Social Security

In early January, the House of Representatives approved a rule that prohibits any legislation that would reallocate funds between the Social Security Administration’s Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and its Disability Insurance (DI) programs.

NSCLC has serious concerns about this rule because it would lead to sharp cuts in benefits by the end of 2016 for DI beneficiaries, including older adults with disabilities, and is designed to set the stage for cuts to the overall Social Security program. Read our full statement here.

NSCLC believes that protecting Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits is a priority. Throughout our history, we have fought to preserve these safety net programs through working with the Social Security Administration, challenging unfair practices in the courts, and, in collaboration with others, defended the programs from harmful change.

Several proposals have been offered by policymakers in 2010-11 to change Social Security as we know it. The arguments for change have tied the problems with future solvency to the current federal budget deficit even though the program has nothing to do with it.

NSCLC is a member of Social Security Works, a coalition that
seeks to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. We also work closely with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a national membership organization, and the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, a coalition of 66 aging organizations, on related advocacy issues.

• WEBINAR: Social Security Field Office Service Changes
  Free Webinar When: October 14, 2014, 2-2:30 PM EDT In December 2013, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that as of February 2014 it would no longer provide Social Security number (SSN) printouts or benefit verification letters to indi...



• Social Security Changes Benefits Letter Policy
  NSCLC played a leading role advocating, together with other organizations and members of Congress, against the elimination of printing Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit verification letters at local offices. NSCLC staff met with SSA to point...



• WEBINAR: Social Security and SSI Post-DOMA: Changes for Same Gender Couples?
  Free Webinar Series A year after the Supreme Court decision in United States v Windsor, federal agencies have been issuing rules that affect same sex couples regarding programs like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, and Medicaid...



• Advocates Look to NSCLC for How DOMA Impacts Benefits Programs
  In an August 20, 2013 webinar attended by some 500 advocates from across the country, The Demise of DOMA: The Impact on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for Same Sex Couples, Directing Attorneys Gerald McIntyre and Georgia Burke explained what is...



• WEBINAR: Language Access Issues in Social Security and Medicare
  Free Webinar - October 8, 2013 Limited English proficient (LEP) older adults face common issues in accessing federally administered public benefits, in particular Social Security and Medicare. More than 3.3 million of America’s seniors are not...



• JOINT WEBINAR: National Senior Citizens Law Center & National Consumer Law Center: “Fugitive Felons”: Clark v. Astrue Implementation for SSI & Social Security and Similar Provisions in Other Benefit Programs
  NSCLC & NCLC Webinar - September 25, 2013 Learn about the court ordered relief currently being provided in Clark v. Astrue to class members whose Social Security or SSI benefits were suspended because of an arrest warrant. This session will a...



• Testimony on Social Security Payments Go Paperless
  On behalf of NSCLC and others, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia's Rebecca Vallas testifies at Senate Select Committee on Aging June 19, 2013 about protecting seniors from fraud and confusion. The hearing was videotaped.



• Table Helps Calculate Medicaid Eligibility Under Pickle Amendment
  (12/23/13) The Social Security Administration recently announced its cost of living adjustment for Social Security and SSI benefits effective January 1. This adjustment affects the calculation of Pickle Amendment eligibility for Medicaid in 2014. This ...



• Medicare Benefits Restored Because of Clark v. Astrue
  Thanks to the efforts of NSCLC, class members in the Clark v. Astrue case who lost their Medicare Part B benefits when their Social Security benefits were stopped and they could no longer pay the premium will be able to have their Medicare Part B bene...



• Statement: Happy Birthday to Social Security
  In observing this anniversary, we need to celebrate the critical role played by Social Security in enabling older Americans and workers who become disabled to live independently and not be a burden to their offspring.  We also need to be vigilant and ...