Social Security

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.

  • Table Helps Calculate Medicaid Eligibility Under Pickle Amendment
    (11/15/12) 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 2013. 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 ...


  • Policy Issue Brief: Does the Social Security COLA Need to be Changed?
    (7/24/12) As policymakers debate changing the cost of living adjustment, NSCLC recommends a switch to the CPI-E as the basis for calculating the COLA for Social Security, veterans and other federal benefits. Read the brief.


  • NSCLC Supports Rebuild America Act
    In a letter to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Committee on Health, Education , Labor and Pensions, NSCLC strongly endorsed the Rebuild America Act.  NSCLC praised the Act’s inclusion of a provision that ensures that beneficiaries who receive b...


  • Treasury Rules Governing Garnishment of Directly Deposited Benefits
    Effective May 1, 2011, rules went into effect governing garnishment from accounts into which certain exempt federal benefits are directly deposited.  The new rules are designed to assure the account holder of uninterrupted access to at two months wort...


  • Increasing the Social Security Retirement Age Cuts Benefits and Drives Up Administrative Costs
    This policy Issue Brief discusses the serious long-term negative impact of increasing the Social Security retirement age. Read the Issue Brief: Increasing the Social Security Retirement Age Cuts Benefits and Drives Up Administrative Costs.


  • Social Security & Federal Checks Must Be Direct Deposited
    With some exceptions, if someone applies for federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, they must receive all checks through direct deposit from now on. The Department of the Treasury has promulgated a final regulation [75 Fed. Reg. 80315 (Dec. 22, 2010...


  • What is Direct Express?
    DIRECT EXPRESS DEBIT CARDS Since 2008, people receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits who do not have a bank account have had the option of receiving benefits in the form of a prepaid debit card instead of a paper ch...


  • Social Security Cuts Would Hurt Low-Income Older Adults
    Statement of Paul Nathanson National Senior Citizens Law Center SOCIAL SECURITY CUTS WOULD HURT LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS WASHINGTON --The National Senior Citizens Law Center is concerned that proposals contained in the National Commission on Fiscal...