Grandparents Week: Wednesday's Celebrity List

Edward James Olmos: Edward was raised by his great-grandfather and his great-grandmother.

Oprah Winfrey: After her birth, Oprah's mother traveled north, and Winfrey spent her first six years living with her grandmother.

Willie Nelson: Willie began performing music as a child growing up in Abbott, Texas. After his father died and his mother ran away, Nelson and his sister Bobbie were raised by their grandparents, who encouraged both children to play instruments.

Louis Armstrong: Born into extreme poverty in New Orleans, Armstrong was raised by his grandmother until the age of five.

Chris Jennings: Before his career in the NFL, Chris was living in Huntington, West Virginia, where he was raised by his grandparents, Rosa and Trellis Tyson.

Photos Courtesy of: insidesocial.com, eoprahwinfrey.com, salem-news.com, 

sweetlyrics.com, cfl.ca.com

Grandparents Week Blog: Three Generations

Featured in Photo: Thomas Taylor, grandpa; Keith V. Taylor, son; Keith S. Taylor, grandson. On Thanksgiving Day November 25, 2010, my 14 year old grandson and I were the same height. On his 15th birthday, June 26, 2011 (seven months later) my grandson is two inches taller than me and on a pace to outgrow his 6”, 4” Dad.

Since there are two Keith’s, I decided to call my grandson K2. When he was about two years old, I enjoyed playing catch by rolling a ball on the ground. Two year olds are not yet coordinated, and the ball often rolled past him. Undaunted he chased after it saying, “I’ll get it”. This made us both laugh as we enjoyed each other’s company.

Around that time we started to greet each other by touching our foreheads together. (This is a form of greeting in some countries). As he continued to grow we always have said hello by touching foreheads. Last Thanksgiving Day, we touched our foreheads, and we were at eye level. On his birthday in June, he had to bend down in order for us to greet one another. I was amazed and he was delighted.

I had wondered if as he grew older he would shy away from a ritual which is shared only between the two of us, but he has not and usually initiates the greeting. This expression of caring and appreciation is one of the joys of my life, and I see it as a reflection of the love of my son, his father.

Written By: Thomas Taylor

Grandparents Week: Tuesday's Celebrity List

James Earl Jones: James was raised by his grandparents in Michigan.

Carol Burnett: She and her sister were both raised by their loving grandmother. It has long been a matter of public record that Burnett credits her grandmother for encouraging her to utilize her comic and musical talents to the fullest.

Gloria Estefan: Gloria was raised from birth by her maternal grandmother who nurtured her musical talents.

EVE: After EVE's parents separated when she was 12, her mother and grandmother helped to raise her.

Juwan Howard: Juwan was raised by his grandmother in Chicago.

Photos Courtesy of: Hark.com, myhero.com, celebritydetective.com, groveeffect.com, peoples-history.com

Grandparents Week: Monday's Celebrity List

Vince Vaughn: Vince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in Illinois. His father worked at a casino, and his mother on the stock exchange. Vince's parents were often working, so Vince was cared for primarily by his sisters and grandmother.

Marisa Tomei:  Her parents were very busy while she was growing up. To help out, her grandmother, Rita Tomei, assisted in raising her.

Charles Barkley: Charles grew up in Leeds, Alabama, where he was raised by his mother and grandmother.

Kellie Pickler: Kellie was raised by her grandparents from the age of 12, and has been a featured guest at the GrandRally. For more information, visit www.grandrally.org.

Kevin Johnson: Kevin is the current mayor of Sacramento, California. When he was born, his mother was only 16 years old, and at the age of three, his father tragically passed away. As a result, his maternal grandparents assisted in raising him.

Photos Courtesy of: David Shankbone, NNDB, pynkcelebrity.com, sanfransciscosentinel.com

Grandparents Week Blog: "I Love You"

I don’t have the stories of long nights listening to my grandpa tell stories like many kids.  My grandfather was born deaf.

Until I was in high school, he lived in a retirement community in Florida, and I would usually see him once a year during a family visit. Although American Sign Language was my father’s first language, he and my mother are both hearing and sign language wasn’t spoken in my home regularly. I learned to finger spell the alphabet, and a few basic signs, but my communication with grandpa as a child was mostly limited to pantomime, facial expressions, and written notes.  My grandmother was also deaf. She lost her hearing as an infant. She would often vocalize some of her words in soft strained tones, but grandpa never made an intentional vocal noise.

Grandpa moved in with my family in high school after my grandmother died. Occupied with schoolwork, clubs, band, sports and friends, I never learned much more sign. However, I did have many warm and sometimes transforming moments with grandpa doing puzzles, watching Wheel of Fortune together, and hearing stories about his childhood thru my dad, the interpreter.  Grandpa, who died 9 years ago at 98,  remains today to be one of the most direct, humble, gentle and patient men I have ever known.

The year I left for college, grandpa turned 90. Midway thru my first semester, Grandpa and Dad decided to make the 14 hour trip from Illinois to Pennsylvania to come visit. They called me at my dorm from their hotel when they arrived.  Dad launched into how the trip went and was starting into making plans to meet up for dinner, when grandpa interrupted and asked for the phone.  The next thing I heard was the gentle but dragging murmur of what sounded like a tape recorded voice playing on the wrong speed, “III  LLLOVVE  YYOUU”. My dad got back on the phone, choked up. “I have never heard my father speak,” he said.

I may not have gotten to spend hours listening to my grandpa tell stories like many kids, but the words I did hear from him, I will never forget. 

Written By: Jaia Peterson-Lent

Generations United's Official Statement On The Budget Control Act

Generations United acknowledges that by passing the Budget Control Act, Congress and the President have taken a necessary step to avoid our nation’s default. As a fiscally responsible nation, we have a duty to both balance our budget and pay back those from whom we have borrowed in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, the debate in Washington seemed to devolve into a manufactured crisis over the federal government’s authority to borrow. As with any compromise, there's good news and bad news.

Generations United supports fiscal discipline and raising the debt limit to ensure that our nation satisfies its obligations, so long as it is done in a responsible way that does not do so on the backs of our nation’s most vulnerable children, youth, and older adults. The Budget Control Act is not perfect. It does however provide important certainty to our economy at a fragile moment by increasing the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion, eliminating the need for further increases until 2013 and allowing the government to avoid a historic default. The Act also contains some important provisions that reduce the threat to programs and services vital to children, youth, and older adults.

However, the Budget Control Act’s new joint committee and trigger leave room for cuts that could endanger the economic security of young and old alike. Generations United urges the new joint committee members to take this opportunity to protect the young and old now and invest in our future by supporting proposals which would provide adequate revenue to address the needs of our citizens and opposing proposals which would deny individuals, young and old, access to vital programs while giving tax breaks to the wealthy, protecting corporate tax subsidies, and shifting the burden to the middle class.

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The Debt Deal: How it Could Impact Children, Youth, and Older Adults 

The Budget Control Act has two distinct stages. In the first stage, the debt limit will be raised in conjunction with more than $900 billion in spending cuts over the next ten years. In this phase, the Act contains some important provisions that reduce the threat to programs and services vital to children, youth and older adults

However, in the second stage, the risk of cuts to programs critical to the health and welfare of children, youth, and older adults increases. In this phase, an additional $1.5 trillion in budget reductions will be determined by a new joint bi-partisan committee of Congress, who can recommend revenues and cuts as part of its deficit reduction plan. Their recommendations are due by November 23. There are no specific protections for programs to children, youth, and older adults in this phase.

To reach an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts, the joint congressional committee could cut spending to intergenerational programs, such as the following:

• Education and Early Care: Head Start, child care, including the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and K-12 education
• Safety-Net Programs: Social Security (ex. by reducing the annual cost of living adjustment, raising the retirement age), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Tax Credits: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) & Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Health Care: The joint congressional committee will have authority to recommend cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, as well as cuts to funding meant to assist states in implementing the ACA. Not only would this affect Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries directly, but by reducing or eliminating funding necessary to implement the ACA, these cuts could undermine the ACA’s ability to reach its ultimate goal of providing affordable health insurance coverage to all Americans.

If the committee’s recommendations are not enacted, a budget “trigger” will kick in, imposing mandatory across-the-board spending cuts matching the size of the debt ceiling increase.

If the joint congressional committee does not come to an agreement or Congress fails to enact recommendations made by the committee, then across-the-board cuts would be implemented (50% domestic, 50% military).

 
To stay up-to-date on this issue, sign up for Generations United's Policy Alert. 

Ready for our conference!

All of us at Generations United look forward to welcoming many of our friends and colleagues who will be coming to Washington DC for our 16th International Conference "Rethinking & Revitalizing Intergenerational Connections!" To make sure we were all revitalized and ready, we tried out our new sleeping masks today. There will be no snoozing next week! We look forward to sharing news and updates from the conference all week. Safe travels and we look forward to sharing a fabulous, fun educational event with you! Best, Donna

From our intern, Ishan, age 15

Since childhood I have always felt a special bonding and passion towards elderly. I would patiently listen to their stories and enjoy their company which has made me a very empathetic and compassionate human being. Since the age of 9, I would visit Hospice residents and buy gifts for them from my savings. After visiting the residents for 5 years, I was awarded at the top of the Hospice donor tree.

I also started volunteering with my mom through Mease Hospital's friend to friend program, where we assist homebound, sick elders with medication and grocery shopping. One day Delores an 82 yrs old senior called asking for milk. When my mom & I went to deliver it we saw two milk gallons already sitting in her refrigerator. When I asked about them, she said she was feeling very lonely and was longing for company. I understood and thought about research pointing out the increased suicide rate among seniors due to isolation.

One day when we visited Ruby, 97 yrs old, she opened the door and started crying. Finally she said. “You know I lost my husband 18 yrs ago.” We responded yes we know. She said “You know I lost my only son about a year ago,” we said yes we know. She said “You know what? Today I lost my only grandson who died in an accident. I do not know why God left me and took my baby boy. I was feeling very sad, and was not sure how I would pass my day today, I am thankful the Lord sent you to me.” There are hundreds of seniors awaiting a visit. Some are in dire need of love and hand hold or a shoulder to cry on.

Increased longevity and the extremely busy lifestyles of many families have made our most valuable seniors very isolated and vulnerable. The Michigan University research of May 28, 2010, shows youth’s empathy has dropped by 40% in 20 years. Seeing this statistic I decided to implement the bonding of these two generations to decrease the suicide rate amongst the elderly and increase empathy among the youth of today.

Lavera & Ishan



This is how my mom and I came upon creating our own organization. Our Motto is “This is how we bridge life.” Grand-Kids” (http://www.ourAIM.org) is a new initiative created with a goal to provide a vehicle to bring youth and senior citizens together, which helps both with life enriching experiences. Our AIM Foundation, a non profit, non denominational, 501 3 (C) organization, has initiated a very beautiful interesting, innovative intergenerational program called Grand Kids. If you'd like to know more, please contact me at info@ouraim.org.

 

-Ishan Mandani

What You Need to Know about Social Security

Have you ever heard someone say Social Security is going bankrupt? Or that Social Security won’t be there for your children and grandchildren? Unfortunately, some politicians have used these lies during debt ceiling debates to frighten the public and further their political agenda. The truth is, as Social Security celebrates its 76th anniversary, it remains one of the nation’s most successful, effective, and popular intergenerational programs.

To help arm intergenerational advocates with the truth about this issue, we’ve highlighted some facts everyone should know about this important program.

1. Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. Social Security has a $2.6 trillion surplus and can pay full benefits through 2036 without any changes. Furthermore, relatively modest changes could be made and would place the program on a sound financial footing for 75 years and beyond. To read more about these recommendations, check out the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) publication: Strengthening Social Security for the Long Run.

2. Social Security did not cause the deficit. Social Security has its own funding stream and did not contribute to the deficit. It should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Because Social Security operates from a dedicated self-funding stream, it is projected to be fully solvent until 2036.

3. Social Security will be there for you. Social Security has never missed a payment in 75 years. It is 100% solvent for the next 25 years and, in the highly unlikely case that Congress did not act before 2036, Social Security could still pay about three-fourths of benefits thereafter. With minor changes, Social Security can be solvent for years to come.

4. Social Security is more than a retirement program. It provides essential protections for people of all ages. Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program, protecting 98 percent of the children in the U.S. in the event that they lose a parent. More than 6.5 million children receive part of their family income from Social Security.

5. Social Security benefits are modest. As politicians continue to discuss Social Security reform, it’s important to note that cuts to Social Security would dramatically affect an individual’s benefits. Social Security benefits are much more modest than many people realize. In June 2010, the average Social Security retirement benefit is about $14,000 a year. (The average disabled worker and aged widow received slightly less.)

6. Americans would rather pay more than see benefits cut. 87 percent of all Americans agree that they don’t mind paying for Social Security because of the security and stability it provides to millions of Americans. (Survey sponsored by NASI and Rockefeller Foundation in Fall 2009).

7. Almost half of all seniors would be poor without Social Security. Social Security lifts 13 million older adults age 65 and older out of poverty.

8. For many grandfamilies, Social Security is essential to their families’ survival. Social Security is a safeguard for families when tragedy strikes. The vast majority of grandparent caregivers did not plan to raise another family and unexpectedly find themselves caring for their grandchildren. Many of these grandparents live on fixed incomes and find themselves forced to make decisions between paying for diapers and formula for the children or prescription drugs for themselves. Even with Social Security benefits, 22 percent of grandparent-headed families are poor. Without Social Security benefits, the group’s poverty rate would be 59 percent or more. Read more about what’s at stake for grandfamilies in our publication: What’s at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.

9. Changes already enacted will cut Social Security benefits by 19 percent for future retirees. In the 1980s, Congress enacted changes to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. Those changes cut retirement benefits by 19 percent for workers born in 1960 and later, and more cuts could undermine the basic economic security of future retirees. To help educate the public and Members of Congress on this complex issue, NASI recently released a report on the effects of this piece of legislation.

10. Social Security should be strengthened, not cut.

Generations United believes the best way to invest in and protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens is to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. Social Security plays a critical role in providing economic security and indispensable protections for children, families, and retirees. Social Security provides vital support for children, in addition to older adults, covering 98 percent of all children in the event of the death or disability of a caregiver.

In order to improve Social Security for future generations, Generations United continues to advocate for one low-cost recommendation that would strengthen Social Security for future generations: reinstating the student benefit. Restoring the Social Security student benefit would offer students whose parents are deceased and disabled the support they need to become the educated workforce our country’s economy needs. To read more about our recommendation, download our publication Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.


This article is the final installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.

The House Budget: What’s In Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity”, & How Would It Affect Me?

The Path to Prosperity, introduced by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has been at the epicenter of the 2012 budget debate. After passing the U.S. House of Representatives, this House Budget Resolution was struck down in the Senate. However, the plan remains very relevant today, as portions of the plan, particularly deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, are still being considered.

According to a recent poll by Kaiser, a majority of Americans say they are opposed to cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that provide critical support to older adults and children. Cuts proposed by the House Budget Resolution would impact services for older adults and children dramatically. If the plan was enacted, federal spending would shrink to about 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2015 – this is the lowest level since 1951, a time when federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid didn’t even exist.

Generations United opposes these harmful cuts and urges Congress to balance the budget in a responsible way that doesn't do so on the backs of our nation's children, older adults, and other vulnerable groups.  For these reasons, it is important for individuals of all ages to learn about the spending cuts proposed by the House Budget and advocate for shared sacrifice in any upcoming budget proposal.

Among others, the budget plan calls for the following cuts:

·         $2.17 trillion in reductions from Medicaid and related health care programs.

·         $350 billion from other mandatory programs serving low-income Americans. For  instance, The Ryan Plan implies that federal funding for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as the food stamp program) would be substantially reduced.

·         $400 billion in cuts in low-income discretionary programs. For example, The Ryan Plan identifies Pell Grants and low-income housing assistance as prime targets for substantial cuts.  

In addition, the budget plan calls for the following harmful reforms:

 

Repealing the Affordable Care Act

Repealing the new health care law would remove access to affordable, high-quality, comprehensive health care coverage for children, youth, people with disabilities, families and older adults.  Without this historic piece of legislation, insurance companies will go back to denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions.  Women may be charged more than men for insurance, simply because of their gender.  And, families may continue to go without the affordable, quality care they deserved. Moreover, repealing the ACA would not lower health care costs. In fact, a recent report estimates that state governments will actually save $90 billion from 2014 to 2019 because of implementation of the ACA’s major reforms.

Converting Medicaid into a Block Grant 

This proposal would cut Medicaid funding by $771 billion over the next ten years and convert it to a block grant. As a result, states would receive less money from the federal government to assist low-income individuals who are eligible, leaving states with inadequate funding. With less federal dollars to provide the same services, the block grant would ultimately force states to shift these costs onto the backs of providers and beneficiaries in the midst of tough economic times.  This could increase costs and jeopardize the delivery of critical health care services for older adults receiving Medicaid benefits for long-term care and the more than 30 million children Medicaid serves.

Turning Medicare into a Voucher Program

The House Budget Resolution would turn Medicare into a voucher program in which older adults receive a limited amount to buy increasingly expensive private health insurance. If passed, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that older adults' out-of-pocket medical costs would rise twice as fast as currently projected. Recent polls show that the public is strongly opposed to cuts to Medicare, with many noting Medicare's important role in providing financial security in their retirement.

Converting The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a Block Grant 

The House Budget Resolution would cut SNAP (formerly known as the food stamp program) by nearly 20 percent and convert the program into a block grant. By capping the amount of federal funding the program can receive, a block grant structure would eliminate SNAP’s ability to respond to rising need. For example, due to the economic downturn, the demand for SNAP benefits for all generations has increased. With a substantial loss in federal funding, it will be increasingly difficult for states to provide benefits to those eligible. Almost a third of SNAP beneficiaries are older adults or individuals with disabilities, and almost three-quarters of SNAP benefits are used by families with children.

For more in-depth information on the how the House Budget Resolution would impact children and older adults, please review the following resources from our partners:

Child Welfare League of America:   What Does a Medicaid Block Grant Mean for Children in Child Welfare

AARP: House Republicans Propose Remake of Medicare and Medicaid 

Center on Budget & Policy Priorities:

Ryan Budget Would Increase Health Care Spending for Medicare Beneficiaries 

Ryan Plan Specifies Spending Path That Would Nearly End Most of Government Other Than Social Security, Health Care, and Defense by 2050

Chairman Ryan Gets Nearly Two-Thirds of His Huge Budget Cuts From Programs for Lower-Income Americans

House-Passed Proposal to Block-Grant and Cut SNAP (Food Stamps) Rests on False Claims About Program Growth

This article is the second installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.

 

5 Things Intergenerational Advocates Should Know About the National Debt and Deficit

The ongoing debate surrounding the national debt and deficit can be confusing, especially when it comes to discerning facts from misleading political rhetoric. Generations United has identified five key points related to the national deficit that our members should know about in order to be well informed on this very important issue;

1. The national debt itself is not a measure of financial impact across generations.

What is important is how the debt affects the economy at the time when the government borrows the money. Whether or not the national debt will be detrimental to future generations is determined by the quality of the society that we pass on. If the debt is increased by positive investments (such as education and health care) we ensure a healthier workforce and the future economy will benefit as a result.

2. During periods of economic weakness, deficit spending actually can grow the economy.

While a deficit can in principle lead to higher interest rates and lower productivity when the economy is functioning near capacity, it actually can help bolster the economy during a downturn. The primary issue during a recession is a lack of demand. Government spending and/or tax cuts at that time can increase demand as well as output and employment. Higher output means that companies will invest more and that future generations will be made wealthier as a result.

3. The majority of the forecasted budget deficit problem is caused by high and rising costs in the private healthcare sector.

The federal government pays out over half of the country’s total health care costs via Medicare, Medicaid, and other related programs. Most of that money goes to the private health care sector. The cost of this care in the coming years is projected to rise far more rapidly than our current rate of economic growth. If we can find a way to control the increasing cost of health care, then the budget deficit will become much more manageable.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 takes significant steps to reduce the increasing cost of health care by ensuring that all Americans have access to preventative care services and affordable coverage. By creating incentives to treat health care issues earlier and in primary care facilities, rather than costly emergency rooms, the ACA will reduce health care costs considerably over time; most of these changes will occur beginning in 2014, with the introduction of state-based “exchanges,” marketplaces where consumers and small business owners can purchase affordable health insurance, much like shopping online for a plane ticket or a hotel room. According to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, state governments will spend at least $90 billion less from 2014 to 2019 because of the ACA’s reforms.

4. Social Security has its own funding stream, and it will be fully funded until 2036.

Some people have suggested fixing the deficit by cutting into Social Security. In reality, Social Security did not contribute to the deficit, and it should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Because Social Security operates from a dedicated self-funding stream, it is projected to be fully solvent until 2036.

Much of the current debate around the national deficit has focused on the idea of cutting into Social Security to help alleviate the current and projected budgetary shortfalls. Generations United strongly opposes that course of action. It makes little sense to cut benefits from a program that has proven itself to be self-sustaining, especially a program like Social Security that is so valuable to all generations. Furthermore, the amount of the deficit that could be reduced by cutting into Social Security pales in comparison to the amount of the deficit that could be reduced by letting the tax cuts of the early 2000s expire or reducing the spending allocated to conflicts overseas and addressing the rising private health care costs.

5. A constitutional balanced budget amendment means cuts to critical programs.

A balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution would threaten our economic security while raising a host of problems for the operation of Social Security and other vital federal functions. Requiring a balanced budget every year, no matter the state of the economy, would raise serious risks of tipping weak economies into recession and making recessions longer and deeper, causing very large job losses. That’s because the amendment would force policymakers to cut spending, raise taxes, or both just when the economy is weak or already in recession — the exact opposite of what good economic policy would advise.

Generations United hopes that these five key points have answered some of the questions that our members may have had concerning the national debt and deficit.

For more information on these issues, please visit the following sites:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Center for Economic and Policy Research



This article is the first installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.

Generations United's Reponse to Possible Social Security Cuts

 

Photo: Pete Souza | Official White House Photo



Today, news outlets announced that President Obama plans to propose significant reductions in Medicare spending and for the first time will offer to tackle the rising cost of Social Security.

  

Experts are speculating that the President is considering Social Security cuts to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This would be done by changing the formula used to calculate the annual COLA to the so-called chained-CPI (Consumer Price Index). This technical change would cut the benefits people have earned – whether they receive Social Security now or in the future. After ten years, average retiree benefits will be cut by about $600 a year, and after 20 years, they will be cut by about $1,000 a year.

Generations United is focused on protecting Social Security and Medicare for the millions of children, families, and retirees that rely on these critical programs. Furthermore, Social Security did not contribute to the deficit, and it should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Generations United urges Congress to balance the budget in a responsible way that doesn't do so on the backs of our nation's most vulnerable citizens.



Generations United believes the best way to invest in and protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens is to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. Social Security plays a critical role in providing economic security and indispensable protections for children, families, and retirees. Social Security provides vital support for children, in addition to older adults, covering 98 percent of all children in the event of the death or disability of a caregiver.



In order to improve Social Security for future generations, Generations United continues to advocate for one low-cost recommendation that would strengthen Social Security for future generations: reinstating the student benefit. Restoring the Social Security student benefit would offer students whose parents are deceased and disabled the support they need to become the educated workforce our country’s economy needs. To read more about our recommendation, download our publication Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.



To read more about this story, check out today’s Washington Post article.

To read more about the COLA cut, check out the Strengthen Social Security Campaign’s analysis.