The National Senior Citizens Law Center is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to protect the rights of low-income older adults. Through advocacy, litigation, and the education and counseling of local advocates, we seek to ensure the health and economic security of those with limited income and resources, and access to the courts for all.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Paul Nathanson, Executive Director
Forty years ago, at the age of 29, I came to the NSCLC to advocate for the rights of low-income older adults. My mother did not understand why I would leave a large private law firm and give up the commensurate salary to work in a poverty law program. I have never once regretted that decision in all these years! However, this year will be my last as Executive Director. While I’ll be officially retiring, I will remain actively involved in the work of NSCLC and will remain dedicated to the continuing struggle to secure and protect the rights of the elderly poor. The NSCLC Board of Directors is conducting a search for a new Executive Director.
Read Paul’s retirement letter.
Review the Position Description.
VIEWPOINT — WHERE WE STAND
The Chained CPI — Still a Stealth Benefit Cut
The proposal to cut benefits by using the Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI)calculate the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other federal benefits programs remains alive.
The good news is that it is not part of the fiscal cliff agreement. The bad news is that some policymakers still think it’s worth considering.
Exactly a year ago, NSCLC worked with partners to call the chained CPI what it is – a stealth benefit cut. Throughout 2012, we met with members of Congress, the White House and key policymakers to explain the particularly harmful impact adoption of the chained CPI would have on Social Security beneficiaries and the especially disastrous impact it would have on those receiving SSI because of the unique way in which the annual COLA is applied to the SSI program.
NSCLC proposes that a fairer and better way to handle the COLA for both SSI and Social Security would be using a measure of inflation based on expenditure patterns of older people, i.e., the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). With the CPI-E, program beneficiaries would at last receive benefits that keep up with the level of inflation actually experienced by older people and people with disabilities.
The Chained CPI remains poor public policy and should be shelved.
To see past Viewpoints, click here.
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