Republican co-sponsor, prominent national organization declare support for Seniors' Access to Social Security Act
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley's (IA-01) continued push to prevent impending Social Security service cuts got a bipartisan boost, as Rep. Don Young (R-AK) signed on to the Seniors' Access to Social Security Act. The bill has also received the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans?a group with millions of members focusing on issues affecting seniors. The bill now includes nearly two dozen sponsors from over a dozen states and the support of multiple national organizations.
"Protecting services that eleven million Americans use every year isn't a Republican or Democratic issue?it's an issue of commonsense," Braley said. "They're gutting services Iowa's seniors rely on and there's absolutely no evidence the cuts will save a penny. The bottom line is that the cuts need to be delayed until savings are shown and the administration can clearly illustrate how the cuts won't harm the Iowans that depend on them."
Last week Braley called on Iowans to visit braley.house.gov and share their experiences with Iowa Social Security Administration offices as he continues his push to delay the cuts to the essential services that 11 million Americans?including many Iowa seniors?used just last year. Braley will share the comments he receives with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Beginning August 2014, SSA will no longer issue Social Security number printouts in its field offices. In addition, beginning October 2014, SSA field offices will stop providing benefit verification letters, except in emergency situations. Many seniors rely on these verification letters for a variety of services. Those requesting this information would be able to do so only online or over the phone. Last year alone, 11 million Americans used SSA offices to request this information.
Iowa's 19 SSA field offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Burlington, Coralville, Davenport, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Creston, Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Ft. Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, and Storm Lake.
Over 450,000 Iowa seniors received Social Security benefits in 2013.
Braley's Seniors' Access to Social Security Act would prevent those cuts for one year, during which time Braley will seek verification that the proposed service cuts will not adversely affect Iowa's seniors and will save taxpayers money.
Braley recently wrote a letter to SSA Commissioner Carolyn Colvin asking her to provide a series of answers about the proposed cuts, including whether an analysis of cost savings has been done and if public input was solicited prior to the proposed cuts. Braley also sought information from Colvin on how Iowans seeking these services would be informed of cuts.
In June, Braley joined a Congressional push to prevent the elimination of the SSA services in a letter to the head of the SSA, noting that it's vital that seniors be able to receive these services in person especially given that telephone wait times for SSA services have risen drastically in the last year, and that many seniors lack internet access.
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