Latest News
1 in 10 kids have someone else using their social security number
While most businesses and adults are protective of their online identities, a new study finds cyber security should also be a concern for our children. The Carnegie Mellon CyLab study shows more than 10 percent of children under the age of…
In surprise move, CMS announces Medicare Advantage pay increase
After proposing in February a 1.9 percent cut in reimbursement to insurers in the Medicare Advantage program, Medicare made a surprise announcement and said there would, instead, be a 0.4 percent increase. This is the second year Medicare has reversed proposed…
Mikulski, Boxer Urge SSA Not to Penalize Taxpayers for Decades-Old Social Security Overpayments
U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) today called on the Social Security Administration to end the policy of seizing taxpayers’ refunds to hold them accountable for decades-old errors made by the agency that led to the overpayment of benefits.…
Democrats embrace adding photos to Social Security cards
As Republicans push for new voting restrictions around the country, a handful of Democrats have coalesced around an impromptu idea: placing a photo on Social Security cards. Former U.N. ambassador and civil rights activist Andrew Young — who chairs a nonpartisan…
Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund: Background and Solvency Issues – R43318
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program provides benefits to insured workers with disabilities under Social Security’s full retirement age and their dependents based on an individual worker’s earnings and work history in covered employment. Recently, some Members of Congress and the public…
House Oversight Committee Hearing
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing yesterday on Social Security’s continuing disability reviews. Here are links to the written statements: Read more… Notice: The “Read more…” link provided above connects readers to the full text of the…
Another look at disability and labor force participation
In searching for explanations for the steep decline in the labor force participation rate analysts have rightly stressed the importance of retiring baby boomers. This trend appears to be the single most important factor depressing participation over the last six…
At a glance: How to avoid tax refund fraud
As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, tax refund fraud is a growing problem. Here are tips from the federal government on how to avoid becoming a victim, and how to respond if you have become one. Read more……
Medicare info puts welcome spotlight on health care spending
Foes of Obamacare often frame such health reforms as “redistribution” schemes. They take money from hardworking Americans and give it to the presumably undeserving. My conservative friends are right that a lot of health reform is about redistribution. What they get…
Social Security, Treasury target hundreds of thousands of taxpayers for parents’ old debts
A few weeks ago, with no notice, the U.S. government intercepted Mary Grice’s tax refunds from both the IRS and the state of Maryland. Grice had no idea that Uncle Sam had seized her money until some days later, when…