Article Summary –
The article highlights the struggles faced by older Americans as essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and Meals on Wheels are being compromised due to President Trump’s efforts to reduce federal government size, resulting in website outages, potential Medicare cuts, and budget reallocations affecting these services. Issues with Social Security portal accessibility arose after significant layoffs, and further challenges are anticipated due to potential cuts in Medicare to fund Trump tax cut extensions and tariffs affecting 401(k) markets. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services is consolidating resources, impacting Meals on Wheels, which could leave many without critical support as federal funding and personnel are reduced.
The Social Security website is crashing, Medicare faces cuts, and Meals on Wheels funding is in jeopardy. Older Americans nationwide are losing crucial services due to President Donald Trump’s federal government downsizing.
On April 1, users of the My Social Security portal received a shocking notice: ineligibility for benefits. Some couldn’t access the portal. The Social Security Administration (SSA) stated this was an error and is addressing the issue.
The website has faced outages since early March, following news of 7,000 layoffs, leaving the SSA at a 50-year staffing low. Users also faced long phone wait times.
“It’s the agency’s destruction from inside,” said Sen. Angus King (I-ME). “People in their 70s and 80s are scared of what’s next.”
Medicare, vital for over 65s, might see cuts to fund Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which benefited the wealthy. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) hinted at Medicare reform to maintain benefits while cutting costs.
Another concern is 401(k)s. Trump’s tariffs on 125 countries hit their value, affecting retirement savings. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) criticized the trade war’s impact on savings.
On April 2, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 40% staff cut, affecting Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to the elderly and disabled. CEO Suzanne Washington voiced concerns over the program’s future.
Federal funds constitute 35% of Meals on Wheels’ budget, with some from Medicaid, which Republicans also target for cuts.
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