2015 TSCL Senior Survey

Your answers to this survey will help TSCL educate Members of Congress, the media and the public about the views, experiences, and challenges facing seniors as they relate to Medicare and Social Security.

We will email you the results of the survey.

Which of the following most closely represents the amount that the 1.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increased your monthly benefit for 2015?
Which of the following most closely represents the amount your total monthly expenses increased during 2014?
Of the percentages shown below, which most closely represents the total portion of your Social Security payments that you spend on all healthcare costs? (Please include the cost of premiums, deductibles, co-pays and uncovered costs.)
During 2014 did you have unexpected or higher healthcare costs that you thought would be covered by Medicare, a health or drug plan, but were not?
Please check all that apply.
Was the co-pay or co-insurance higher than expected for any of the following?
Does the provider no longer participate in your health plan network?
Was there a billing error or unexplained charges?
Are you unsure of the reason for the higher cost?
Do you pay income taxes on a portion of your Social Security benefits?
Besides Social Security, do you have any other retiement income from jobs, pensions, annuities, savings accounts, like an IRA or 401(k)?
Do you have a mortgage payment or make payments on a home equity line of credit??
Which of the following most closely describes your credit card or debt situation? check ALL that apply
Which of the following most closely describes how you feel about your Social Security benefits? check one
10. The Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund is forecast to become insolvent next year. The Social Security Trust Fund that pays retirement and survivors benefits is forecast to remain solvent until 2033. Which of the following statements best describes the approach you would support to making changes? Check only one after reading through the entire list:
The following are options to change Social Security to provide greater solvency while providing higher COLA's and lower taxes on Social Security benefits. Please check all that indicate your opinion.
Government would invest up to 25% of excess trust fund reserves in stocks instead of IOUs gradually phasing in, assuming 6.4 rate of return.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 13%)
Very gradually increase the payroll tax rate by 1% each for workers and employers.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 49%)
Raise the taxable maximum cap to apply full a 12.4% to all earnings above $117,000. Provide credit for benefits.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 66%)
Change the benefit formula to make it modestly more generous for beneficiaries. Change would increase benefits by about $70 per month.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -15%)
Lift the threshold for taxation of benefits to $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -4%)
Use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate COLA.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -13%)
Gradually raise the full retirement age to 68.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 15%)
Prohibit payment of Social Security benefits that are calculated on earnings from unauthorized work of illegal immigrants. (No government estimate available)
Are you retired military:

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