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The past two years without a cost-of-living adjustment felt like the government clamped a lid on benefits. Now a Congressional debt reduction committee is working on a plan that's likely to keep your COLA "chained" down in the future by switching to a more slowly-growing "chained" consumer price index..If signed into law, the Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act would create six different demonstration projects that focus on the coordination of care and the delivery of medical services to elderly patients with chronic illnesses. The projects would design and test new models of care coordination, and direct-care workers would be granted opportunities to advance their careers through additional training, increased compensation, and expanded roles..During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington's Birthday be renamed Presidents' Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln ; although Lincoln's birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents' Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers' use of that name to promote sales and the holiday's proximity to Lincoln's birthday. Presidents' Day is usually marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country..A tax reform plan being floated by the House GOP would meet strong opposition from activists and older voters, warns The Senior Citizens League. The plan would end the 12.4 percent payroll tax that funds the monthly checks of about 60 million current Social Security beneficiaries. "This proposal would sabotage Social Security for both current and future Social Security recipients," warns Mary Johnson, Social Security policy analyst for TSCL..More Americans are spending more years in retirement, but have little or no retirement savings. Fewer employers are offering retirement plans and participation from workers is low among those who do. According to a study by the Schwartz Center for Economic Analysis at the New School, the median net worth among households near retirement show that only about a quarter can expect an adequate cash income stream from their retirement savings..In the meantime, to comply with the new health law, people need to continue to maintain health insurance or pay a fine, because the individual mandate is still in place. And unless Congress acts to repeal Obamacare in its entirety, insurers will still be required to provide coverage despite pre-existing conditions. The big question remains, however, how millions of people will be able to afford Obabmacare coverage if no subsidies are available..Medicaid Changes Raising TSCL Concerns For Low-Income Seniors.This week, one new cosponsor Rep. Timothy Bishop signed on to Rep. Peter DeFazio's Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act. The cosponsor total for the bill is now up to thirty..CDI investigates disability claims that State disability examiners believe are suspicious. The program's primary mission is to obtain evidence that can resolve questions of fraud before benefits are ever paid. These investigative units also provide reports to examiners during continuing disability reviews that can be used to end benefits of people who are ineligible for benefits and gaming the system. Let's tell Congress to say NO to Social Security disability insurance cuts - and ask lawmakers to strengthen our successful anti-fraud prevention programs.