Key Takeaway Box:
- The $700 extra payment for seniors aged 55+ years is a false claim that has been circulating on social media and some websites.
- The claim is based on a misinterpretation of a proposed bill that would increase Social Security benefits by $200 per month for current and future recipients.
- The bill, called the Social Security Expansion Act, has not been passed by Congress and faces uncertain prospects.
- Seniors who are eligible for Social Security benefits should not expect to receive a $700 extra payment anytime soon.
If you are a senior citizen aged 55 or older, you may have seen or heard about a claim that you are entitled to a $700 extra payment from the government. This claim has been spreading on social media and some websites, promising a generous boost to your income. But is it true? And if so, when is it coming?
In this article, we will fact check this claim and explain the truth behind it. We will also provide you with some reliable sources of information about your Social Security benefits and how they may change in the future.
What is the claim?
The claim that seniors aged 55+ years are getting a $700 extra payment is based on a misinterpretation of a proposed bill that would increase Social Security benefits by $200 per month for current and future recipients. The bill, called the Social Security Expansion Act, was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter DeFazio in March 2021¹.
The bill aims to enhance the financial security of seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families by providing a permanent increase of $200 per month to the existing Social Security benefits. The bill would also improve the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) formula, expand eligibility for benefits, and eliminate taxes on benefits for low-income earners¹.
However, the bill has not been passed by Congress and faces uncertain prospects. It has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance in the Senate, but no further action has been taken as of January 2024²³. The bill would also require a significant amount of funding, which may be challenging to secure in the current political and economic climate.
Therefore, the claim that seniors aged 55+ years are getting a $700 extra payment is false. It is based on a hypothetical scenario that assumes the bill will be passed and implemented without any changes or delays. It also ignores the fact that the bill would only provide an extra $200 per month, not $700.
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How did the claim originate?
The claim that seniors aged 55+ years are getting a $700 extra payment seems to have originated from a misleading Facebook video advertisement that was posted by a page called Save More in June 2023. The video showed a young woman and two older people celebrating after reading something on a computer screen. The caption read: \”Last Day to Register: People Born Before 1957 Are Getting $1728 Boost To Their Social Security Checks If They Register Below\”⁴.
The advertisement linked users to a non-governmental webpage that called the purported $1,728 bonus a Medicare \”giveback\” benefit, contradicting the Facebook post’s claim that it came from Social Security. The webpage also asked users to enter their personal information, such as name, email, phone number, and address, to \”check eligibility\”⁴.
The video and the webpage were debunked by USA TODAY, which reported that neither Social Security nor Medicare were offering such bonuses. The clip used in the ad came from a TikTok video about a woman who passed the Florida bar exam, as Lead Stories reported⁴. The Facebook page that posted the ad was also removed for violating the platform’s policies⁵.
However, the claim that seniors aged 55+ years are getting a $700 extra payment may have been derived from the Facebook ad by rounding up the $1,728 figure to $2,000 and dividing it by 12 months. This would result in a monthly amount of $166.67, which could be rounded up to $200. The $200 figure could then be confused with the proposed $200 increase in the Social Security Expansion Act, leading some people to believe that the bill had already been passed and that the extra payment was imminent.
How can you verify your Social Security benefits?
If you are a senior citizen who is eligible for Social Security benefits, you should not rely on social media posts or websites that make unsubstantiated claims about your payments. Instead, you should consult the official sources of information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The SSA provides a benefit eligibility calculator and a benefit verification letter on its website, where you can check your current and future benefits, as well as any changes or updates to your payments . You can also create a personal online account with the SSA, where you can access your Social Security statement, review your earnings history, and manage your benefits.
The CMS provides a Medicare Plan Finder and a Medicare Savings Program on its website, where you can compare and enroll in different Medicare plans, as well as apply for financial assistance if you have a low income . You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a representative who can answer your questions and help you with your Medicare needs.
Conclusion
The claim that seniors aged 55+ years are getting a $700 extra payment is false. It is based on a misinterpretation of a proposed bill that would increase Social Security benefits by $200 per month for current and future recipients. The bill, called the Social Security Expansion Act, has not been passed by Congress and faces uncertain prospects. Seniors who are eligible for Social Security benefits should not expect to receive a $700 extra payment anytime soon.
If you want to learn more about your Social Security and Medicare benefits, you should visit the official websites of the SSA and the CMS, where you can find reliable and up-to-date information about your payments and options. You should also be wary of any social media posts or websites that make unverified or inconsistent claims about your benefits, as they may be scams or hoaxes.
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Source: (1) Stimulus Checks for Seniors: When will the payments be sent? – MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/stimulus-checks-for-seniors-when-will-the-payments-be-sent/ar-AA1laguL. (2) Stimulus Check for Senior Citizens: How to qualify for a $2000 payment?. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/stimulus-check-for-senior-citizens-how-to-qualify-for-a-2000-payment/ar-AA1kyIZG. (3) Social Security bill would give seniors an extra $2,400 a year. Here’s …. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-benefits-inflation-extra-2400-a-year-social-security-expansion-act-retirement/. (4) Fact check: False claim that seniors can get a $1,728 from government. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/07/29/fact-check-false-claim-seniors-can-get-1-728-government-hoax-social-securit-medicare/10147622002/.