LEAGUE n a NS CaughtIn The “Notch” (NAPSA)—According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of all seniors living in poverty are age 75 or older. A large segment of that group are “Notch Babies,” who receive significantly lower Social Security benefits than other retirees with similar work and earningsrecords. in the past are paying a high price in the present. In 1977, Notch Babies—born between 1917 and 1926—hbecame the generation that took a cut in benefits because the Social Security Trust Fund was expected to go broke by 1981. “Because of the unanticipated effects of the double-digit inflation and slow wage growth that followed, the cuts went deeper than expected,” says George A. Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Notch Babies also see the largest increases in health care costs and premiums. This is because, as membersof this group grow older, they move into the age group that has higher premiums than youngerretirees. Insurance premiums went up 138 to 30 percent over last year. Drug costs rose 17 percent and could go as high as 20 percent this year. “The plight of Notch Babies is particularly tragic since this is the group that paid the price over the past 22 years for saving Social Security for future generations,” adds Smith. “We call upon our new Congress to pass critically needed Notch Reform in 2001.” For more information, send $1 for shipping and handling to: TREA Senior Citizens League, Dept. N957, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314 or visit www.tscl.org.
