2026 May 5                                CARY Area AARP #3976Legislative News

 

5 Ways AARP Is Fighting for Social Security Right Now    

                                                       

  https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/aarp-fight-for-social-security-2026/                                                                                                                               By Emily Paulin and Deirdre Shesgreen  AARP Updated April 14, 2026   

  Key Takeaways:                                                                                                                            

  AARP is urging Congress to act soon to fix Social Security’s funding gap without reducing the payments Americans have earned.               e will oppose benefit cuts privatization and a special commission to decide the program’s future. AARP is also pushing for better Social Security Administration customer service and clearer information on claiming choices.                                                                                Here’s a look at how AARP is fighting to protect Social Security right now.  

     1. Pushing Congress to act - soon – to ensure that Social Security’s promise is met.    

     2. Opposing a special commission to address Social Security’s solvency.                 

     3. NO cuts. NO privatization.    

     4. Demanding better customer service.                  

     5. Helping people better understand their payment options.                                                                  

 

AARP Depends Food Aid as Federal SNAP Cuts Take Effect                                                                                                                                          https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/fight-against-food-aid-cuts/                                                                                                                              By Molly Snow, AARP  April 15, 2026                    

 Federal SNAP cuts are shifting millions in costs to states and threatening benefits.

 SNAP has been linked to fewer hospital and long-term care admissions, lower poverty rates and better well-being for older adults facing food insecurities.    

AARP encouraged lawmakers to use budget money to stabilize food aid for adults 50 and older.  

For decades, the federal government has fully funded benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But last year, the Trump administration significantly reduced federal contributions, leaving states to absorb millions in additional costs or be forced to cut benefits.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by the president in July, requires states to pay for 75 percent of administrative costs, up from 50 percent, beginning October 2026.  

In addition, states that overpay or underpay benefits — known as the error rate — will be required to cover some of the cost of SNAP benefits, which the federal government has paid in full since the program began.

The higher the error rate, the more a state must pay.  

And for the first time, adults ages 55 to 64 must work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to maintain SNAP benefits under the OBBBA. This can create barriers for older adults who may face hurdles to employment, often because of age discrimination.                       All told, nearly 4 million people in a typical month are likely to lose at least some of their SNAP benefits once changes, including funding cuts, are fully implemented, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office.                                                                        That includes veterans, older adults, and some people with disabilities who may be unable to obtain exemptions or who are unaware of the requirements.  Anticipating the pressure this will put on states to continue supporting SNAP, AARP has been working with state lawmakers to prioritize state funding to offset federal cuts, prevent costly penalties and protect older adults’ access to food assistance as eligibility rules narrow.

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More than 11 million adults 50-plus receive modest SNAP benefits — an average of $6 per day — to buy fresh, nutritious food they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. Federal cuts could exacerbate food insecurity and increase strain on local food banks and nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels, to serve those in need.

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5 Ways to Be an Advocate with AARP  

 https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/ways-to-be-an-advocate/

       By Miriam Cross, Published March 12, 2026 AARP                                                                                                                                                                  1. Become an on-line or mobile activist.      

               2. Tell your story.      

               3. Show strength in numbers.    

               4. Step into the spotlight.            

               5. Become a member.         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     AARP advocates for the 125 million people in the U.S. over age 50. Membership is a key part of our collective voice nationwide. Our top priorities this year include protecting and strengthening Social Security, ensuring access to health care, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, supporting our nation’s 63 million family caregivers, protecting the life savings of older adults from fraud and helping more Americans save for retirement.      

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 By the numbers:    

   Ninety-one percent of the advocacy actions taken with AARP are by members,

    and two-thirds of AARP volunteers are also members. 

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Links/Additional AARP NC updates on                                                                                   https://www.aarp                                                                                                    https://states.aarp.org/north-carolina/ 

  https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/advocacy/   

  https://seniorplanet.org/classes/

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