t understood how Social Security helps families” until she attended the event.

Former Social Security Commissioner Colvin (who ran the program under President Obama) explained that, on average, Black workers  become disabled earlier and live fewer years than others.  Social Security, she said, provides families with disability, spousal, and survivor’s benefits. “The Social Security benefits available to families is extremely important,” Colvin told the audience. “Social Security guarantees benefits for various stages of family experience.”

Former Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin speaks at the town hall

Colvin pointed out that Black retirees rely on Social Security more than their white counterparts, due to job and wage discrimination and other socioeconomic factors. Without Social Security, 50.5% of Black retirees would be living in poverty.

Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood kicked off the town hall with a passionate statement of support for Social Security. Haywood, who was raised by a single mom and began working at age 9 as a newspaper delivery boy, said that “Social Security was designed to preserve the dignity” of retirees. “That’s why it’s so important to have this forum… to talk in detail about the fact that Social Security is still there for us.”

PA State Senator Art Haywood: Social Security allows workers to retire “with dignity”

Sarah Martinez and Allison Schilling of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia covered the nitty-gritty details of Social Security and the difference between Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — including the nuances on how to qualify and apply for each program.

Martinez acknowledged that qualifying for SSDI can be difficult, especially given customer service issues at the fiscally struggling Social Security Administration (SSA). “If you’re denied there’s likely a long appeals process. I’ve seen some of these cases go for years, with multiple appeals. The quickest I’ve seen an SSDI appeal resolved in the claimant’s favor is around one year,” she said. (More than 10,000 claimants have died awaiting a hearing on their SSDI appeals.)

A few hours before the town hall began, President Biden named former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as permanent commissioner for SSA.  In a press statement, Richtman praised O’Malley for his support of Social Security as a presidential candidate in 2016. “As a confirmed commissioner, Martin O’Malley will be able to advocate effectively for SSA, which has been chronically underfunded and has struggled to provide adequate customer service,” said Richtman.

Representatives from the regional SSA office and the staffs of U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) were on hand to answer attendees’ personal Social Security questions. Audience member Pat Pinkett, who is still working but nearing Social Security retirement age, said she attended the town hall because many people “have no clue about how Social Security really works. I wanted to come to the source and get the facts!”

Philadelphians packed Center in the Park for the NCPSSM/AARP town hall

The Philadelphia town hall was part of a joint NCPSSM-AARP public education campaign entitled, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow,” to better inform Americans about the value of the program to workers and their families. The first town hall took place in Richmond, VA in June. The campaign is coming to Lansing, MI, Las Vegas, NV, and Milwaukee, WI between now and October.

Watch a recording of the entire Philadelphia town hall here.

For more information on the town halls, visit the campaign website www.socialsecurity.org 


1407, 2023

Rep. Larson Re-introduces His Social Security 2100 Act & Other Top News of the Week

By |July 14th, 2023|Boost Social Security, Congress, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Senate, seniors, Social Security|

It’s been a busy week for Social Security watchers and advocates. Here are some of the major developments from Washington, D.C.:

Larson Re-Introduces Social Security Expansion Bill

Rep. John Larson on Wednesday re-introduced his Social Security 2100 Act, the sixth time he has offered this legislation. The 2100 Act would boost benefits across the board — and would also provide targeted increases to the most vulnerable seniors; It would replace the current COLA formula with the more accurate (and generous) CPI-E; and it would repeal the wildly unpopular Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Equally importantly, the Larson bill would extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund, currently projected to become depleted in 2034, for another 32 years – according to an estimate from the program’s Chief Actuary.

The bill pays for expanded benefits and extended solvency by:

  • Ensuring millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share by applying FICA to earnings above $400,000, with those extra earnings counted toward benefits at a reduced rate.
  • Closing the loophole of avoiding FICA taxes and receiving a lower rate on investment income by adding an additional 12.4% net investment income tax (NIIT) only for taxpayers making over $400,000.

“Seniors across the country rely on Social Security benefits to ensure they can retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. It’s been 52 years since Congress has acted to enhance Social Security on their behalf, and while Republicans band together to dismantle the program, Democrats are making it clear they are coming together to both protect and expand Social Security.” – Rep. John Larson (D-CT), 7/12/23

Congressman Larson’s bill has almost 200 cosponsors in the U.S. House.

Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, held a hearing this week on his bill, the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.  Like Larson’s legislation, Senator Whitehouse’s bill that would require wages above $400,000 to be taxed for Social Security.

“Right now, the cap on Social Security contributions means a tech exec making $1 million effectively stops paying into the program at the end of February, while a schoolteacher making far less contributes their share through every single paycheck all year.” – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Unlike the Larson bill, Senator Whitehouse’s does not expand benefits. Meanwhile, House Republicans have proposed to cut benefits by raising the retirement age, means testing, and adopting a more miserly COLA formula.

2024 Social Security COLA May Be a Paltry 3%

“The COLA is estimated at 3% next year, according to a forecast from The Senior Citizens League, a nonprofit seniors’ group. That’s much less than the four-decade high 8.7% COLA in 2023 but above last month’s estimate for a 2.7% increase for 2024,” reports CNBC.

Most seniors need every dollar of cost-of-living adjustments that they can get, as the cost of essentials like housing, food, and medical care continue to rise. Unfortunately, the current COLA formula does not fully take into account the goods and services that seniors depend on. The National Committee supports the adoption of the CPI-E (Consumer Price Index – Elderly), which is included in Congressman Larson’s bill.


3006, 2023

“Social Security was our lifeline” says Richmond Mayor at NCPSSM/AARP Town Hall

By |June 30th, 2023|Boost Social Security, Delay & Gain, Max Richtman, Social Security|

The importance of Social Security to the Black Community could not have been clearer in Richmond, VA on Tuesday — at the National Committee’s first town hall of a new public education campaign, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow.”  The town hall was sponsored by AARP Virginia.

Watch a recorded video stream of the entire Richmond event here.

Some 80 Richmond residents and AARP volunteers filled the Black History Museum & Cultural Center for an evening of Social Security-themed games and a public forum/Q&A.  Representatives of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the office of U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman were on hand to answer questions about attendees’ earned benefits.

The town hall was moderated by WTVR-TV (CBS 6) anchor, Reba Hollingsworth, with panelists including former Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin, NCPSSM President & CEO Max Ricthman, and financial advisor Brandon Byerson.

Social Security Plinko — a fun way to learn about a program of special importance to Black Americans

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney opened the public forum with an impassioned testimonial about being raised by his grandmother, who was a Social Security beneficiary. “Black individuals rely more on Social Security than other demographics, and my grandmother’s story is a great example of that,” Stoney said. “It truly was our lifeline.”  Without Social Security, some 50% of Black Americans would be living in poverty.

Mayor Levar Stoney kicks-off the Richmond town hall, 6/27/23

Commissioner Colvin, who ran the Social Security program during the Obama administration, explained that Black workers especially depend on Social Security because of historically lower wages and dwindling employer-provided pensions. “If you’re dealing with struggling to put food on the table and pay your bills or to deal with health issues, you don’t have money to save towards your retirement,” Colvin said.

National Committee President Max Richtman focused on busting Social Security myths that can undermine public support for the program. “Social Security is not going bankrupt. It will be there for future generations if Congress takes responsible action. And politicians are not ‘stealing from Social Security,’ Richtman pointed out.

He also debunked conservative propaganda that Social Security is a bad deal for younger adults — not only because they will need their retirement benefits even more than current seniors do – but because the average 27 year-old with a spouse and two children already has more than $800,000 worth of insurance coverage from Social Security.

“People think of Social Security as only being for seniors, but let’s remember that it provides life, disability, spousal and survivor’s insurance for Americans of all ages — including millions of children,” said Richtman.

NCPSSM President Max Richtman & Fmr. Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin

The “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” campaign is focused on near retirees (people who are not yet eligible for Social Security but will be soon.) As the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported, attendee Michele Rodrigues came to the event to learn more about Social Security before she becomes eligible for benefits:::

Rodrigues got set back financially after losing her job. She said she wants to be ready for a decision on claiming Social Security before she turns 62, the earliest age one can collect retirement benefits.  “It’s critical for my retirement,” Rodrigues said. – Gabriela DeCamargo Goncalves, Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/29/23

The public education campaign rolls onward with town halls this summer and early fall in Philadelphia, PA (7/26/23), Lansing, MI (8/28/23), Milwaukee, WI (September TBD), and Las Vegas, NV (October TBD).  Visit www.socialsecurityheretoday.org for registration information. Those unable to attend the free town halls in person will be able to watch live video streams of the events.

“We look forward to taking the campaign to these other cities, spreading the word that Social Security is crucial for all Americans — and that it’s so important for workers to understand the program before they become eligible,” says Richtman. “Most of all, we want them to know that Social Security remains strong, and that with action from Congress to enhance the program’s finances and improve benefits, it definitely will be there for them when they need it.”

Watch the “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” video here.


2306, 2023

NCPSSM Launches New, National Social Security Campaign with AARP

By |June 23rd, 2023|Boost Social Security, Max Richtman, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Social Security|

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is launching a new public education campaign — sponsored by AARP — to correct misinformation about Social Security and emphasize the program’s value to American workers, especially to communities of color.  The campaign, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow,” will debunk myths and give workers the facts about their vital earned benefits.  The campaign includes a series of public town halls across the U.S. between June and October, 2023,  featuring prominent Social Security experts and advocates, Social Security officials, and financial advisors. The first town hall is Tuesday, June 27th, in Richmond, VA. The Richmond panel of experts includes former Acting Social Security Commissioner, Carolyn Colvin.

“There is a ‘doom and gloom’ narrative about Social Security today. ‘The program is going bankrupt.’ ‘It won’t be there for future generations.’ ‘Politicians are stealing from Social Security.’ None of that is true. We want the public to understand that Social Security is there for them today — and it will be there for them tomorrow. And not just in retirement, but in case of disability, the death of a family breadwinner, or the retirement of a spouse. That’s what this campaign is all about.” – Max Richtman, NCPSSM President and CEO

Social Security is a financial lifeline to millions of American seniors, but it is especially crucial to the Black community.  Black Americans traditionally rely on Social Security for monthly income more than other groups do, due to wage and job discrimination, diminishing employer-provided pensions, and challenges in saving for retirement.

“Like all Americans, the Black community pays into Social Security with every paycheck — and deserves to know that the government will keep its promise to provide baseline financial security when they encounter what President Franklin Roosevelt called ‘the hazards and vicissitudes’ of life.” – Max Richtman

At the “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” town halls, attendees will enjoy themed games and refreshments, followed by a panel discussion with national and local experts, including Q&A. Representatives of the Social Security Administration and/or congressional district offices have been invited to answer attendees’ questions about their own Social Security benefits.

Here is a schedule of the town halls. Admission is free. Reservations are required.

Richmond, VA, June 27, 2023 at the Black History & Cultural Center of Virginia

Philadelphia, PA, July 26, 2023 at Center In The Park 

Lansing, MI, August 28, 2023 at AARP Michigan Office (To be televised later on WLAJ-TV/ABC)

Milwaukee, WI, September, 2023 (date & location TBA)

Las Vegas, NV, October, 2023 (date & location TBA)\

You can watch s a 2-minute video about the campaign here.

For more information, visit the campaign website, www.socialsecurityheretoday.org.


3005, 2023

Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal Averts Disruption of Social Security, Medicare

By |May 30th, 2023|Congress, Debt Ceiling, Democrats, GOP, President Biden|

Amid all the static surrounding the debt ceiling deal that President Biden and Speaker McCarthy struck over the weekend, this much is certain: the deal is better for American seniors than a federal default. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means no one got everything they wanted,” said President Biden on Monday. “But that’s the responsibility of governing.” Many observers feel that the President and his party — and the American people — came out ahead.

“(The debt ceiling deal is) a win for Democrats, who sought to avoid having another debt limit showdown ahead of next year’s election. And they protected many programs that Republicans sought to slash.” – The Hill, 5/28/23

“Based on what we’ve learned about the Biden-McCarthy agreement so far, it looks to me as though Republicans got relatively less of what they wanted, while Democrats got relatively more.” – Eugene Robinson, Washington Post, 5/29/23

The alternative to this deal, a default on U.S. government debts, would not only have caused economic catastrophe; it would have disrupted the Social Security payments that millions of American seniors rely on to cover basic living expenses. Medicare payments likely also would be impacted by a default.

The deal’s 2-year freeze on “non-defense discretionary spending” may affect the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) operating budget, though the exact impact isn’t yet clear. SSA has been chronically underfunded since the Tea Party-fomented fiscal crisis in 2011. The spending cap in this deal means that SSA won’t have the funds needed to improve customer service.  However, the deal will have nowhere near the devastating impact of the 23% across-the-board spending cuts in the House GOP’s original debt ceiling bill. The same holds true for Older Americans Act programs (including nutrition and home heating assistance), which could have been slashed by the Republicans’ House-passed legislation.

“President Joe Biden has saved us from the political terrorism of MAGAnomics with… (a) debt ceiling deal that must be passed. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was willing to sacrifice education, veterans benefits, and public safety in the interest of his own power, now has the onus to secure support for this deal from his caucus.” – Center for American Progress, 5/27/23

McCarthy has begun trying to whip his caucus to support the bill in the face of opposition from the party’s extreme MAGA wing. On Tuesday afternoon, the blow-it-all-up House Freedom Caucus declared its opposition to the deal, preferring to see the country edge perilously closer to default instead. It was this same Freedom Caucus crowd that insisted McCarthy refuse to bring a clean debt limit bill to the floor in the first place — in exchange for their support during his campaign to become Speaker.

Progressive Democrats in the House expressed concerns about the deal, largely centering on work requirements for federal food assistance (SNAP) beneficiaries aged 50-54 with no legal dependents. (The SNAP work requirement in the deal would sunset in 2030.) The deal includes new work requirement exemptions for SNAP recipients who are homeless or veterans.

The Democratic leadership in the House expects Speaker McCarthy to produce as many Republican votes in favor of the deal as he can, with Democrats presumably filling in the necessary votes to pass a bill. The odds of the deal passing the House depends on how many Democratic Progressives and House Freedom Caucus members vote against the compromise.

At the end of last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that, without Congressional action to raise the debt ceiling, the nation would run out of money to pay its bills on time by June 5. That gives lawmakers only a handful of legislative days to enact the Biden-McCarthy deal. “We strongly encourage both chambers (of Congress) to enact the deal and send it to the President’s desk,” said OMB Director Shalanda Young at a press conference late Tuesday afternoon.


Philadelphians Flock to NCPSSM/AARP Town Hall on Social Security

By |July 27th, 2023|AARP, Max Richtman, President Biden, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

More than 150 Philadelphians turned out at Center in the Park for a town hall emphasizing Social Security’s importance to the Black community, co-presented by NCPSSM and AARP Pennsylvania. Attendees learned about their earned benefits and played Social Security-themed games — including Social Security Plinko and “What does Social Security Mean to You?”

The event featured a public forum with panelists Max Richtman (NCPSSM President), Carolyn Colvin (former Social Security Commissioner), and representatives from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. The town hall portion was moderated by Philadelphia radio personality Frankie Darcell of WDAS-FM.

Attendees included near-seniors (aged 55-65) and workers who have already retired. “I learned many things, from beginning to end,” said Lue D., a retired pharmaceutical manager, who says she appreciated the forum’s debunking of Social Security myths and misinformation. “It reinforced to me that we need the truth about Social Security in order to talk about it more intelligently out in the community.”

Attendees watch the panel discussion on the importance of Social Security

During the public forum, National Committee president and CEO Max Richtman corrected several harmful Social Security myths:

*Social Security is not going bankrupt;

*The trust fund is not full of “worthless IOUs”

*Politicians are not ‘stealing’ from Social Security;

*Undocumented immigrants are not draining the system’s finances.

Without naming names, Richtman said that myths and misinformation “are designed to undermine the support and faith that Americans have in Social Security” by those who wish to cut and privatize the program. Fortunately, he said, “the polling we’ve seen shows 80-90% support for Social Security across the board.”

L-R, Panelists Allison Schilling, Sarah Martinez, Carolyn Colvin, and Max Richtman

The benefit to Black families was a major theme of the forum’s panel discussion. Ava, a retiree in the audience, said that she “hadn’t understood how Social Security helps families” until she attended the event.

Former Social Security Commissioner Colvin (who ran the program under President Obama) explained that, on average, Black workers  become disabled earlier and live fewer years than others.  Social Security, she said, provides families with disability, spousal, and survivor’s benefits. “The Social Security benefits available to families is extremely important,” Colvin told the audience. “Social Security guarantees benefits for various stages of family experience.”

Former Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin speaks at the town hall

Colvin pointed out that Black retirees rely on Social Security more than their white counterparts, due to job and wage discrimination and other socioeconomic factors. Without Social Security, 50.5% of Black retirees would be living in poverty.

Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood kicked off the town hall with a passionate statement of support for Social Security. Haywood, who was raised by a single mom and began working at age 9 as a newspaper delivery boy, said that “Social Security was designed to preserve the dignity” of retirees. “That’s why it’s so important to have this forum… to talk in detail about the fact that Social Security is still there for us.”

PA State Senator Art Haywood: Social Security allows workers to retire “with dignity”

Sarah Martinez and Allison Schilling of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia covered the nitty-gritty details of Social Security and the difference between Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — including the nuances on how to qualify and apply for each program.

Martinez acknowledged that qualifying for SSDI can be difficult, especially given customer service issues at the fiscally struggling Social Security Administration (SSA). “If you’re denied there’s likely a long appeals process. I’ve seen some of these cases go for years, with multiple appeals. The quickest I’ve seen an SSDI appeal resolved in the claimant’s favor is around one year,” she said. (More than 10,000 claimants have died awaiting a hearing on their SSDI appeals.)

A few hours before the town hall began, President Biden named former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as permanent commissioner for SSA.  In a press statement, Richtman praised O’Malley for his support of Social Security as a presidential candidate in 2016. “As a confirmed commissioner, Martin O’Malley will be able to advocate effectively for SSA, which has been chronically underfunded and has struggled to provide adequate customer service,” said Richtman.

Representatives from the regional SSA office and the staffs of U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) were on hand to answer attendees’ personal Social Security questions. Audience member Pat Pinkett, who is still working but nearing Social Security retirement age, said she attended the town hall because many people “have no clue about how Social Security really works. I wanted to come to the source and get the facts!”

Philadelphians packed Center in the Park for the NCPSSM/AARP town hall

The Philadelphia town hall was part of a joint NCPSSM-AARP public education campaign entitled, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow,” to better inform Americans about the value of the program to workers and their families. The first town hall took place in Richmond, VA in June. The campaign is coming to Lansing, MI, Las Vegas, NV, and Milwaukee, WI between now and October.

Watch a recording of the entire Philadelphia town hall here.

For more information on the town halls, visit the campaign website www.socialsecurity.org 


Rep. Larson Re-introduces His Social Security 2100 Act & Other Top News of the Week

By |July 14th, 2023|Boost Social Security, Congress, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Senate, seniors, Social Security|

It’s been a busy week for Social Security watchers and advocates. Here are some of the major developments from Washington, D.C.:

Larson Re-Introduces Social Security Expansion Bill

Rep. John Larson on Wednesday re-introduced his Social Security 2100 Act, the sixth time he has offered this legislation. The 2100 Act would boost benefits across the board — and would also provide targeted increases to the most vulnerable seniors; It would replace the current COLA formula with the more accurate (and generous) CPI-E; and it would repeal the wildly unpopular Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Equally importantly, the Larson bill would extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund, currently projected to become depleted in 2034, for another 32 years – according to an estimate from the program’s Chief Actuary.

The bill pays for expanded benefits and extended solvency by:

  • Ensuring millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share by applying FICA to earnings above $400,000, with those extra earnings counted toward benefits at a reduced rate.
  • Closing the loophole of avoiding FICA taxes and receiving a lower rate on investment income by adding an additional 12.4% net investment income tax (NIIT) only for taxpayers making over $400,000.

“Seniors across the country rely on Social Security benefits to ensure they can retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. It’s been 52 years since Congress has acted to enhance Social Security on their behalf, and while Republicans band together to dismantle the program, Democrats are making it clear they are coming together to both protect and expand Social Security.” – Rep. John Larson (D-CT), 7/12/23

Congressman Larson’s bill has almost 200 cosponsors in the U.S. House.

Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, held a hearing this week on his bill, the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.  Like Larson’s legislation, Senator Whitehouse’s bill that would require wages above $400,000 to be taxed for Social Security.

“Right now, the cap on Social Security contributions means a tech exec making $1 million effectively stops paying into the program at the end of February, while a schoolteacher making far less contributes their share through every single paycheck all year.” – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Unlike the Larson bill, Senator Whitehouse’s does not expand benefits. Meanwhile, House Republicans have proposed to cut benefits by raising the retirement age, means testing, and adopting a more miserly COLA formula.

2024 Social Security COLA May Be a Paltry 3%

“The COLA is estimated at 3% next year, according to a forecast from The Senior Citizens League, a nonprofit seniors’ group. That’s much less than the four-decade high 8.7% COLA in 2023 but above last month’s estimate for a 2.7% increase for 2024,” reports CNBC.

Most seniors need every dollar of cost-of-living adjustments that they can get, as the cost of essentials like housing, food, and medical care continue to rise. Unfortunately, the current COLA formula does not fully take into account the goods and services that seniors depend on. The National Committee supports the adoption of the CPI-E (Consumer Price Index – Elderly), which is included in Congressman Larson’s bill.


“Social Security was our lifeline” says Richmond Mayor at NCPSSM/AARP Town Hall

By |June 30th, 2023|Boost Social Security, Delay & Gain, Max Richtman, Social Security|

The importance of Social Security to the Black Community could not have been clearer in Richmond, VA on Tuesday — at the National Committee’s first town hall of a new public education campaign, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow.”  The town hall was sponsored by AARP Virginia.

Watch a recorded video stream of the entire Richmond event here.

Some 80 Richmond residents and AARP volunteers filled the Black History Museum & Cultural Center for an evening of Social Security-themed games and a public forum/Q&A.  Representatives of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the office of U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman were on hand to answer questions about attendees’ earned benefits.

The town hall was moderated by WTVR-TV (CBS 6) anchor, Reba Hollingsworth, with panelists including former Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin, NCPSSM President & CEO Max Ricthman, and financial advisor Brandon Byerson.

Social Security Plinko — a fun way to learn about a program of special importance to Black Americans

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney opened the public forum with an impassioned testimonial about being raised by his grandmother, who was a Social Security beneficiary. “Black individuals rely more on Social Security than other demographics, and my grandmother’s story is a great example of that,” Stoney said. “It truly was our lifeline.”  Without Social Security, some 50% of Black Americans would be living in poverty.

Mayor Levar Stoney kicks-off the Richmond town hall, 6/27/23

Commissioner Colvin, who ran the Social Security program during the Obama administration, explained that Black workers especially depend on Social Security because of historically lower wages and dwindling employer-provided pensions. “If you’re dealing with struggling to put food on the table and pay your bills or to deal with health issues, you don’t have money to save towards your retirement,” Colvin said.

National Committee President Max Richtman focused on busting Social Security myths that can undermine public support for the program. “Social Security is not going bankrupt. It will be there for future generations if Congress takes responsible action. And politicians are not ‘stealing from Social Security,’ Richtman pointed out.

He also debunked conservative propaganda that Social Security is a bad deal for younger adults — not only because they will need their retirement benefits even more than current seniors do – but because the average 27 year-old with a spouse and two children already has more than $800,000 worth of insurance coverage from Social Security.

“People think of Social Security as only being for seniors, but let’s remember that it provides life, disability, spousal and survivor’s insurance for Americans of all ages — including millions of children,” said Richtman.

NCPSSM President Max Richtman & Fmr. Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin

The “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” campaign is focused on near retirees (people who are not yet eligible for Social Security but will be soon.) As the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported, attendee Michele Rodrigues came to the event to learn more about Social Security before she becomes eligible for benefits:::

Rodrigues got set back financially after losing her job. She said she wants to be ready for a decision on claiming Social Security before she turns 62, the earliest age one can collect retirement benefits.  “It’s critical for my retirement,” Rodrigues said. – Gabriela DeCamargo Goncalves, Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/29/23

The public education campaign rolls onward with town halls this summer and early fall in Philadelphia, PA (7/26/23), Lansing, MI (8/28/23), Milwaukee, WI (September TBD), and Las Vegas, NV (October TBD).  Visit www.socialsecurityheretoday.org for registration information. Those unable to attend the free town halls in person will be able to watch live video streams of the events.

“We look forward to taking the campaign to these other cities, spreading the word that Social Security is crucial for all Americans — and that it’s so important for workers to understand the program before they become eligible,” says Richtman. “Most of all, we want them to know that Social Security remains strong, and that with action from Congress to enhance the program’s finances and improve benefits, it definitely will be there for them when they need it.”

Watch the “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” video here.


NCPSSM Launches New, National Social Security Campaign with AARP

By |June 23rd, 2023|Boost Social Security, Max Richtman, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Social Security|

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is launching a new public education campaign — sponsored by AARP — to correct misinformation about Social Security and emphasize the program’s value to American workers, especially to communities of color.  The campaign, “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow,” will debunk myths and give workers the facts about their vital earned benefits.  The campaign includes a series of public town halls across the U.S. between June and October, 2023,  featuring prominent Social Security experts and advocates, Social Security officials, and financial advisors. The first town hall is Tuesday, June 27th, in Richmond, VA. The Richmond panel of experts includes former Acting Social Security Commissioner, Carolyn Colvin.

“There is a ‘doom and gloom’ narrative about Social Security today. ‘The program is going bankrupt.’ ‘It won’t be there for future generations.’ ‘Politicians are stealing from Social Security.’ None of that is true. We want the public to understand that Social Security is there for them today — and it will be there for them tomorrow. And not just in retirement, but in case of disability, the death of a family breadwinner, or the retirement of a spouse. That’s what this campaign is all about.” – Max Richtman, NCPSSM President and CEO

Social Security is a financial lifeline to millions of American seniors, but it is especially crucial to the Black community.  Black Americans traditionally rely on Social Security for monthly income more than other groups do, due to wage and job discrimination, diminishing employer-provided pensions, and challenges in saving for retirement.

“Like all Americans, the Black community pays into Social Security with every paycheck — and deserves to know that the government will keep its promise to provide baseline financial security when they encounter what President Franklin Roosevelt called ‘the hazards and vicissitudes’ of life.” – Max Richtman

At the “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow” town halls, attendees will enjoy themed games and refreshments, followed by a panel discussion with national and local experts, including Q&A. Representatives of the Social Security Administration and/or congressional district offices have been invited to answer attendees’ questions about their own Social Security benefits.

Here is a schedule of the town halls. Admission is free. Reservations are required.

Richmond, VA, June 27, 2023 at the Black History & Cultural Center of Virginia

Philadelphia, PA, July 26, 2023 at Center In The Park 

Lansing, MI, August 28, 2023 at AARP Michigan Office (To be televised later on WLAJ-TV/ABC)

Milwaukee, WI, September, 2023 (date & location TBA)

Las Vegas, NV, October, 2023 (date & location TBA)\

You can watch s a 2-minute video about the campaign here.

For more information, visit the campaign website, www.socialsecurityheretoday.org.


Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal Averts Disruption of Social Security, Medicare

By |May 30th, 2023|Congress, Debt Ceiling, Democrats, GOP, President Biden|

Amid all the static surrounding the debt ceiling deal that President Biden and Speaker McCarthy struck over the weekend, this much is certain: the deal is better for American seniors than a federal default. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means no one got everything they wanted,” said President Biden on Monday. “But that’s the responsibility of governing.” Many observers feel that the President and his party — and the American people — came out ahead.

“(The debt ceiling deal is) a win for Democrats, who sought to avoid having another debt limit showdown ahead of next year’s election. And they protected many programs that Republicans sought to slash.” – The Hill, 5/28/23

“Based on what we’ve learned about the Biden-McCarthy agreement so far, it looks to me as though Republicans got relatively less of what they wanted, while Democrats got relatively more.” – Eugene Robinson, Washington Post, 5/29/23

The alternative to this deal, a default on U.S. government debts, would not only have caused economic catastrophe; it would have disrupted the Social Security payments that millions of American seniors rely on to cover basic living expenses. Medicare payments likely also would be impacted by a default.

The deal’s 2-year freeze on “non-defense discretionary spending” may affect the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) operating budget, though the exact impact isn’t yet clear. SSA has been chronically underfunded since the Tea Party-fomented fiscal crisis in 2011. The spending cap in this deal means that SSA won’t have the funds needed to improve customer service.  However, the deal will have nowhere near the devastating impact of the 23% across-the-board spending cuts in the House GOP’s original debt ceiling bill. The same holds true for Older Americans Act programs (including nutrition and home heating assistance), which could have been slashed by the Republicans’ House-passed legislation.

“President Joe Biden has saved us from the political terrorism of MAGAnomics with… (a) debt ceiling deal that must be passed. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was willing to sacrifice education, veterans benefits, and public safety in the interest of his own power, now has the onus to secure support for this deal from his caucus.” – Center for American Progress, 5/27/23

McCarthy has begun trying to whip his caucus to support the bill in the face of opposition from the party’s extreme MAGA wing. On Tuesday afternoon, the blow-it-all-up House Freedom Caucus declared its opposition to the deal, preferring to see the country edge perilously closer to default instead. It was this same Freedom Caucus crowd that insisted McCarthy refuse to bring a clean debt limit bill to the floor in the first place — in exchange for their support during his campaign to become Speaker.

Progressive Democrats in the House expressed concerns about the deal, largely centering on work requirements for federal food assistance (SNAP) beneficiaries aged 50-54 with no legal dependents. (The SNAP work requirement in the deal would sunset in 2030.) The deal includes new work requirement exemptions for SNAP recipients who are homeless or veterans.

The Democratic leadership in the House expects Speaker McCarthy to produce as many Republican votes in favor of the deal as he can, with Democrats presumably filling in the necessary votes to pass a bill. The odds of the deal passing the House depends on how many Democratic Progressives and House Freedom Caucus members vote against the compromise.

At the end of last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that, without Congressional action to raise the debt ceiling, the nation would run out of money to pay its bills on time by June 5. That gives lawmakers only a handful of legislative days to enact the Biden-McCarthy deal. “We strongly encourage both chambers (of Congress) to enact the deal and send it to the President’s desk,” said OMB Director Shalanda Young at a press conference late Tuesday afternoon.



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