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Social Security Disability Insurance needs major reform
IN THE debate over entitlement reform, few subjects are more fiercely debated than the cause of the explosive recent growth of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Defenders of the program, which cost a record $135 billion in fiscal 2012, argue that the rolls are increasing mainly because of technical…
House GOP may add budget cuts to debt limit bill
House Republicans are considering demanding Medicare and other budget savings, reining in the Obama administration’s environmental agenda including greenhouse gas restrictions, and other proposals as the price for extending the government’s ability to borrow money, GOP lawmakers and aides said Friday…Read More Notice: The…
A timely reminder: Sign up for online Social Security account
I was pleased to receive an automatic e-mail alert from the Social Security Administration Monday urging me to review my Social Security statement online. Just like in the old days of paper statements when an annual benefits estimate would arrive in…
Chains of a Chained CPI
A flawed policy initiative called the Chained CPI (Consumer Price Index) is gaining prominence in Washington budget talks that would shortchange Marylanders who receive federal benefits such as Social Security by lowballing their annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Chained CPI supporters are…
Will Social Security be gone when you retire?
Social Security benefits used to be counted on by all tax-paying workers. A portion of your pay would be deducted automatically from your paycheck, through the payroll tax, and in return, you would reap the benefits when you retired. For many…
Government Shutdown 2013: Here’s The Truth About What Will …
Here’s the truth about a government “shutdown.” The government won’t shut down if a dysfunctional Washington can’t pass a funding bill before the new budget year begins Oct. 1. Social Security payments will still go out on time. Doctors and hospitals will…
New House Bill Strengthens Social Security Benefits
While there’s a move to cut Social Security benefits through a so-called “chained” CPI and raise the retirement age, a bill introduced in the House this week goes in the other direction: it strengthens Social Security benefits. The Strengthening Social Security Act (H.R. 3118) introduced…
Social Security: You know where to find us
If you’ve read anything about Social Security in recent years, then you probably know that our most convenient office location is wherever you happen to be – thanks towww.socialsecurity.gov. Whether you’re on your home or office computer, or at the…
Why Seniors Should Say ‘No’ to Paying for the Medicare Doctor-Fix
Congress is floating a proposal that would require people covered by Medicare to fork over more of their money to the health care industry. Older Americans already spend, on average, 23 percent of their Social Security checks on Medicare Part B…
The truth: Government won’t shut down _ but default could delay benefit checks, troops’ wages
Here’s the truth about a government “shutdown.” The government doesn’t shut down. So the world won’t end if a dysfunctional Washington can’t find a way to pass a funding bill before the new budget year begins on Oct. 1. Social Security…