The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) has proposed a one-time payment of $495 for Social Security beneficiaries, using funds recovered from benefit overpayments. According to their analysis, this payment would provide much-needed financial relief to seniors, especially following the announcement of a lower-than-expected Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026.
If implemented, the proposal would not only provide the initial $495 payment but could potentially increase future benefits by an average of $77 annually if the government continued redistributing recovered overpayments to retirees.
Shannon Benton, TSCL’s executive director, emphasized fairness in handling overpayment issues. “While The Senior Citizen’s League believes overpayments on Social Security benefits should be recouped, we feel it’s important that beneficiaries not face undue pressure from an immediate 100 percent reduction in benefits,” Benton stated. The organization supports extending the time between notification and recoupment of overpayments.
Public polling indicates strong support for Social Security across political lines. A January AP-NORC poll found that a significant majority of Republicans believe the U.S. is spending “too little” on Social Security, with only about one in ten saying the country spends “too much.”
Currently, the Social Security Administration provides benefits to nearly 70 million Americans, serving as essential income for retirees, survivors, and disabled individuals nationwide.
