Will you pay taxes on your Social Security benefits this year? Take TSCL's annual Senior Survey, visit..In addition, The Senior Citizens League believes that an extension of the tax holiday could make a permanent cut more likely, further jeopardizing the program's ability to fully pay Social Security benefits in the future..If you've been to a pharmacy in recent years, you've no doubt noticed how drug costs are soaring - and you've probably felt the immense financial pressure of rising prices. You've also probably thought about how it is that consumers are burdened with the pain of these higher costs while the drug industry simultaneously rakes in massive profits with little to no accountability..Alexandria, VA little-known file maintained by the Social Security Administration suggests that significant long-term costs are associated with immigration reform, according to a new report released today by The Senior Citizens League. The report examines data from the Social Security Earnings Suspense File, which has received 161.7 million suspicious W2s from 1990 through 2011 totaling over trillion in wages. The suspicious W2s have names, Social Security numbers, or both, that don't match the Social Security Administration's records - which occurs when undocumented immigrants use fake or fraudulent Social Security numbers to work..Enactment of Notch Reform remains a TSCL priority in 201Recently, TSCL legislative staff made personal visits to nearly every Member of the U.S. House, delivering petitions calling for the immediate enactment of The Notch Fairness Act H.R. 1001 and S. 11The legislation would provide Notch Babies born 1917 through 1926 with a choice of ,000 payable in four annual installments or an improved monthly benefit..Sixty-two percent of American households include at least one pet. Mine includes two –both a dog and an aging cat. New advances in veterinary medicines are making expensive treatments a reality, often putting owners into an emotional and fiscally painful bind. For example, I learned that my dog with paralysis in her hind quarters from a potentially fatal spinal disc rupture had the option of getting a ,000 surgery, followed by weeks of physical therapy in a swimming tank. My cat with hyperthyroidism is receiving oral medications costing up to 0 per year including blood tests. Even if your pet is perfectly healthy, vet bills for routine annual check-ups, tests, vaccines and treatments can run about 0 per year for dogs and 5 per year for cats..TSCL would like to thank Reps. Allen West, Madeleine Bordallo, Cedric Richmond, Tom Marino, and Bill Posey for taking the time to discuss the issues that are most important to our members and supporters. TSCL also met with Anna Gonzalez, Rules Associate for Rep. Alcee Hastings, and Brett Richards, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Steven Palazzo..If signed into law, the bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset two provisions of the Social Security Act that cut the earned benefits of millions of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants each year. Because these individuals receive pensions from their state or local governments, their monthly Social Security checks are arbitrarily reduced, often by one-half or more..TSCL believes stronger protections are needed and supports legislation that would prohibit using earnings from illegal work to determine Social Security benefits. What do you think? Take TSCL's 2015 Senior Survey now.
