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AARP Working to Keep Benefits Fair for Seniors
(IRN)-State legislators are working with the AARP to once again try to repeal a law they say discriminates against seniors.

It's called the Social Security unemployment offset law, and Illinois is one of two states to still have it in place. It reduces unemployment benefits for those receiving Social Security payments.

Robert Meeder, a software engineer from Decatur, lost his job in early 2009, and never found employment elsewhere. His job search was made more difficult due to money woes.

"IDES told me that because I was receiving social security, they were going to keep a portion of my weekly benefit," he says. "That portion amounted to $237."

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to repeal the measure, as it has been in many years past. State Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park), who represents a fairly wealthy district in Chicago's northern suburbs, says she decided to step into this battle because she's noticing more and more of her constituents working into old age.

"It wasn't just something they did to do something on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday," May explained. "They needed the money to make ends meet."

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
03 18 11 by Newsroom
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