Seniors

By 2030, nearly one American in five will be 65 or older. Fewer than one in eight are elderly now. Approximately 5.9 million seniors (16.9%) were living near or below the poverty level in 2003. Forty-four million people, thirty-three million of whom are retirees, receive Social Security benefits. For one-third of Americans over 65, Social Security benefits constitute 90% of their income. Without Social Security, almost fifty percent of seniors would live in poverty.

Almost 75,000 residents of the 9th District receive the guaranteed benefits of Social Security, and Congresswoman Lee is committed to making sure it stays that way. Her staff is experienced in helping constituents with Social Security related casework, and she will continue to fight against any effort to alter Social Security that results in cuts in guaranteed benefits or increases federal debt.

Congresswoman Lee has worked hard to make sure that seniors have access to affordable prescription drugs. She opposed the Medicare prescription drug because it favored insurance and drug companies interests over those of seniors, and she has pushed to get the federal government to negotiate the price benefits of buying prescription drugs in bulk.