|
|
Vivian Davis Figures on Social SecurityDemocratic Senate Challenger; member of State Senate |
A: We must ensure that our nations' elderly whether born in 1917 or 1933 are not left behind in providing adequate Social Security benefits. As such, we must support our nations' seniors by providing this group of retirees with a lump sum of the difference in Social Security pay or at the very least improved monthly benefits that reflects equality.
A: COLA was built to maintain purchasing power benefits as consumer prices increase. The way statistics are currently kept yield a rate that correlates to younger workers. Calculating the spending inflation for seniors affords a higher, more realistic rate than the rate at which the consumer price index does.
A: Many recent proposals to improve system solvency would reduce Social Security benefits in the future. However, benefit reductions could affect those in the elderly population that need assistance the most--the low-income elderly--many of whom rely on Social Security benefits for almost all of their income. Such potential benefit reductions could lead to higher rates of poverty among the elderly compared to those projected under the current benefit formula. Because the low-income elderly are especially vulnerable to benefit reductions, I am in support of including minimum benefits and poverty-line SSI benefit with expanded eligibility that would mitigate the effect of benefit cuts on the elderly poor, while also providing the needed support to our nations' elderly.