Social Security goes BOOM this year. What's A New Retiree To Do?
This year, the first group of the 79 million babies born from 1946 through 1964 turn 62, which means they become eligible for Social Security.
They're expected to live longer than any previous generation of Americans. That means they'll have the longest retirements, too. Can they afford to retire? How far will their Social Security checks go?
If you're in this group, you'd better read this:USA Today |
Dear Mr. President: EVERYONE Needs Stimulus.
On February 13th, the President signed a multibillion-dollar economic package that means $300 to $1,200 rebates for many American households. Rebates are set to go out beginning in May, and will include seniors living on Social Security.
Rebates to seniors and disabled vets were scaled down from $500 under the original Senate package after the President personally lobbied against including them, according to Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and the publication "Politico." HERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE AWARE OF |
Budget and Staff Cuts – The Real Social Security Crisis
 SSA employees who retire are not being replaced, and the Agency is on track to lose 6000 positions in just the past two years. Staffing will soon drop to the lowest level since 1972, in the face of rapidly-expanding workloads. READ MORE>>> |
We’re all subsidizing billions
in Medicare Advantage profits
By Will Parry
 Eight million seniors have now been enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans –including the one offered by Group Health – and most of them are getting either slightly more liberal benefits or are paying lower premiums compared with traditional Medicare.
READ MORE>>> |
 • Medicare
• Social Security
• Health Insurance
• Financial Security
• Housing & Services |
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MY PERSPECTIVE
Verna Porter, President, ORARA
 Social Security Privatization---Here We Go Again.
Because millions and millions of us have worked hard all our lives to earn a living for my family and myself. I'd like Americans--including the people who want to be our elected officials--to be talking about, and working toward retirees adequate health care and retirement security protections we can count on, especially Social Security. Consequently, I was really put off when I read that Senator John McCain has called for the privatization of Social Security.
In an interview appearing in the March 3 edition of The Wall Street Journal, McCain restated his support for the privatization of Social Security, saying, As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it -- along the lines that President Bush proposed.
The proposal McCain favors is the same Bush privatization plan rejected by the American people in 2005 for jeopardizing the economic security of current and future retirees and ravaging guaranteed benefits for seniors and the disabled. Without the program, half of all American seniors would live in poverty.
Privatization would mean a 30-50% cut in benefits, with the average retiree losing $134,000 in payments over 20 years of retirement.
The Alliance's National President, George Kourpias, said it very well: Don't be fooled, John McCain is, was, and always will be a privatizer. While he fancies himself a maverick, he has long championed the Bush plan to gamble away Social Security on the roulette wheel of the stock market. In a Bush-McCain world, seniors' risk would be Wall Street's reward.
Just as I would not dishonor Senator McCain for his military service and heroism, I would not want to see retired workers who built this economy dishonored and tossed aside after a life of productive work.
There's a lot to read here, but I think it's worth it knowing why a McCain Presidency might be more than a little like a third term for George W. Bush: Wall Street Journal;
pdf version
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We CANNOT Just Care About Our Own Issues
A new report from The Commonwealth Fund titled U.S. Variations in Child Health System Performance: A State Scorecard, offers a first-ever state-by-state health system "scorecard" on children's health care. Sadly, Oregon ranks 43rd among the 50 states, but there is a lot of potential for improvement.
The report exposes wide differences across the country in the quality of care delivered, as well as disparities in access to services, insurance costs, and health outcomes, among other areas.
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July 2008
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| MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS |
•  Prescription Drug Benefits
ORARA has contracted with Universal Drug Services for members to receive prescription drugs at a discount price. Visit their webpage for access to the drug list and prices.
•  ARA Benefits
Refer to the website for a full list of benefits
•  Union Plus Benefits
ORARA members are automatically eligible to receive benefits from Union Plus. Check the website for a list of benefits. If it asks for your union, indicate ARA. |
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ORARA adopts donation policy
The Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans (ORARA) exists because retirees still care and want to be informed and involved in the issues of the day.
As retirees we certainly focus on Social Security and Medicare issues. As parents and grandparents we care about education and economic issues and as former members of the workforce we support working men and women and their struggle with collective bargaining rights, pension security and healthcare.
The ORARA works very hard to get a seat at the table. We are respected, listened to, and valued because everyone knows seniors not only have knowledge and experience, but we are the demographic group that VOTES!
The unfortunate reality is that being visible and keeping our members informed and involved costs money. ORARA dues are $10.00 per year and we are reluctant to seek an increase because
we don’t want to lose a single member; numbers
count. READ MORE>>> |
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