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Insider’s Report: National Committee Urges Congress to Adequately Fund Agencies and Programs That Are Crucial to Seniors

Last week, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to advance its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) appropriations bill. Prior to its passage, the National Committee sent a letter ( [link removed] ) to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging members to prioritize funding for  

the Social Security Administration, the Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and other programs important to seniors.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to advance its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) appropriations bill. Prior to its passage, the National Committee sent a letter ( [link removed] ) to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging members to prioritize funding for the Social Security Administration, the Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and other programs important to seniors.

With over 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day — and the number of seniors overall projected to reach 74 million people, or 21% of the total U.S. population by 2030 — it’s vital that U.S. Senators reject any bill that fails to safeguard programs supporting older Americans. At a time when the average Social Security benefit is only $1,976 per month, barely above the poverty line, Congress must adequately fund the agency that services these benefits for all Americans.

Yet, attacks by billionaire Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have left the Social Security Administration (SSA) with its lowest staffing levels in 50 years, abysmal customer service and a demoralized workforce that cannot keep up with the rising demand for services. That’s why the National Committee urges lawmakers to restore the customer service Americans have paid for and expect. 

In addition, the National Committee calls on U.S. Senators to adequately fund the Older Americans Act that supports a range of home and community-based services for older adults, such as home delivered meals (also known as “Meals on Wheels”) and other nutrition programs, in-home services, transportation, legal services, elder abuse prevention and caregiver support.

These programs are essential at allowing vulnerable older adults to age in place rather than languishing in expensive nursing homes. Yet, President Trump’s budget funds most OAA programs at the same levels as two years ago, cuts others and proposes the elimination of several programs that are both vital to seniors and are cost-effective.

Please help put pressure on your members of Congress to oppose any effort to flat-fund, cut or end funding for agencies and programs that are crucial to the health, well-being and financial security of millions of senior Americans by signing our urgent petition today. ( [link removed] )

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Make a donation now to help us keep the pressure on Congress. Your continued support is essential to the National Committee's mission. ( [link removed] )

Good Bills

The National Committee endorses the “Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act,” ( [link removed] ) which strengthens the financial condition of the Social Security Trust Funds for many years and adopts the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) for the purpose of determining annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security beneficiaries. This bill addresses the lack of adequate COLAs for beneficiaries by requiring the use of the CPI-E, which more accurately measures the inflationary pressures faced by seniors.

Ask Us!

Whether you’re retired or approaching retirement, our team of experts in the field of Social Security policy is available to answer your questions about benefits.

You can either search our archives ( [link removed] ) for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns or submit your question here ( [link removed] ).

This week’s question is: 
I am still working full time and have not yet applied for Social Security. I would like to know how my continued employment will affect my Social Security benefits. By how much will my benefit be increased for each year I work beyond my full retirement age of 67?

Click here to read the answer. ( [link removed] )

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Your Morning Read

A free subscription, keeps you on top of the latest news about your earned benefits.

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Join Now/Donate

Your support sustains our campaigns in Washington to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.

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Social Security Benefits

Learn more about the Social Security program and the policies the National Committee supports that would strengthen your earned benefits.

Trump Accounts 'Backdoor Way' to Privatize Social Security: Scott Bessent ( [link removed] )

“President Trump should promptly denounce Treasury Secretary Bessent's promotion of a 'backdoor' way to privatize Social Security,” said Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, adding that the American people “do not want their hard-earned Social Security benefits handed over to Wall Street.” (July 31, 2025, Newsweek, Aliss Higham)

Read More → ( [link removed] )

Medicare and Medicaid at 60: Historic Milestones, Looming Changes ( [link removed] )

NCPSSM’s President and CEO Max Richtman said, “We should take a moment to marvel at the fact that, like Social Security, Medicare was created by national leaders who had a vision of a more just society, where ... America would commit itself to providing basic health (and financial) security to our most vulnerable citizens.” (August 4, 2025, Rhode Island News Today, Herb Weiss)

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How the DOGE-driven reductions at the Social Security Administration are playing out now ( [link removed] )

Between the largest force reduction in its history and major workforce realignments, the Social Security Agency has been struggling to deliver basic services. New technology is supposed to fill the service gaps, but most of the experts needed to develop and deploy those tools have left the agency. (July 28, 2025, Federal News Network, Terry Gerton)

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Medicaid changes will hurt family caregivers, experts warn ( [link removed] )

Medicaid cuts under President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package will harm family caregivers, experts warn, by reducing access to health care for themselves and the people they care for, which could then lead to more caregiving responsibilities. (July 27, 2025, The Hill, Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech)

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Social Security says it will no longer send paper checks. What you need to know ( [link removed] )

The Trump administration will soon stop sending out paper checks for Social Security beneficiaries, as part of an effort to fully modernize federal benefits payments. That means a little over half a million recipients must now choose another way to receive their benefits. (August 4, 2025, CNN, Tami Luhby and Jeanne Sahadi)

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Contrary to Administration’s Misleading Claims, New Senior Deduction Doesn’t Help Low- and Middle-Income Seniors, Does Deplete Social Security Trust Funds ( [link removed] )

The Trump administration is facing criticism for misleading claims about its megabill’s impact on Social Security taxes, which experts say largely excludes low- and middle-income seniors while accelerating trust fund depletion and cutting essential benefits. (July 28, 2025, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Josephine Cureton)

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