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      seniors

      A man with a gray beard looks at a sign reading, "We accept food stamps."

      Food Stamp Work Rules Harm Older Poor Americans

      The new restrictions “put almost 750,000 older adults aged 50-54 at risk of losing food assistance,” the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities Found.

      Christopher D. Cook
      Teresa Ghilarducci
      Sep 13, 2023

      Life is getting even tougher for poor people in America. As poverty rates soar—due in part to policies such as cutting pandemic aid for poor and working-class people—new rules that kicked in September 1 only add to the suffering.

      As if being poor and unable to afford food isn’t hard enough, new food stamps rules require all destitute Americans up to age 50 to work 80 hours a month for their monthly aid, under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Next year this will extend to 54year-olds.

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      Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on March 10, 2023.

      Do MAGA Republicans Care How a Shutdown Would Impact Seniors?

      Older Americans shouldn’t have to worry about their earned benefits because MAGA House members once again are willing the hold the government hostage to their extremist aims.

      Max Richtman
      Sep 04, 2023

      The MAGA faction of the House Republican Conference is once again threatening to disrupt the basic functioning of government to push an unpopular agenda. Last spring, they brought the nation to the brink of default. Now, the House Freedom Caucus is refusing to keep the government from shutting down in September unless a set of extreme demands are met. In both cases, they have displayed a callous disregard for the effect of these machinations on everyday Americans who depend on the smooth operation of government—including, and especially, our nation’s seniors.

      While the possibility of a government shutdown does not pose as serious a threat to Social Security and Medicare as the averted federal default would have, it is of serious concern to seniors and their advocates. Most Social Security payments likely would continue to go out because the process is largely automated. But, depending on how long a shutdown might last, customer service for Social Security claimants and beneficiaries could be significantly disrupted.

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      An elderly woman is evacuated from her home amid flooding caused by heavy rain during Hurricane Harvey

      New Bill Would Require Medicare to Cover 'Home Resiliency' Amid Worsening Climate Crisis

      “Climate justice is a matter of disability justice," said Sen. Ed Markey. "It's time that we guarantee that seniors and people with disabilities can safely weather the climate crisis."

      Jake Johnson
      Jul 05, 2023

      New legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Maxwell Frost would require Medicare to fully cover the cost of "home resiliency" equipment such as heat pumps, air conditioning, and solar batteries in an effort to keep seniors and people with disabilities safe from worsening climate chaos.

      The Survival Aid for Emergencies (SAFE) Through Medicare Act was introduced shortly after Tuesday was tentatively deemed Earth's hottest day on record as large regions of the planet continue to suffer sweltering heatwaves that have put many lives at risk.

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