The budget impasse in California, which yet again threatens to shut down government until legislators can agree on a budget, will not impact SSI checks for February. There were questions reaised last week about the income for the neediest in the state. Although this program is administered by states, the checks are actually mailed by the federal government. The state reimburses the feds for the money, and in larger California cities, actually supplements the base federal SSI amount, because of cost of living differentials. No word yet on whether those supplements are affected.
See the story here:

The President’s radio address yesterday proposed a one time payment to the disabled and elderly, an aspect of the $825-billion stimulus plan being put together by the Obama administration and Congress

Seniors, disabled and veterans: $300 payments to Social Security beneficiaries, and $300 payments under the Supplemental Security income program for elderly and disabled people living in poverty. Veterans receiving disability or pension payments would also receive $300. The cash payments are one-time only.

See story here.

President Obama’s weekly address today discussed his plans for an economic stimulus plan – it’s needed to help get people back to work quickly. Obama says that the process of rebuilding and retrofitting America is needed ASAP – skeptics are invited to hold him accountable. See YouTube Link to address now.

On the White House web site, the framework for the new president’s policies on Social Security are set out. Obama “will be honest with the American people about the long-term solvency of Social Security and the ways we can address the shortfall.” They will protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries alike, and they do not believe it is necessary or fair to hardworking seniors to raise the retirement age. Obama and Biden are strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. As part of a bipartisan plan that would be phased in over many years, they will ask those making over $250,000 to contribute a bit more to Social Security to keep it sound. Obama does not support uncapping the full payroll tax 12.4 percent rate. Instead, he and Joe Biden are considering plans that will ask those making over $250,000 to pay in the range of 2 to 4 percent more in total (combined employer and employee).

See policy under this link.

If there is one recurring nightmare for Social Security attorneys who study the question, it is the idea of privatizing Social Security. How anyone can even dream that this is a good idea after the performance of the stock market in 2008 is beyond most of us. The investment of public and private retirement money should be the most secure, conservative , fail-safe investment structure available. Setting up privatization is a recipe for paying fees to management companies – a favorite agenda of those folks who just pushed us off the economic cliff, where we are in free fall off a ski jump, hoping to grab some air to right ourselves. Here is an article that suggests that the solutions to the economic crisis should not be formed on the backs of the people injured by it.

…”There are a number of great articles and opinion pieces today on Social Security “reform” and the so-called “grand bargain” anti-entitlement crusaders are hoping to elicit from the Obama administration as they consider short-term stimulus legislation.

First, economist Dean Baker with the Center for Economic and Policy Research puts the whole issue in perspective wonderfully in this piece in the Guardian:

The classic definition of ‘chutzpah’ is the kid who kills both of his parents and then begs for mercy because he is an orphan. The Wall Street crew are out to top this. After wrecking the economy with their convoluted finances, and tapping the US Treasury for trillions in bail-out bucks, they now want to cut Social Security and Medicare because we don’t have the money.

The attacks are made even worse by the fact that the attackers, people like Robert Rubin and Peter Peterson, promoted policies that led to this collapse and personally profited to the tune of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. In other words, after pushing the economy into a severe recession and destroying the life’s savings of tens of millions of working families, the Wall Street crew now wants to take away their Social Security and Medicare. This can almost make killing your parents look like a petty offence.”

And then, under this link here is a good collection of articles on the privatization debate.

It is a gloomy day for anyone who receives a notice of overpayment from Social Security (SSA). It can be just a misunderstanding, or something more serious. If the government thinks you have received too much money – that is what this term really means – then you must quickly set about trying to straighten it out.

It may happen because you did not report some change to Social Security– as examples, perhaps you didn’t tell them that you had some income, or started working, that a child moved out of your house, or that your child began getting child support. We always recommend hand-delivering this information in writing to a Social Security district office, and taking along a second copy that they can date-stamp it, verifying receipt.

Even more frequently, you may have reported the change appropriately, but Social Security doesn’t have it in their computers. There may have been a delay by SSA in making the adjustment in your check, causing an overpayment.

Here is a nice Legal Services site that details all the steps to take if you get such a notice. It is important to act immediately. In some cases, benefits can continue while the investigation is completed. There is also a process for settlement if you are found to owe the money. We have found that they are authorized to accept offers of 80% of the amount owed.

Here’s that link.

In a far-ranging CBS Interview, the new president promises a detailed review of all entitlement programs, code for Social Security and Medicare. While I think there is waste in these programs that needs attention, I hope the reviews find it in the administrative aspects of the programs, and in medical cost-accounting. Certainly there are some people engaged in fraud, but over many years of practicing Social Security law, the people I saw getting cut off are those who can’t defend themselces – the mentally ill and the homeless. Back in the 80’s there were wholesale terminations of benefits for these people, it seemed quite calculated. Obama brings a great intellingence and diligence to this work: let’s hope this is not just one more study program that produces reports that no one reads:

“President-elect Barack Obama pledged yesterday to shape a new Social Security and Medicare “bargain” with the American people, saying that the nation’s long-term economic recovery cannot be attained unless the government finally gets control over its most costly entitlement programs.

That discussion will begin next month, Obama said, when he convenes a “fiscal responsibility summit” before delivering his first budget to Congress. He said his administration will begin confronting the issues of entitlement reform and long-term budget deficits soon after it jump-starts job growth and the stock market.

“What we have done is kicked this can down the road. We are now at the end of the road and are not in a position to kick it any further,” he said. “We have to signal seriousness in this by making sure some of the hard decisions are made under my watch, not someone else’s..”Social Security, we can solve,” he said, waving his left hand. “The big problem is Medicare, which is unsustainable. . . . We can’t solve Medicare in isolation from the broader problems of the health-care system.”

Medicare, the government health program for retirees and the disabled, is projected to be insolvent by 2019, according to the most recent report by the Social Security and Medicare trustees. Over the next two decades, Medicare spending is expected to double, consuming nearly one-quarter of the federal budget.”

See interview here.

The LA Times reports that most states are slashing health services to their poorest residents amid the economic downturn. This is happening in the face of President Obama’s push for Universal Health Care. As more people experience reduced income, states’ personal and business income tax revenue falls, and state budgets nationwide are being forced to slash. Sadly, they swipe most often at programs that protect the poor and vulnerable.

People are losing jobs and health insurance. In downturns like this, the burden often shifts to Social Security. People apply for disabilty when nothing else is working – and they can’t work. They may not be successful – the standard for proving disability is daunting. But try they will, and the already backlogged Social Security adminsitration will be impacted. Medicare and Medicaid programs will be hard hit as well, as citizens turn to these federal and state-funded programs to cover medical emergencies and ongoing care.

See LA Times article here.

Last week, news stories reported that veterans with PTSD would be ineligible for the Purple Heart, setting off a storm of commentary about the “value” to the military of PTSD and other invisble wounds .  More recently the military spokepersons assure us that all wounded vets are honored and treated.  The Chicago Trib reports:

” The Pentagon on Thursday sought to assure troops that it takes post-traumatic stress seriously despite the recent decision not to award the Purple Heart to those with the disorder.

An advisory committee concluded that troops coming home from the wars with combat stress cases collectively known as post-traumatic stress disorder will not qualify for the prestigious medal awarded to service members wounded in action.

“I don’t think anybody should assume that that decision is in any way reflective on how seriously we take the problem of PTSD,” Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell said. He noted that the military is budgeting money for research, development, treatment and preventive measures. “   See full story here:

Who’d ever think to consult Wikipedia for information about the Social Security Administration?  Actually, there is a readable and useful article in that venerable online resource – a little history, a view of the scope of the agency, all in all a good overview. There’s information on how to apply, processing times, what to expect from the agency.   Take a look under this link

Oregon and Indiana Veterans report ongoing health problems  from exposure to toxins generated by US Contractor in Iraq:

“Early in the Iraq war, Oregon Army National Guard soldiers say they encountered environmental disaster in oil fields. Now it’s clear a deadly toxin also swirled in the desert air.

At least 48 Oregon soldiers assigned to protect contractors rebuilding a water treatment plant near Iraqi oil fields in 2003 were exposed to hexavalent chromium. The industrial compound, if inhaled, greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.

Last month, 16 Indiana National Guard soldiers sued Houston-based KBR, claiming the nation’s largest war contractor “disregarded and downplayed the extreme danger of wholesale site contamination.” The suit claims KBR hid its civilian workers’ elevated chromium levels and dismissed widespread symptoms — including constant nosebleeds that toxicologists call “chrome nose” — as sand allergies.

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., is asking Congress to create a medical registry to track all soldiers and ensure monitoring, which President-elect Barack Obama and Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden already support.

In an e-mailed statement Thursday, KBR denied “any assertion” that the company harmed troops or was responsible for an unsafe condition at the facility. KBR has collected $28 billion in military contracts.

The fallout is just hitting Oregon, where officials worry that as many as 52 soldiers may have been exposed — more than was recently reported by an Army Review Panel.”  See details here: