Social Security changes face bipartisan opposition

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Democratic Iowa congressman's efforts to delay policy changes that would limit face-to-face assistance for Iowa Social Security recipients is gaining support even, in a very limited way, from Republicans.

Rep. Bruce Braley's Seniors' Access to Social Security Act has received the support of one GOP House member, Rep. Don Young of Alaska. It's also supported by nearly two dozen Democratic sponsors from over a dozen states and the support of national organizations including the Alliance for Retired Americans.

Given that Braley is running for an open U.S. Senate seat, landing Republican support may be difficult.

His GOP opponent, State Sen. Joni Ernst, has not specifically endorsed Braley's bill calling for the Social Security Administration to delay for a year changes that would limit face-to-face service at 19 Iowa field offices. However, her campaign spokeswoman said Ernst opposes Social Security cuts and wants to 'preserve and protect” the retirement program for future generations.

Under the Social Security Administration plan, beginning next month the agency would no longer issue Social Security number printouts in its field offices. In October, the field offices would provide benefit verification letters only in emergency situations. Many seniors rely on these verification letters for a variety of services, according to Braley. If the policy is implemented, people only would be able to request the information online or by phone. Last year, 11 million Americans requested that information.

'Protecting services that 11 million Americans use every year isn't a Republican or Democratic issue - it's an issue of common sense,” Braley said. 'They're gutting services Iowa's seniors rely on and there's absolutely no evidence the cuts will save a penny. The bottom line is that the cuts need to be delayed until savings are shown and the administration can clearly illustrate how the cuts won't harm the Iowans that depend on them.”

In addition to delaying implementation, Braley's bill calls on Social Security to verify that the proposed service cuts will save money and not adversely affect Iowa seniors.

Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley has criticized the Social Security plan, calling it 'inconceivable that government doesn't want to be of the greatest service to anybody, particularly old people.”

Many elderly Iowans do not have Internet access or are not comfortable doing business online, he said.

Ernst is participating in Iowa National Guard training for two weeks and is not available for comment, according to spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel. However, she said, 'Joni knows firsthand how important Social Security is because her own parents rely on it.”

'She would never cut benefits for seniors on Medicare and Social Security,” Hamel said. 'Joni wants to preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare so America can keep its promise to seniors, and provide retirement security for her daughter and grandchildren and future generations.”

In Iowa, where 450,000 people receive Social Security benefits, field offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Burlington, Coralville, Davenport, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Creston, Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, and Storm Lake.