Social Security Administration (SSA) Archives

Dem/GOP Split on Social Security Apparent in Hill Hearing

The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing about the program's trustees' projection that the Social Security trust fund will become depleted in 2035, absent Congressional action. Even so, Social Security still could pay 83% of scheduled benefits at that time. No one wants Congressional inaction, but the hearing emphasized the difference in the two parties' approaches to the problem.

NCPSSM2024-06-11T14:19:17-04:00June 10th, 2024|Categories: Congress, Debt, Democrats, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

House GOP Appropriators Announce 10% Cut in Labor/HHS Spending

House Republicans once again are showing where their true priorities lie. Appropriations committee chair Tom Cole (R-OK) announced the GOP’s topline numbers for fiscal year 2025 --- including at least a 10% cut in funding for Labor/HHS (Health & Human Services). That could mean agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would endure a huge spending cut, while Republican appropriators propose to boost military spending by 1%.

NCPSSM2024-05-17T12:16:18-04:00May 16th, 2024|Categories: Budget, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Congress, Democrats, Republicans, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

84 Years Ago Today the First Social Security Beneficiary Got Her Check

Ida Mae Fuller in 1940 The following article is reprinted from the Social Security Administration (SSA) website www.ssa.gov The

NCPSSM2024-01-31T16:40:02-04:00January 31st, 2024|Categories: Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

FDR Would Be “Fighting Mad” About Assaults on Social Security, Says Grandson on New Podcast

President Franklin D. Roosevelt would be “fighting mad” about conservative attempts to undermine Social Security, says his grandson, Jim Roosevelt on the first episode of our new podcast --- released this week.

Walter Gottlieb2023-12-18T21:33:46-04:00December 15th, 2023|Categories: Medicare, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Republicans, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability Insurance, SSA field offices, You Earned This podcast|

Reassurance & Warning at Social Security Town Hall in Las Vegas

The message at Thursday’s NCPSSM/AARP town hall in Las Vegas was: the government may temporarily shut down on September 30th, but Social Security is here to stay. The town hall, entitled “Social Security: Here Today, Here Tomorrow,” was an opportunity for nearly 100 Las Vegas residents to hear from some of the nation’s leading experts about the value of Social Security --- and to receive reassurance that benefits still will be paid during a shutdown.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-29T00:50:05-04:00September 29th, 2023|Categories: Max Richtman, Social Insurance, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

Would a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security and Medicare?

First, the good news. Even if the government shuts down at the end of this week because of House Republican intransigence, Social Security benefits will continue to be paid and customer service for retirees should not get significantly worse. Now, the bad news. The impending shutdown is symptomatic of a disorder in Congress that seniors should care about: MAGA hardliners once again gumming up the works of a government which best serves the public when operating smoothly, without needless disruptions.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-26T11:53:16-04:00September 25th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Disability, GOP, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

House GOP Spending Proposal Would Slash Social Security Administration Funding

We don’t know exactly what the impact of any cut will be on SSA, but we do know they have already requested an increase of $727 million above current funding, as a minimum, for FY 2024. Without this level of funding, they will be forced to reduce staffing and overtime, which will hurt the agency’s ability to serve the public. Without that minimum level of funding, SSA’s customers will wait significantly longer for field office services, disability decisions, and phone support, and their already significant backlogs would increase.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-18T15:41:28-04:00September 18th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Republicans, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

Philadelphians Flock to NCPSSM/AARP Town Hall on Social Security

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?”

Walter Gottlieb2023-07-28T13:53:59-04:00July 27th, 2023|Categories: AARP, Max Richtman, President Biden, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

Does New Hill Spending Deal Affect Social Security & Medicare?

Congressional negotiators have struck a compromise on spending for Fiscal Year 2023, avoiding a government shutdown this Friday. The House and Senate are expected to pass a short-term extension by the end of this week, giving negotiators more time to finish a final funding package for the rest of the fiscal year. We spoke with NCPSSM legislative director Dan Adcock about the compromise deal.

NCPSSM2022-12-14T12:15:45-04:00December 14th, 2022|Categories: Budget, Congress, Democrats, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability Insurance|

8.7% Social Security COLA is Highest in Four Decades, But Seniors Need a Better Inflation Formula

The Social Security Administration SSA announced this morning that Social Security benefits will increase 8.7 % in 2023 --- the largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four decades. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.