Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 11/27/2000

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I would like to know if you have any info on "Notch Fairness Act of 1999" H.R. 568 or H.R. 148 and H.R. 1772.  Editors Note: (To search for Bills in the House or Senate, click here.)

William R. K.
Frederick, MD

Dear William:
With the final curtain drawing on the 106th Congress it appears that none of the three bills you referenced will receive consideration in the committees to which they were referred. The "notch baby" debate is still kicking around.

As you know, many retirees who were born between 1917 and 1921 are concerned that they are losing social security benefits as a result of changes made by Congress in 1977 to "correct" legislation enacted by Congress in 1972.

The 1972 law tied social security benefits to inflation. Congress created automatic cost-of-living adjustments to help social security benefits keep pace with inflation. Prior to this, legislation had to be enacted before any adjustment took place, and benefits lagged behind inflation. This system may have worked if inflation was contained, steady or predictable. However, you may recall that there was rapid, double-digit inflation and high unemployment during the 1970's. This caused sharp increases in benefits and retires born after 1910 received social security benefits far in excess of what was anticipated when the legislation was enacted. Because the economy was stunted, concern grew that the rise in benefits could not be sustained without causing depletion of the social security funds. This concern gave rise to the 1977 legislation reducing the benefits of future retirees, but not reducing the benefits of those who were already receiving higher benefits resulting from the 1972 law.

Those who retired at age 62 in the later 1970's were generally unaffected by the reduction in benefits, but those who chose to work past age 62 received benefits that were lower.

The "Notch baby" issue was born when benefits were viewed on a vertical graph: benefits received by those who were born between 1916 and 1921 were less than that received by those born before and after them. This resulted in a v-shaped notch in the graph.

The House has never considered legislation to correct this anomaly, though many bills are introduced. The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Senior Citizens League has favored legislation to give a $5,000 lump-sum settlement to each "notch baby" and a $4,000 to the surviving spouse of each worker. More information on the league's proposal can be found at www.tscl.org.

The Senate was unable to pass a bill regarding the social security, but it did pass legislation to establish the Commission on the Social Security "Notch" Issue to study the matter. The Commission, in its 79 page report issued in 1994, concluded that "benefits paid to those in the "Notch" years are equitable and no legislation is in order." The entire document can be accessed at www.gpo.gov/libraries or at www.ssa.gov/history/notchbase.html or you could contract your local library to help you find it.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Please send me the correct address so I can send for the Combat Action Ribbon. Thank you.

Henry A.G., e-mail

Dear Henry:
Based on legislative authority, the Secretary of the Navy has changed the retroactive date for the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) from 1 March 1961, to 7 December 1941. The criteria for the CAR remains the same, i.e., the principal element of eligibility is that the individual must have participated in a bona fide ground or surface fire fight. This is not a unit or area award. Deployment to a combat zone in and of itself does not entitle a Marine to a CAR. Each request is individually reviewed to confirm that the petitioner was an active participant in a fire fight and that his performance during such action was satisfactory. The service record book will be the source document used to substantiate CAR eligibility. CAR has been extended to include those actions involved in peacekeeping operations when certain criteria are met. Individuals who want to be considered for the CAR may do so by submitting a SF 180 (request pertaining to military records) or a letter requesting CAR entitlement to the following address: National Personnel Records Center, Naval Correspondence: USMC-CAR, 9700 Page Street, St. Louis, MO 63132-5295. Requests must contain full name, Social Security number and service number. Surviving next of kin petitioning on behalf of a deceased Marine must provide a copy of the Marine's death certificate.

SHAFT KUDOS
Deep appreciation to House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Stump (R-AZ) for his quick recognition and commendation of VA Secretary Hershel Gruber for compensating veterans with diabetes who served in Vietnam. Representative Stump stressed that early diagnosis and detection is of the utmost importance. Any veteran who served in Vietnam and who has not seen a doctor in the past several years should consider requesting a physical examination by calling the VA. The VA can provide an examination at no expense. Experts estimate that more than one third of adults who have diabetes have not been diagnosed. Diabetes is a leading cause of death and illness.

Everett Alvarez, former POW of the Vietnam Era, will be a special guest at the VA Alumni Association luncheon on December 14 at the Pier 7 Restaurant. An assortment of door prizes will be awarded. President Jim Fischl has requested that in the spirit of the holiday season members bring non-perishable food items to share with those in need. For information and reservations contact Leon Sanchez at 703-451-7529.

High Fives and hugs to the students and their devoted teachers at the Lake Seneca Elementary School in Germantown. I was proud to have participated minimally in their special patriotic tribute to our nations veterans on November 10. My only wish is that all readers of this column could have seen the Lake Seneca youngsters sing and sign the Star-Spangled Banner, Fifty Nifty United States, and America the Beautiful.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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