AARP: Don’t Bargain Away Medicare and Social Security Benefits

As part of the budget negotiation, the federal government is currently eyeing on reducing or even totally cutting Social Security and Medicare in an aim to reduce the federal budget deficit. Naturally, many Americans would oppose such proposal.

Recipients and advocates of Social Security and Medicare argue that a cut to both federal benefit programs will not only hurt individuals but businesses and economy as well. Thus, a separate debate about how to strengthen these programs is indeed necessary.

Therefore, in an effort to secure the future of Social Security and Medicare, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) for the last two years has been working hard to run a national campaign called ‘You’ve Earned a Say’.

The program aims to engage people into a conversation about the future of Medicare and Social Security. Whatever the reasons are, for older Americans, it is not reasonable to cut the programs. Thus, in a message that they want to convey to the President and the Congress, the seniors say, “Don’t bargain away my Medicare and Social Security benefits.”

Several advocates and recipients of the federal programs can’t help but to voice out their concerns regarding the proposed cut on benefits. While some are concerned about the long and hard earned efforts of the members to secure their future in their golden age, others are worried about the future of their children and grandchildren if the future can’t guarantee strengthened federal programs.

Once again, the AARP renews its call on the president and Congress to exclude Social Security and Medicare on any budget deal. Also, the organization pledged that it will continue to battle against any possible harmful cuts to the federal benefits and other factors that could likely affect the Social Security cost-of-living allowance such as the chained CPI to name one.

So far, the current administration is considering either a reduction in federal benefits or an increased payment to address the growing problem. However, such solutions aren’t deemed as a responsible one, particularly for Los Angeles, where consumer prices are at their peak. “What people can probably say a solid solution is perhaps a lowered health care cost and consumer prices. Also,cracking down frauds and inefficiency will definitely do a great job,”  said the long term disability lawyer.

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Another Elderly Woman Investigated for Stealing Social Security Benefits

After the news broke about the 82-year-old woman who was charged for stealing social security benefits last September, another elderly woman is being investigation for the same illegal act.

As reported, a 72-year-old woman from Gretna, Louisiana was sentenced to probation for stealing more than $135,000.00 in Social Security benefits after her mother died.

Based on the initial investigation, the woman, identified as Shirley A. Bunda, and late her mother used to share a checking account during the latter’s lifetime. However, when her mother died on February 15, 1998, Bunda failed to inform the Social Security Administration (SSA) about it.

Consequently, Bunda continued to receive her late mother’s social security benefits payment since the agency was clueless that the real beneficiary had passed away. 

Bunda’s illegal act was only discovered on August 3, 2011. The amount she collected from her mother’s benefits reportedly amounted to over $135,000.00, which she has to repay aside from the restitution in the amount of $133,297.00.

Incidentally, Bunda has already repaid $40,000.00 dollars. Nevertheless, she was still sentenced to three years probation by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan last Wednesday.

Apparently, the act was initially unintentional, but it eventually became inexcusable on the part of Bunda since she obviously enjoyed receiving her undue benefits and didn’t even bother to report her mother’s death.

Meanwhile, the SSA is encouraging everyone to report the death of any social security recipients. In fact, the agency readily provided its contact details on its official website in case of a recipient’s death so that it could stop sending payments to the same. Also, a Los Angeles disability lawyer here reminded everyone that such illegal acts cannot be concealed forever; therefore, it would be best if people would simply avoid doing it so.

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