sam 1) CT: oo LEG= n & | Benefit Disparity Could Be Resolved (NAPS)—The $87 billion bud- get surplus, the portion that does not include Social Security, makes it easier for the government to settle a long-standing benefit dis- parity and not siphon off money from the Social Security Trust Fund, according to The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). The benefit disparity arose from changes made in 1977 to the way Social Security benefits were calcu- lated, affecting retirees who were born from 1917 through 1926. Those changes were urgently needed to “save Social Security” which was expected to go broke in 1980 or 1981. Those affected by the disparity, called “Notch Babies,” paid the price of “saving Social Security” by receiving lower-than-expected ben- efits. Although Congress has considered correcting the Notch in the past, concern about thecost of pro- viding improved benefits pre- sented obstacles. A relatively recent legislative alternative “The Notch Fairness Act,” would pro- vide those born from 1917 through 1926 or their surviving beneficiaries, with the choice of improved monthly benefits or a Lump-Sum totaling $5,000 payable over a four-year period. Thelegislation is estimated to cost about $45 billion. For more information, send $1.00 for shipping and handling to: TREA Senior Citizens League, Dept, N954, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit www.tscl.org.
