In 2012, the GPO reduced the Social Security benefits of nearly 600,000 surviving spouses, who also collect a government pensions, by nearly two-thirds. Nine out of 10 public employees affected by the GPO lost their entire spousal benefit, even though their spouse paid Social Security taxes..The annual COLA is tied to the rise in inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation has been at record lows in most of the seven years since 2009, averaging just 1.2 percent. In the decade prior to 2009, COLAs averaged more than 3 percent. And although low inflation can be helpful to younger wage earners and workers, "it's not always a boon for people receiving Social Security benefits," says Ed Cates, Chairman of TSCL..The bill that was approved on Tuesday includes a million boost in funding for the Social Security Administration, million for a new initiative that would work to prevent elder abuse, and nearly million in extra funding for the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which is currently struggling with a massive backlog of continuing disability reviews. Additionally, it includes .7 million for fraud prevention within Medicare and Medicaid more than twice the level that was allocated in fiscal 201According to the Subcommittee, every spent fighting fraud results in a return of .By increasing next year's funding, appropriators expect to see .4 billion in savings..As further reinforcement, my colleagues and I introduced the Prioritize Spending Act that directs the Treasury to pay Social Security and Medicare first. As of this writing, the President and Senator Reid refuse to allow it to become law..So, we wanted to close this week's update with some good news, as reported by Bloomberg News..With about 1 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Located just outside Washington, D.C., its mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as.The most recent report is that the Trump administration expects to begin sending 0 prescription drug discount cards to seniors by Jan. 1..Changes in home housekeeping and maintenance. Is there a change in housekeeping and how well your friend maintains her home and yard? Is there clutter piled everyone, and garbage needing to be removed? Does the lawn look weedy and overgrown?.President Trump announced last week that there will be a new type of Medicare prescription drug plan that will cap insulin costs at per month for some seniors who have diabetes. While TSCL applauds that as far as it goes, it is woefully short of what is needed.
