Seniors

Prior to its creation in 1965, only 50 percent of seniors had health insurance. Today, Medicare provides one of the most important guarantees in our society – the guarantee that if you are an older American and you get sick, you will get the care that you need without going broke. Brian is committed to protecting the Medicare guarantee, opposing plans that would force seniors to buy insurance on the open market, and making sure that the program remains affordable and continues gives seniors access to the care they deserve.
Social Security is the most successful antipoverty program in American history and we must keep it strong for the future. The formula used to set the annual cost of living increase is out of date and does not properly weigh the price increases in housing and medical care. Brian supports using a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly to more accurately reflect the costs incurred by seniors. And rather than cut benefits or ask Americans to invest their Social Security in Wall Street, Brian thinks we should lift the cap on what very high income Americans are asked to pay into the system.
More on Seniors
Following a call with Social Security Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin this morning, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) are insisting the Social Security Administration halt all plans to close the field office in Amherst, New York.
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins requested an in-person meeting with the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Carolyn Colvin in Washington DC to raise concerns about the slated closure of the Amherst Social Security Office. Schumer and Higgins will make the case that the Amherst Office is efficient and has sufficient demand to warrant continued operation. They are pressing Acting Commissioner Colvin to hear out their arguments and they both will urge the Commissioner to reverse course and keep Amherst open.

Congressman Brian Higgins released the following statement in response to an informational picket at the Buffalo Social Security office:
“I stand with local workers today opposed to the proposed cuts to Social Security. Recently I joined several colleagues urging funding at levels that will prevent furloughs and ensure continuation of Social Security services for local residents.