Senate Finance Committee Schedules Hearing

     The United States Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 10:00 on The Role of Social Security, Defined Benefits, and Private Retirement Accounts in the Face of the Retirement Crisis.

U.S. Social Security Benefits Are Low By World Standards

New Social Security Agreement With Switzerland

     The President has notified the Congress of a new Social Security agreement between the United States and Switzerland. This replaces an agreement between the two countries signed in 1988. Agreements such as these generally provide for administrative cooperation between the two countries and totalization of wage credits for situations where a person can qualify for benefits only by combining wages earned in both countries. The agreements also prevent situations in which wages might be subjected to Social Security taxes in both countries. 

     Few people will be affected by this agreement but those few will be affected in major ways. All told, Social Security's international operations affect millions of people.

Services To Be Curtailed

     From the Southtown Star:

In a move that one congressional staff member calls “absolutely devastating” to senior citizens and the poor, the Social Security Administration is planning to eliminate some walk-in office services.

In a letter sent to employee union officials this month, the SSA announced that as of April 1, it will no longer provide benefit verification letters to citizens at its local offices or Social Security number print-outs, which can be used as temporary identification while people wait to replace a lost or misplaced Social Security card.

We Don't Need Social Security One Bit -- People Can Just Plan Their Own Retirements

     From the summary of a study on financial advisors:

46% of financial advisers do not have a retirement plan for themselves, yet 40% are planning to retire within the next 14 years.

Senate Finance Committee Hearing

     The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on December 18 on The Role of Social Security, Defined Benefits, and Private Retirement Accounts in the Face of the Retirement Crisis.

Congressional Hearing Postponed

     The hearing that had been scheduled for yesterdays before the House Social Security Subcommittee on identity theft and improper payments was postponed at the last minute. No new date has been announced.

Social Security Security Guard Suffers Broken Arm As Result Of Alleged Assault

     From KOMO in Silverdale, Washington:

A security guard at a Social Security office in Silverdale suffered a broken arm in a struggle with a man who was kicked out for being disruptive.

The 43-year-old guard told Kitsap County sheriff's deputies the man pushed him to the ground Monday in the parking lot.

Kitsap Sun reports the 26-year-old Hoodsport man was charged Tuesday with felony assault. He denied pushing the guard and said he threw himself on the ground.