Congressional Bill Would Finally Ensure Fair Benefits for Oldest and Poorest Senior Citizens

"Notch  Fairness  Act"  Would  Compensate  Millions  of  Seniors  For  Years  of  Reduced  Social  Security  Checks

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A member of Congress recently introduced the Notch Fairness Act, to compensate millions of the nation's oldest and poorest senior citizens for the lower Social Security benefits they've received for more than three decades. The legislation, proposed by Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), is supported by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), one of the nation's largest nonpartisan senior citizens advocacy groups.

Support for this Act has grown significantly, nearly doubling over the previous six Congressional sessions in which it's been introduced.

The Act would reimburse about four million seniors born between 1917 and 1926 for Social Security benefits they've lost since 1977, when Congress cut benefits in a way that caused this group to receive lower benefits than people with similar earnings born in the years before and after them. This led to cases such as a sibling born in 1917 receiving $112 less each month than a sibling born in 1916.

Inflation caused this disparity to grow over time, so that this group of so-called "notch babies," now in their mid-80s to mid-90s, has over the years received thousands of dollars less in benefits and is much more likely to live below the poverty line.

The new legislation proposes that the U.S. government end this imbalance by paying these seniors either a lump sum of $5,000 or increasing their monthly benefits.

"We need to protect our most vulnerable seniors and ensure that benefits are fairly distributed among people who paid into the system throughout their working lives," said Larry Hyland, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "We are all mindful of the need to cut government spending, but there are many opportunities to do that by eliminating wasteful programs or addressing fraud; it shouldn't happen at the expense of our most vulnerable seniors. This legislation is long overdue and is the right thing to do. And we need to act now, so that the people who desperately need the help get it before it's too late."

Almost 70 percent of beneficiaries depend on Social Security for 50 percent or more of their income. Social Security is the sole source of income for 15 percent of beneficiaries.

With  1.2  million  supporters,  The  Senior  Citizens  League  is  one  of  the  nation's  largest  nonpartisan  seniors  groups.  Its  mission  is  to  promote  and  assist  members  and  supporters,  to  educate  and  alert  senior  citizens  about  their  rights  and  freedoms  as  U.S.  Citizens,  and  to  protect  and  defend  the  benefits  senior  citizens  have  earned  and  paid  for.  The  Senior  Citizens  League  is  a  proud  affiliate  of  The  Retired  Enlisted  Association.  Visit  www.SeniorsLeague.org for  more  information.

SOURCE The Senior Citizens League