Introduced by Reps. Linda Sanchez and Tom Reed, the bill would provide up to ,000 in a family caregiver tax credit. Expenses like groceries, modifications to a home, transportation to a doctors' visits, or hiring someone to look after an elderly patient or disabled child would qualify for the credit. "A caregiving credit would be a much needed help," says Susan. "It would benefit me and benefit a lot of other older families that I work with," she says..Under the new policy, illegal immigrants younger than 30 years old, who came to the United States before the age of 16, will be allowed to remain in the country without risk of deportation and to get work permits if they have been law-abiding and meet certain requirements. Although the policy does not grant legal status, work authorization would provide access to Social Security numbers..Here is why we say that..TSCL enthusiastically supports these measures since they would go a long way in increasing access to more affordable prescription drugs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. However, President Obama's budget request does include one reform to the Medicare program that TSCL opposes. It would increase means testing by requiring middle-class Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher Part B and Part D premiums. TSCL believes means testing within the program has gone far enough with recent increases under the Affordable Care Act, and we know that middle-class seniors simply cannot afford to pay higher out-of-pocket Medicare costs..While the legislation made some changes to Social Security and did not cut benefits of any current retirees, it did end a complicated benefit claiming strategy known as "file and suspend" for people very close to retirement. Although the legislation closes an unintended "loophole," the strategy was one of the few means married couples had to maximize their payouts. A similar provision was contained in Obama's 2015 fiscal year budget and was estimated to cut Social Security costs by as much as .5 billion annually..EconomicCheckUp® is free and developed by the trusted nonprofit National Council on Aging. The tool asks a series of questions to identify benefits and services that could help you cut expenses and better utilize your existing assets. Give it a test run here: EconomicCheckUp®..If enacted, this bill will make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to American families. It will encourage drug companies to put people before profits, not the other way around..Do you suspect someone of committing disability fraud? Learn how to report fraud online at the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General or call or write the Fraud Hotline..TSCL continues working for enactment of The Notch Fairness Act, which has recently been reintroduced in both the House and Senate. Like an "old age boost" the legislation would provide Notch Babies born from 1917 through 1926 with a choice of ,000 payable in four annual installments of ,250 or an improved monthly benefit. To learn more about The Notch Fairness Act, click here.
