Preserving Social Security |
Social Security is a contract between the American people and the American government. It reflects the duties and values we share as Americans. We owe it to our grandparents, our parents, ourselves, and most importantly, our children to ensure its vitality. Preserving the Social Security system for future generations is one of my top priorities in Congress. I have cosponsored several bills that would help Social Security beneficiaries all across America. |
Social Security Benefits Fairness Act - This measure would allow
benefits to be paid to a surviving spouse for the month the other spouse
dies. Under current law, no Social Security benefits are paid to
beneficiaries or their families for the month of death. For example,
should a husband die before midnight on the last day of the month, no
benefits will be sent to the surviving spouse for that month, and if a
check has already been sent, by law it must be returned. Under this bill I
am supporting, a surviving spouse or family estate would receive one-half
of a month's benefits if a person dies within the first fifteen days of a
month, and full benefits if a person dies after the fifteenth.
Windfall Elimination Provision - This bill would eliminate the windfall benefit provision in the Social Security Act. The current windfall benefit provision reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. This provision is unfair because it substantially reduces a benefit that workers had included in their retirement plans. This bill would eliminate this disparity and protect Social Security benefits. In addition, I support:
As a member of the Congressional Social Security Caucus and the Older Americans Caucus, I will continue to work in Congress to ensure that Social Security will be solvent for generations to come. |