Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) outlined provisions in H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, which funds the federal government through March 4 and was passed by a majority in the House of Representatives late last week, which could affect senior citizens and the elderly in receiving their benefits or services throughout the nation and in the 28th Congressional District of Texas.

“Our most vulnerable, the elderly and senior citizens could be at risk of losing benefits and not receiving the needed services because of the serious cuts in the Continuing Resolution,” Congressman Cuellar said. “It would be detrimental not only to them but to our growing economy if these cuts went through. With more than 100,000 Social Security recipients in the 28th Congressional District of Texas, I must stand for them and their families and do everything in my reach to ensure these cuts do not go through.”

In Texas, the cuts included in the Continuing Resolution would negatively impact:

• 40,538 applications for Social Security benefits for retirement, disability and survivors from being processed

• 13,904 disabled workers from being able to appeal their benefit denials

• 89,359 babies and their families from being assigned Social Security numbers

• 289,465 people from visiting a Social Security office for help and find the lights off and the doors locked

• 191,148 people from calling a Social Security office and getting no answer

The cuts included in the Continuing Resolution would cost 187 people their jobs, while costing the local economy $10.3 million.

Impact on taxpayers

Social Security periodically reviews cases to make sure that beneficiaries are still entitled to benefits and are receiving the right amount. Even though these reviews only find overpayments in a small percentage of cases, they generate a very high return on Social Security’s investment in fighting waste, fraud, and abuse. If the proposed cuts go through in Texas:
 
• 2,172 fewer Social Security disability cases would be reviewed for medical improvement. These reviews save $10 for every dollar Social Security spends performing them

• 13,459 fewer Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases would be reviewed to make sure recipients aren’t over the income limit. These reviews save $7 for every dollar Social Security spends performing them