According to the Huffington Post, two House Republicans are telling their constituents that they are going to oppose cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through President Barack Obama’s proposed 2014 budget.
According to the HuffPost, Reps. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) and Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) have sent letters out to citizens letting them know they oppose the budget cuts. Earlier this year, the Obama administration proposed the cuts, known as “chained CPI,” a 0.3 percent reduction to the yearly cost-of-living adjustment associated with benefit payments. A 0.3 percent reduction would amount to one month of benefits over the course of 10 years.
“President Obama, in his Fiscal Year 2014 Budget request, recently proposed changing how the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is calculated by the federal government,” Duffy wrote to one constituent. “I strongly disagree with the President’s plan to reduce Social Security benefit increases for current seniors. As your Congressman, I will fight to make sure there are no COLA reductions for current retirees. Today’s seniors deserve the benefits they have rightfully earned and I will continue working on proposals that strengthen the program.”
The HuffPost also reported that a poll conducted by the website showed that the majority of Americans disagree with the cuts. A poll conducted in December 2012 found that 16 percent of Americans said the proposal to switch to chained CPI was a good idea, while 54 percent said it was a bad idea. The disapproval crossed party lines as “56 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independents saying they thought the proposal was a bad idea.”
We will continue to update you on potential cuts, as more news comes out. If you have questions about applying for disability benefits, contact a Tulsa Social Security Disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability lawyers
