Important Updates for Seniors
As appeared in the October 29, 2020 version of the Elizabethtown Advocate & Ephrata Review
It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents of southern York and Lancaster counties in Washington. As a Member of Congress, one of my responsibilities is to serve as a connection and liaison between the constituents we represent and the many federal departments and agencies. I wanted to provide important updates to federal programs for seniors.
The Social Security Administration has announced that recipients will be receiving a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning with the distribution of December 2020 benefits. Since 1975, the Social Security Administration has increased benefits based upon inflation measures calculated each month from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 1.3 percent COLA also applies to Supplemental Security Income.
Medicare is also in an open enrollment period, which ends December 7, 2020. During this time, people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs. It is important that you review your current plan as Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year.
This fall you should have received a "Medicare & You" handbook in the mail, which is an official U.S. government document about your Medicare choices. You can also find a copy of the handbook online at www.Medicare.Gov. To enroll or to change plans, you can contact Medicare at www.Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Additionally, individuals who may be eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment, provided by the CARES Act, but do not file federal income tax returns still have time to provide their information to the IRS using their Non-Filer tool. This can be accessed by visiting the IRS's website at www.IRS.gov.
If you have questions about these programs or are experiencing an issue with any federal department, please contact one of my offices for assistance. As your representative in Congress, please know that my office is here to serve and assist you in navigating in what can be a confusing process.
You can contact my Lancaster office at 717-393-0667, my Hanover office at 717-969-6132, my Red Lion office at 717-969-6133 or my Washington, DC office at 202-225-2411.