America waits for the"Notch Babies" to die. An American injustice elderly ignored!
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How we repay our"greatest generation"
My father was on the beach in Normandy. He was part of the D-Day invasion.He served in several major battles in WWII, serving under Gen Omar Bradley. He never laid eyes on his daughter until she was 3 years old.
My mother stayed home and raised my sister on what little means they had. She later worked in the top secret offices of the atomic energy commission to develope the atom bomb.She went 3 years without seeing her husband.
After the war, these two fine people worked hard.My father had a shoe store. My mother went into personel work. They never got rich, but like most people of that generation, with hard work, they provided everything my sisters and myself needed growing up.
My father was born in Oklahoma in 1917. my mother was born in Colorado in 1921. They are still happily(most of the time) married and are looking forward to their 70th wedding anniversary in July..
The dates 1917 and 1921 are significant. In a panic in the mid 70's , many feared the social security system would collapse. Congress took an odd action. They changed the rules for the cost of living adjustment(cola), and made it inaffective for people born between 1917 and 1921. They then restored it for people born in 1922 and onward.The unlucky ones, born between 1916 and 1922, are called Notch babies.
The net result was that people born between 1917 and 1921, receive 20% less social security EVERY month of their lives.This seems easy enough to correct. The notch should simply be corrected, and these folks given back their lost money.
There are two bills in the congress, ( HR538 Clement-Tn) and (HR120 Emerson-Mo)Both introduced in 1999 and both titled Social Security Notch Act of 1999. They just sit there, not being acted upon. It seems that the government, rather than correct a book keeping error, is content to chatter and shelve until this fine generation ceases to exsist
To me, this is an outrage. I watch my folks in their 90's vibrant wonderful people, struggle and scrimp each month, while the government squanders millions every day.Instead of sending stimulus checks out to everyone, why couldn't we have stimulated the economy by correcting this. Believe me, seniors with massive copays, and little reason to save for the next 30 years, would spend and in a way that would be useful.
My father paid social security from the day of it's inception. My sister, (their daughter), now retired herself, draws far more than they do.
This is unfair, and in a country as great as this, this wrong should be righted. Please consider taking a minute to email the white house and your congressman, not only on behalf of my parents, but on behalf of an entire generation of fine Americans who fought for your freedom!
www.whitehouse.gov
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Thanks JPK ... I know another JPK! lol
This is so unfair. Today they (Nasa) our money - spent millions for a test rocket. Couldn't our Government spend some of that money to pay the notch babies. I have a sister and brother-in-law and a deceased brother-in law that fell in this category and have watched them struggle to make ends meet but too proud to ask for or take assistance.
You're right....it's a disgrace that this age cohort is being discriminated against. Really irksome...
Thank You Irma I appreciate the support!
Thank You donotfear Irksome indeed! I got an email today from aarp, they saw this and want to include this in their Magazine..Maybe we can get some relief!
Mike,
This is something that I have never heard of. It is almost unimaginable that it could continue to exist. I truly am sorry that your dear sweet parents fell into this catogory. They deserve much better. I for one would like to thank them both for their impressive service to our country. I will email my Congressman with a complaint. Thank you for the article, it was to say the least, very enlightening. Renaldi
This is an awesome post. Keep up the good work.
Please be a friend and visit me at:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Life-As-It-Really-Is
I've often wondered why certain senior members of our family got such small checks and this was very enlightening. Shame on them for singling out this group!
I think they've received much more than they ever paid in, right?
Thanks Jerilee I appreciate your support.
Nicomp..not really when you adjust for inflation and interest! Besides people one year younger or older are getting far more.
Nicomp if your retirement were to be cut in half, would it be justified , because by the time you were 90, you had gotten back more than you put in...or would you want the same retirement that someone with the same time invested as you received?
Umm, can't you just pay their bills if they are not getting enough?
I don't follow you Misha.. I do help them. Why, though, is it the children of these notch victims that should pay, when it is a government glich.That would be like saying it is ok for someone to steal your neighbors food, cause they can just go eat at Misha's!
LOL because we are children, and they did their best to bring us up. We are just repaying our debts to them. :)
Relying on government to do this for us is kinda shortsighted I would say, it never does what it promises...
We do help them. The point is the government is shorting them .they are paying younger people who put less in more money.Why should they get less money because of a book keeping error?
Frankly I would expect the American government to default on SS payments altogether shortly. Then it will be a sort of academic question - who would have received more and who would have received less. :)
Well I don't think you grasp what I am saying.. for the last 20 years, my parents receive200 dollors less from the govt than some one eiter older or younger. I can not see how, even if payment ended tomorrow, you can call 200$ a month X360 months they have been gettin shorted, an academic question.If the govt owed you 72,000 that a book keeping error kept you from getting, would you just be"ok" with that?
I do understand what you are saying.
To clear this up, my parents worked all their life and paid to the government all what they were supposed to pay, and I pay for more than half of their expenses nowadays. There was a period when I paid for almost everything, cause the government almost did not pay at all.
Now, the question is academic, because they are highly unlikely to get this reimbursed. And this bookkeeping error is highly unlikely to be corrected, unless some of the people on whom this depends have parents of the same age. Life is not fair, much less the government.
It just looks to me as a waste of time to rant about government doing what government always does - coning its own people.
well, i never feel it is a "waste of time" to point out injustice or govenment wrongs. That is what America is about!! Should people not have "wasted" there time, ranting about slavery?... maybe just said, "well people have always had slaves, why make an issue of it?" I believe ,unless checked, government will continue to con it's own people.
Mike, you have created so many strawman arguments that I can't address them all here. It's a shame that anyone goes hungry, and it's also a shame that our government has ruined the economy by overspending and borrowing from other governments.
I am insulted by your characterization that the entire country is waiting for these people to die. That's hyperbole, pure and simple.
They are waiting them out! What other reason could there be for stalling so long to fix something so obviously injust!
In todays world, much must insult you! Nicomp. if you had been shorted 70,000 0f your rightful retirement..money your neighbor received, and you didn't I doubt if you would be so cavalier.. You'd be whinning like a scalded hound!
Mike I'm glad a ran across your Hub, It points out the injustice in this country. The new death plan also has a fine for doctors for treating the elderly beyound what the gov't feels they need. I feel a revolt comming on. Great Hub!
Thanks I am happy you read me Thanks! Yeah alot is strange out there today!
Thanks so much for writing this.. It's a shame more average Americans aren't 'aware'. In addition though, it could be added that our government has never been 'kind' to our elderly, nor our veterans. I think our biggest mistake is the truly naive belief that our govenment officials care about us. We need to realize that they will say whatever we want to hear in order to get elected.. and like all of todays' issues, all that concerns them is MONEY, and whatever it takes to get themselves the most of it! ~ The whole Social Security scare is a bad joke! There was, and probably still is plenty to cover social security.. IF our govt would keep their ------- hands out of the till! Every dollar paid into social security by American workers is MATCHED by employers.. just do the math. There should be more than enough to support every generation of elderly for years to come... Just how much has been stolen from the till, anyway?!
I can't believe that the "government" even got away with initially but to allow this injustice to continue is appalling to me. Reading thru previous post was pretty appalling and eye opening to me also. From some pposters comments (M***a) seem to think that social security retirement is government $$$. not so. Government just likes to control it and i am certain that there is alot of ---- oh i'll be nice and just use the term "MisUse" that we never even know about; Having just lost my husband and know how much he receive each month after working (self-employed) for more than 50 years. It's no wonder that so many of our seniors are struggling financially ecspecialy in the current economic climate. It is disgraceful when you have to choose to eat or have some of your prescriptions or some other equally disgusting choice. I am not talking luxuries here, just what most would consider necessity. How to choose one over the other is impossible. Do you choose heat or food? Do you instead of cutting your prescription pills in 1/2 like usual (meaning 1/2 Dr. reccommend dose) or do you take a bigger chance and cut them into 1/4's. I was told a long, long time ago that We (USA) are the only country that does not respect and revere their elderly and even then I could it was true. I hated it then and I hate even more now. I couldn't imagine that if the pittance my husband recieved was reduced even a little how he would have managed as long as he did (which wasn't all that long - less than 2 years) living on that "government money". Ask some of your previous post if he outlived what he paid into the system?? and remember as self-employed he paid double what most do. I might sound a little bit bitter and i am not just for my husband but for all that were told all your social security will be there for you ---- what a joke. and then for some to seem to think it is like our seniors are accepting welfare and to be kissing the hand (or A**) of those that dole it out just about turns me inside out. Sorry if I am preaching but the children and the seniors are my passion. and my Life Moto is "Do NO Harm". I try very hard to live that way and just cannot understand the "me first" attitude that is so prevalent in today's world. We all need to remember that we do in fact reap what we sow, one way or another. Good Night
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I was getting so pod at my two previous posters, not for having a different view, but for saying in affect, I was crazy for even thinking I may have a point. 90 year old people, and this guy is basically saying they should "man up" I started feeling they didnt even get the point! I am passionate about the elderly, and so is my daughter..we have been for ever just inborn.. I am so sorry about your husband, and appreciate so much your writing! Mike
Gla Very good points... I appreciate your reading and hope you will pass it along..It blows my mind how so many say"I never knew that" I think that is the plan. If Oprah or someone did a show on the topic, with elderly telling their daily stories, it would be the topic of the day! Thanks for reading! M
As always Governments are disgusting in treating their old generation. They forgot that it was that very generation who saved the country and did they go through a hardship. They don't care because when they stop they get fat pensions. I wish you luck and maybe you could reach Opra who I am sure would only be too pleased to highlight it. How about sending all an email to Opra? Thank you for caring.
Hello..: Thank you so much for your kind words..I sent a copy to Oprah, but if I could get others to forward/ suggest the topic ,that would be great! You are spot on with your observations about that generation..They are far stronger people than I will ever be! Thanks again!
Sorry to hear that, Mike - glad that you are still fighting this battle and making sure that people do not forget. It is all very unfair.
Thanks Suf appreciat your reading this!
Thanks Suf appreciat your reading this!
Mike, this is a sad commentary on our government and many people in general. It is a shame that people (some) think you should just s...k it up and forget about it. My husband is disabled. He worked for more than thirty years and paid social security all that time but because he tried to continue working during the last ten years of his working life and did not get enough 'points'paid in; he is not even eligible to be considered for SS Disability. Such is the reasoning of our governing officials.
Good hub!
Thank you,Smireles for a very personal and touching response! I agree..there is no reason not to right a wrong! Good luck amd God bless, to you and your family
Great hub Mike
thanks for bringing this to light. I personally was unaware of this Notch baby glitch but I can vouch for other injustices perpetrated against our elderly. Unbelievable that as rich as this country is our elders have to scrimp and do without to survive. I too am fortunate to be able to help out my parents but what about the ones that can't ? thanks for speaking out !
Thanks Bail! I appreciate your kind words.. It is amazing how this isnt well known.. Im trying to get oprah to do a show on it! That's a long shot I am sure, but they are putting this Hub in aarp, so, it is a start! Thanks!
I didn't know anything about this! I am so glad that the hub is going onto aarp. This is terrible and needs action!
Thanks Natural and I believe so much in natural medicine instead of costly nonaffective drugs. my folks both in thier 90s and very little drugs..I joined your FC THanks!
very good
Unbelievable! thank you for sharing this information...
Thank u Jawa!
I agree that this is unfair, especially to people of this generation. They should not receive less than anyone else who receives Social Security. If the amount of money involved in fixing this is too much then someone needs to stop some wasteful spending elsewhere (and there is a whole lot of it) to come up with the money.
I also agree with urging people to contact the address you provided, rather than just sit back and do nothing. When people just sit back and passively accept "little mix-ups", bureaucratic oversights, and "gliches" things don't get get fixed; and people like your parents continue to be penalized for essentially no good reason whatsoever.
Thanks for your kind support!!!
Thank you Mike I have a sister that falls into the notchbaby group and I do believe gov. is waiting at least untill this group shrinks down to a few before they actually will addresse this issue. Thanks
Thank You irmi! Yeah it would be just like the government to come in nd make a big play out of handing a group of 4 103 year old people a check! Thanks for the comment!
Social Security leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I worked for the federal government for over 30 years. I also worked enough time once I retured from the federal government to draw social security - but watch this - Ronald Reagan didn't think federal workers should draw to "retirements" from the federal government. SO WHAT HAPPENS TO MY MONEY? Well, putting it in the easiest terms I can - Social Security takes away 2/3 right off the top of my social security and what it left me was $97. I wanted a loan and when I put the $97 as what I draw from Social Security, the manager of the loan office called me an told me that no one just gets $97. I told him that's what I got. When I applied for my husband's Social Security, it was the same old story, they took 2/3 of it. Instead of getting more which would have allowed me to be a bit more relaxed financially, they took 2/3 of that also. For widows/widowers whose only income would be the social security, they put those people in a situation where they would have to go on welfare because Social Security took most of their money. (I call it legal stealing.) I get a survivor benefit - at one time Social Security was taking 2/3 of that and in this same situation, it was the only income those widows/widowers had. That law was overturned in 1998 and Social Security was supposed to pay it all back to those affected by this, their money would be restored. Yes, there is a God. You'll like this one too - I got a letter from Social Security in August saying they had figured my Social Security incorrectly and that I would be getting a substantial increase in my monthly Social Security and that they would be depositing $27 which would be my pay through august and after that I would be getting a sum which was more than I had been getting. Not only did I not get my increase, I did get the $27 and nothing more. To date, I have not received my money that they didn't deposit to my account and apparently they don't read their own website, because it very plainly states I should have gotten much more than the $27. Call them doesn't help - one man told me I received $27 in September and that was my pay. I'm handicapped and it is difficult for me to walk - but even if I have to crawl to their office, I will do that and when I get to speak to a person I'm supposed to speak with, I'm going to hand her that letter and tell her to straighten it out and that I will NOT leave that office until she can assure me of a written letter that I will get my money in addition to WHEN I will get it. Its sad when you have to fight for your money. Believe me - if it was the money of one of those workers that I spoke to, they would have gotten their's within days. Originally, I was told it would be deposited to my account within 3 days. They make me sick!
You are so right! I am getting these same horror stories from hundereds of folks! I hope all works out!Truly a shame! Thanks for reading, Mike
Damn straight! My father is an active, witty 90 year old who served in the civilan air maintainance corps rather than the military because he was blind in one eye. He refused disability because he said he could do his job. The company he worked for went bankrupt and took away his pension. Now, no COLA on his Social Security. A society's measured is how they treat their weakest members. The way we treat our seniors is a sad measure indeed.
Bosco! Thank you very much! Great point on how society treats the elderly! Thanks
Really amazing that this could have gone on all this time without something being done about it. Do you know what was the original reason that they chose that section of years ( 1917-1921) to single out? I don't get it.
well, they were trying to figure out at what point the cost of living was out of proportion to inflation..Carter was president at the time, so I think, to set an example, he made it in his age group. As it turned out, inflation got worse! Good question! Thanks for writing!
Even if they do not need the money it is unfair to be treated differently especially at their age, I hope this is put right soon.
Good point! Fair is fair! Thanks 2uesday!
It's interesting stuff
Although I live in a different country, this affects me. Politicians everywhere need to be educated in what it means to be a plain hardworking citizen of 'Wherever'.
jpk says:
4 weeks ago
Damn straight! These fine people are getting shafted by the very government they helped to preserve.....