7 New Social Security Bills in Congress Now

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Lawmakers are staring down a mid-August deadline to lift the debt ceiling, with Republican threats to allow a default — unless Social Security and Medicare cuts are made — still in the offing.

“If the Republicans allow a default to occur, in addition to global economic catastrophe, the payment of Social Security benefits and payments to Medicare to cover beneficiary services could be delayed,” Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told ThinkAdvisor in an email.

“If a default is coupled with a government shutdown, it could cause Social Security Administration customer service to be seriously reduced,” Richtman explained.

Democrats, he said, “have learned ever since 2011 not to negotiate on the debt limit, and have done so ever since then, because they oppose drastic spending cuts on essential programs.”

Furthermore, “Social Security is not a debt-related issue,” Richtman noted. “It is self-funded and does not add a penny to the debt. Even if Republicans keep their word (via verbal agreement during the State of the Union), everything else is still on the table, including Medicaid, SSA operating funds, and Older American Act programs.”

Plus, “Republicans’ definition of ‘cut’ tends to be suspect, because many of their Social Security proposals would slash benefits for future — if not current — retirees,” he said.

Related: Social Security Fund on Track to Go Bust in 2023: Trustees Report

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Richtman explained, encourages Democrats and President Joe Biden “to stand firm on a clean debt ceiling bill, and against any cuts to Americans’ earned benefits.”

The group is fighting a bill reportedly taking shape by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, and Angus King, I-Maine, that “would put Social Security on a slippery slope toward privatization — and ultimately cut benefits for future beneficiaries.”

One bill introduced in January would guarantee Social Security benefits during a debt limit standoff, while another would increase Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year.

Read the gallery to see seven Social Security-related bills introduced this year.

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