Social Security

• Social Security Phone Service Changes Will Create Unnecessary Burdens

  May 30, 2025: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s Social Security phone service restrictions will make it harder for seniors to access customer service support, according to new data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Social Secur...Read more >

• States in the Midwest and the South Are Most Vulnerable to Social Security Cuts

  May 16, 2025: Any disruption or cuts to Social Security benefits will hurt Americans who live in Southern and Midwestern states the most, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute. The report reinforced the importance of Social Security to the U...Read more >

• Senate Confirms Frank Bisignano as SSA Commissioner Despite Controversy Over His DOGE Connections, Lack of Relevant Experience

  May 09, 2025: The Senate confirmed Frank Bisignano to head the Social Security Administration (SSA) along party lines on Tuesday, with a 53-47 vote. His term – set to expire in January 2031 – coincides with a tumultuous period for the agency, as Elon Musk and...Read more >

• New York Senator Gillibrand Proposes Bill That Would Expand Social Security in Contrast to Republicans in Congress and Presidential Candidate Trump

  April 05, 2024: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation she said would expand social security benefits for seniors. The Boosting Benefits & COLAs for Seniors Act would change the formula for the cost-of-living adjustments calculation, or COLA. ...Read more >

• New Retiree Voting Record Released

  March 11, 2024: Washington, DC – The Alliance for Retired Americans released its 2023 Congressional Voting Record, which scored each U.S. Senator and Representative on critical retirement security issues, today. “Almost every member of Congress claims to care...Read more >

• Sign on to the Petition to Eliminate the GPO and WEP Provisions of Social Security

  November 22, 2021:   The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) penalize people who have dedicated their lives to public service, including many teachers, firefighters, and police officers, by taking away benefits they, or ...Read more >

• What is the Payroll Tax and How Does it Effect Seniors

  May 20, 2020: The payroll tax supports the country's two biggest safety nets: Social Security and Medicare. Workers will pay 6.2% on the first $137,700 of their wage and salary income into Social Security this year. And they will pay 1.45% of all their ea...Read more >

• ‘Hobnobbing With Billionaires in Davos,’ Trump Admits—If Reelected—He Will Seek to Cut Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare

  January 23, 2020: "It'll be toward the end of the year," Trump said from Davos, Switzerland. "And at the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that's actually the easiest of all things, if you look, cause it's such a big percentage." By Jon Queally, st...Read more >

• NYSARA Recommends to Senator Schumer that NYSARA Member Eric Kingson, of Syracuse University, be recommended to the Vacant Social Security Public Trustee Position

  April 09, 2019: On March 26th NYSARA President Barry A. Kaufmann sent a letter to Senator Chuck Schumer, US Senate Minority leader (D/NYS), asking him to nominate Eric Kingson to the vacant Social Security Public Trustee position.  Traditionally, the Senate Leade...Read more >

• The Truth About Social Security and Medicare in New York

  February 17, 2019: Social Security Works for New York's Children Social Security provided benefits to 240,564 New York children in 2016.  1 in 14 (6.8%) New York beneficiaries Social Security Works for New York's People of Color Social Security provided b...Read more >