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Joe sees a solution for low COLAs and Social Security's long-term solvency issues. Currently the highest paid employees, including CEO of top U.S. companies only pay Social Security taxes on the first 2,900, even when they pull in multi-million dollar salaries. "The future of Social Security would be brighter, if the taxable maximum earnings to which the Social Security payroll tax is applied would include the high earners," Joe says..In fact, according to research by The Senior Citizens League, homeowner's insurance has grown 199 percent since 2000, making it one of the fastest growing costs that retirees face, second only to prescription drug costs. Joe reports that his homeowners and car insurance have increased every renewal period over the past two years. His homeowner's premiums rose from ,284 a year to ,566, an increase of 22 percent. Joe's auto insurance premiums increased 0 over the last four renewal periods, which are every six months, despite no tickets or accidents. Government subsidized FEMA flood insurance this year increased 7.4%..The unexpected change received no prior public debate, it went into effect almost immediately, and it hit seniors who were just months away from claiming benefits. In a poll recently conducted by TSCL, 70% of respondents said they viewed the change as an "unnecessary benefit cut" rather than a "closure of an unintended loophole," as portrayed by Congress..For every 0 a retired household spent in 2000, that household can only buy about worth of the same goods and services today. For example, in 2000, the average annual cost of homeowners' insurance was 8 per year. In 2020 however, the average cost is ,518.97, an increase of 174 percent over the period. In 2000, the average Social Security benefit was 6 per month. A retiree with 6 could pay their entire annual homeowners insurance bill and still have money left over. By 2020, however, COLAs increased the 6.00 benefit to just ,246.20. Households with a benefit of ,246.20 must make insurance payments over several months, dig deeper into savings, or borrow to cover the cost of their policy..The high cost of healthcare and the significant cost of serious illness or dementia is climbing at one of the most rapid rates in years. Last year TSCL's annual Senior Survey found that 29% of survey respondents spent up to one-half of their Social Security benefits on healthcare costs, up from 25% the previous year. Another 18% spent more than one-half of their benefits on healthcare, up from 13% the previous year..If your company has less than 20 employees, you can sign up for Medicare now during the General Enrollment Period between January 1 March 31 each year. Your coverage will begin July 1, 2013..According to a report released by the Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday, a full repeal of the law without a replacement would result in a loss of insurance coverage for 18 million individuals, and premium increases of around 25 percent for those who purchased coverage through the individual market. In response to the new report, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: "The numbers are even worse than experts could have imagined.".In the days ahead, The Senior Citizens League will keep a close eye on the evolving budget negotiations, and we will continue to advocate for legislative solutions that would strengthen and protect your Social Security and Medicare benefits. For updates, follow us on Twitter or visit the Legislative News section of our website every Friday morning..Will you pay taxes on your Social Security benefits this year? Take TSCL's annual Senior Survey, visit.

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In 2019, there are a total of ten different Medigap plans, "A" through "N." Congress closed Plans "F" and "C" because they cover the Medicare Part B deductible. The thinking is that deductibles prevent "over utilization" of Medicare benefits. The Part B deductible is 5.50 this year and it rises at the same pace as the Part B premium. According to research by Johnson, Part B premiums have increased about 10 percent per year since 2000, making it one of the fastest growing costs in retirement. "Requiring retirees to pay deductibles, or higher deductibles, has the biggest financial and health impact on middle-income Medicare beneficiaries with modest means," says Johnson. "Many put off medically necessary care if they can't afford the deductible, and their health can get worse when they do," she says..In one of our recent updates we said we hadn't heard anything new about the 0 drug discount card for seniors that President Trump had announced in September. The program ran into obstacles because of a number of issues, including how it was to be paid for and the fact that it could violate federal election laws as an attempt to buy votes using taxpayer money..The problem of how our government calculates price inflation affects more than just Social Security benefits. The consumer price index is also used to adjust many federal programs and other aspects of our laws such as the federal poverty limits and the federal tax code. By growing more slowly, fewer people qualify for safety net programs, or the federal tax code exemptions become less generous over time, and taxpayers pay more in taxes. … Continued

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This week, The Senior Citizens League announced its support for the Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act, which was recently introduced by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard with the support of seventy-eight original House cosponsors..Extending The Payroll Tax Cuts: Employees' Social Security payroll taxes were reduced by 2 to 4.2 percent in December. Because it makes the Social Security trust funds reliant on general revenues, it would jeopardize the Administration's ability to fully pay Social Security benefits now, especially as we approach the August 2nd debt limit..President Trump's budget includes billion in cuts from the Social Security Disability Insurance program over the next 10 years despite the President's repeated campaign promises that he would not touch Social Security benefits. Trump's budget Director Mick Mulvaney justified the cuts, arguing that SSDI was not technically part of "mainline" Social Security, and therefore the President was not breaking a campaign promise. Said Mulvaney, "If you ask 999 people out of a thousand, they'd tell you Social Security disability is not part of Social Security." … Continued