sheilajJan 7, 2023
Gia Scott

If you are a senior or disabled person living on social security, be prepared for a problem in July.

The House WILL hold your check hostage and refuse to raise the debt ceiling to shut down the federal government.

Social Security isn't funded by Congress, but...apparently distribution IS funded/controlled by the federal government. Your money is there since you paid in for decades, but you can't access it.

Hold Congress accountable for holding YOU hostage!
#SeniorLife #SocialSecurity

Jan 7, 2023 at 6:38amWeb
Show threadhammancheezJan 7, 2023
@giascott Seniors and Disabled and everyone got to realize this shit is going to be BAD this year.
Show threadGia ScottJan 7, 2023

@hammancheez Just reading about some of the concessions McCarthy's making to get that speaker slot is disgusting. He's selling every senior & disabled person, as well as the vast majority of the American people and a functional congress to get his coveted power position.

And that is what we have for the House for the next two years...the masters of chaos & corporate schills.

Show threadScott KnowlesJan 7, 2023
@giascott Department of Treasury issues checks for all government agencies. The system is self operating where checks for Social Security recipients with direct deposit automatically go out, same as federal retiree direct deposit checks. Both are funded from trust funds and aren't effected by government shutdowns. Printed checks are different matter as people operate the system and handle envelopes to mail.
Show threadGia ScottJan 7, 2023
@wsrphoto Now that is important to know--everything I had been able to find out indicated that congress could not stop payment, but at the same time, social security & disability were somehow threatened by a government shut down. I think most people have direct deposit & it may even be required. Now, do you happen to know if Medicare/Medicaid is going to be affected? For seniors & disabled, prescriptions & access to healthcare are also critically important.
Show threadVictoriaJan 7, 2023
@giascott @wsrphoto I will just add that direct deposit has been the default for quite some time. As I recall, some people have been grandfathered into paper checks but paper checks for new accounts haven't been available for several years.
Show threadScott KnowlesJan 8, 2023
@ProudAdvocate @giascott Direct deposit for my federal salary started in late 1980's, and has been continuous into retirement regardless of government shutdowns. The start dates for it varied with agencies, but it's pretty much required and benefits employees.
Show threadVictoriaJan 8, 2023

@wsrphoto @giascott I just double checked (I am the co-author of a treatise on Social Security and Medicare so it offends me that I couldn't remember) and while it is all direct deposit now I am 99.99% certain that it switched over at a later date than 1980 and that there was a transitional period when recipients could request paper checks.

None of which matters in this context. It just bothered me that I couldn't recall.

Show threadGia ScottJan 8, 2023

@ProudAdvocate @wsrphoto Ha-I know what you mean when you can't recall something you KNOW you know. It's annoying!

I know that congress is hollering about social security & medicare cuts, but these are not "entitlements" but something we've all had taken out for decades. I don't get where they CAN cut them, barring not having workers with a shut down.

Show threadScott KnowlesJan 8, 2023
@giascott Medicare & Medicaid would be effected. While much is computers and automated, it still needs people to operate, and funds are from congressional appropriations, so government shutdown or debt ceiling default would stop some work. I only have Part A and rarely use it.
Show threadGia ScottJan 8, 2023
@wsrphoto It sounds like it's going to be a potential flucker clust. Even with supplemental insurance, nobody is going to want to do anything while the shut down is happening.