Social security

August 14, 2008 -- Below is a statement from Senator Obama on the 73rd Anniversary of Social Security:

"On this anniversary of Social Security, let's reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Social Security remains a safety net that seniors can count on today, tomorrow, and always. It is impossible to fully measure Social Security's value for its recipients, as well as for those who look after and love them. Nearly 13 million seniors depend on it each month to keep from falling into poverty, and millions more depend on survivor and disability benefits to protect their retirement.    » read more »

March 27, 2008, Chicago, IL -- Senator Barack Obama issued the following statement today in response to the Report of the Trustees of Social Security and Medicare.    » read more »

3/25/2008 -- The following are excerpts from a press availability that Hillary Clinton held at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg earlier this afternoon:

“…Social Security is a big issue in this campaign. There are differences between myself and Senator Obama and there are very big differences between myself and John McCain. And I have to admit to being somewhat surprised when I saw that Senator McCain had said that he would try to continue to try to privatize Social Security along the lines of what President Bush tried and failed in doing in 2005. That is a very significant difference between the two of us.”
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March 04, 2008 -- While working families across the country are focused on turning around America after seven years of failed economic policy under President Bush, it seems Sen. McCain is stuck in a time warp.

Just yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported Sen. McCain favors taking another stab at Bush’s failed plan to privatize Social Security funds, even though working families roundly rejected plans to risk their Social Security checks on privatization schemes.    » read more »

AFGE Social Security Council, Advocacy Groups Voice Concern Over Funding

February 11, 2008 -- (WASHINGTON) – The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 25,000 employees in the Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices, today expressed deep concern over the administration’s ability to continue to service the American people amid severe budget constraints.    » read more »

Senator Kerry Had Pushed to Remove Roadblock to Social Security Benefits

01/30/2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, welcomed the retraction of a rule that would have blocked America’s elderly and disabled from obtaining deserved benefits. Senator Kerry sent a letter on December 20, 2007 expressing his concern for the proposed rules. In a similar letter sent last week, Sen.    » read more »

NEA Calls for Passage of the Social Security Fairness Act

January 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON—Peg Cagle, an architect with 15 years experience, entered the classroom during the 1990s to meet California’s growing demand for math and science teachers. But when she retires, she will pay a huge and unexpected price for her dedication to the children of the Los Angeles Unified School District due to a Social Security offset—the Windfall Elimination Provision.    » read more »

January 15, 2008 -- Following news from the Secretary of the Department of Administration, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle issued the following statement:

“What happened at DOA is unacceptable and I have ordered immediate action to correct the problem. It is clear that state workers took various steps to prevent this breach of information, but any breach – no matter how small – is unacceptable.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the holiday season upon us, too many seniors, veterans, and disabled Americans are facing empty bank accounts thanks to an illegal, but increasingly common, practice of creditors garnishing government benefits, including safety-net programs such as Social Security. The result for some could be an empty table at Thanksgiving.    » read more »

Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison warned Kansans today of a new scam targeting the elderly. Seniors are encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Office if anyone contacts them regarding an income tax return on their Social Security benefits.    » read more »

Legislation would secure retirement for teachers and education support professionals

November 6, 2007 -- WASHINGTON—A high school English teacher, who retired after 35 years in the classroom, testified before Congress today about government offsets that keep dedicated public servants from receiving full Social Security benefits.    » read more »

October 29, 2007 -- Cedar Rapids, IA -- At a town hall meeting with local residents at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, Barack Obama continued to challenge conventional Washington thinking by calling for a direct and honest discussion with the American people about how to strengthen Social Security. Obama pointed out that Senator Clinton is pursuing the calculated strategy advocated by Washington insiders by refusing to discuss her views about Social Security during the last televised presidential debate.    » read more »

October 27, 2007 -- Des Moines, IA -- During a town hall meeting at a Des Moines area senior center, Senator Barack Obama vowed to challenge the conventional thinking in Washington, D C that treats Social Security like a "political football". Obama said it was important to talk openly and honestly with the American people about how to strengthen Social Security.    » read more »

Adds provision to alleviate backlog at the Social Security Administration

October 24, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill late Tuesday voted to continue funding important federal programs related to education, health care, and labor for fiscal year 2008, including new federal dollars to help alleviate a growing backlog of cases at Social Security Administration (SSA).    » read more »

August 8, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) sent a letter to the Social Security Administration’s Inspector General asking him to investigate an increasingly frequent but prohibited method of collecting debt from senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled.    » read more »