U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) introduced legislation that would fix the disparity in Social Security benefits for seniors known as "Notch babies," individuals who were born from 1917 to 1926.
Seniors born between these years presently receive lower Social Security payments than those who were born before them due to an adjustment Congress made to Social Security benefits in 1977. The adjustment was made to fix a prior cost-of-living modification that resulted in unexpected windfalls for beneficiaries born before 1917.
Entitled the Notch Fairness Act, Meng's measure would compensate Notch Babies with either a $5,000 lump-sum payment (payable in four yearly installments) or an increase in monthly Social Security benefits. Seniors would be allowed to pick the option that they prefer.
"Passing this legislation is long overdue," said Meng. "Fixing this disparity in benefits would not only make a huge difference to the many seniors who rely on this money as their main source of income, but it is also the fair and right thing to do for older Americans who were shortchanged by Congress. It's long past time to address this problem, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to move forward with this important bill."
Meng's measure has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.Present cosponsors include Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), John Yarmouth (D-KY), Gene Green (D-TX), James McGovern (D-MA), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY).