| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Kate Dwyer
|
| July 26, 2001 |
(202) 225-3031
|
WASHINGTON – The Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Ways and Means Committee today held a hearing on misleading mailings targeted to seniors. First District Congressman Paul Ryan, who is a member of the Social Security Subcommittee, participated in the hearing, which focused on several deceptive mailings that give the appearance of being approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or that falsely promise additional benefits if seniors supply personal information.
The Inspector General of the Social Security Administration was among those who testified at the hearing; he discussed misleading mailings and flyers that his office has investigated. These include a flyer targeted to "notch babies" promising them, as a result of a bill proposed in the Senate, either a lump sum settlement of $5,000 or higher Social Security benefits. (The term "notch babies" refers to people born between 1917 and 1926. In the late 1970's, Congress changed the Social Security benefits structure, and some argue that one unintended consequence was lower benefits for "notch babies.") The hoax flyer warns that in order to get the higher benefits or lump sum, seniors must provide their name, address, phone number, date of birth, and Social Security number in order to be placed on a "National Victim's Register."
Both the "notch baby" flyer and another hoax flyer promising seniors government money in the form of slave reparations directed all responses to a post office box registered to TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL), affiliated with The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA). TSCL has denied any involvement with these flyers; however, the organization did use the information it received from the approximately 29,000 individuals who responded to the two flyers to solicit contributions.
"We are going to dig and dig until we get to the bottom of these scam mailings," Ryan said. "We cannot stand by and let groups cash in by preying on seniors. This is a problem that has hurt seniors in our own Wisconsin communities and across the nation. Seniors come up to me and tell me they are giving $10 or $15 every month to groups like this and never see anything in return. This has got to stop."
"I caution all seniors to be extremely careful when groups ask for personal information or money – whether through the mail or over the phone," Ryan said. "Always check out who these groups are. There are many people out there who are looking to make a quick buck and don't have your best interests in mind. If any changes occur regarding Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration would be the first to let seniors know. First District seniors who have questions about Social Security should feel free to contact my office or the Social Security Administration directly."
In response to a question asked by Congressman Ryan at today's hearing, the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration noted that TSCL has made $35 million over the last three years as a result of "notch" mailings. After repeated questioning at today's hearing, TREA Senior Citizens League representatives could not shed significant light on how this money was spent.
The Social Security Administration has advised people who suspect they have received misleading information to send the complete mailing, including the envelope, to: