social-security

Social Security in ‘a full blown crisis,’: Advocates and recipients say the program needs help

BY: - October 18, 2023

Along with low morale and high turnover among overworked staff, recipients regularly endure long wait times — on the phone and in person — for assistance, daunting paperwork, and confusing instructions, all for some of the most vulnerable beneficiaries of the nation’s largest social service program. 

U.S. House conservatives balk at short-term funding patch that would avert shutdown

BY: - September 12, 2023

WASHINGTON — The most conservative Republicans in the U.S. House announced Tuesday they won’t support the short-term spending bill that’s needed to stop a partial government shutdown from beginning on Oct. 1. Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, said the group is not interested in a stopgap spending bill that “continues the policies […]

Higher taxes on the wealthy would bolster Social Security, U.S. Senate Dems argue

BY: - July 13, 2023

Social Security provides financial stability that helps women and people of color stay out of poverty, an advocate said.

Social Security trustees predict benefit cuts in 2033 without congressional action

BY: - March 31, 2023

'Many in Washington would rather weaponize these programs than save them,' an advocate said.

COMMENTARY

Funding for Social Security is at a crisis level. It’s hurting the disabled | Opinion

BY: - November 21, 2022

The failure to serve disabled people with intersectional and marginalized identities represents a crisis in equitable access to disability benefits.

COMMENTARY
Speaker device in various languages.

Meaningful access to the Social Security Administration requires language services | Opinion

BY: - November 20, 2022

A lack of interpreters cuts too many people off from the crucial services they need.

COMMENTARY

The feds make it too hard for former inmates to access Social Security benefits | Opinion

BY: - November 18, 2022

The government punishes formerly incarcerated people twice by making them jump through too many hoops.

Social Security aid to disabled Pa. residents crashed during the pandemic | Thursday Morning Coffee

BY: - November 17, 2022

Pennsylvania saw the steepest drop of all 50 states, particularly hitting Black and brown residents, new research shows.

COMMENTARY

We’re the grandsons of Social Security’s founders. Here’s why it’s worth saving | Opinion

BY: - October 29, 2022

Social Security is a critical lifeline for millions of Pennsylvanians. It should be strengthened and protected for the future.

COMMENTARY
Social Security benefits have lost their purchasing power as inflation has soared in 2022. Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision via Getty Images

What’s behind that Social Security cost-of-living boost? 6 questions answered | Analysis

BY: - October 24, 2022

The 2023 increase in benefits primarily offsets what was lost over the previous year.

COMMENTARY
A proposed reduction to Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax could be included in this year's state budget.

That giant Social Security cost-of-living bump underlines the need to fix it | Ray E. Landis

BY: - October 23, 2022

If the opponents of Social Security insist on labeling it an entitlement, let’s take a small step in that direction.

COMMENTARY

Older voters delivered for Dems in 2020. Will they repeat in Pa. in 2022? | Monday Morning Coffee

BY: - August 15, 2022

A new DNC ad campaign in Pa. targets GOP on Social Security, Medicare.