House GOP plan doesn’t specify Social Security, Medicare cuts

With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, some individuals are claiming that the House Republicans’ recently unveiled “Commitment to America” plan contains cuts to Social Security and Medicare for sure teams. 

The plan outlines Republican insurance policies that could possibly be applied if the celebration takes management of the House in November.

Some people on social media have shared a graphic that seems to point out the GOP plan. The graphic contains language about making retirees who obtain funds from pensions, IRAs, 401Ks  or disabled veterans advantages “ineligible for Social Security benefits.” It additionally provides that House Republicans are planning to “raise the age for Medicare eligibility to 75” and finish eligibility for anybody over the age of 90.

VERIFY reader Ruth emailed the workforce to ask whether or not it’s true that Republicans are planning to remove Social Security and Medicare, citing rumors circulating on Facebook. 

Does the House Republicans’ “Commitment to America” plan specify cuts to Social Security and Medicare, just like the viral graphic exhibits? 

No, the House Republicans’ “Commitment to America” plan doesn’t specify cuts to Medicare or Social Security. The viral graphic is faux.

In late September, House Republicans rolled out their “Commitment to America” plan, outlining GOP coverage factors on the economic system, immigration and authorities accountability, amongst different areas. 

The graphic that claims the plan would make cuts to Medicare and Social Security started making the rounds on social media in October. It exhibits the identical brand because the “Commitment to America” plan and spells out what Republicans will purportedly do in the event that they take the bulk on this election.

Using TinEye, a reverse picture search device, VERIFY didn’t discover any situations of this graphic shared by any official House GOP accounts or Republican members of Congress. 

More from VERIFY: Here’s how a lot Medicare premiums will price in 2023

A one-page summary of the official plan doesn’t define any particular coverage modifications that might make sure teams ineligible for Social Security advantages or finish Medicare eligibility, both. It solely mentions these packages briefly, saying the plan will “save and strengthen” Medicare and Social Security. 

House Republicans broaden upon this concept additional in a four-page summary of the plan’s budget proposals, writing that, “Congress must be prepared to make reforms to extend the solvency of the entitlement programs.” But the finances plan doesn’t title any particular authorities entitlement packages, nor does it suggest the cuts to Medicare or Social Security included within the graphic shared on social media. 

Entitlement packages are generally defined as those who assure funds to individuals who meet sure standards set by the regulation, together with Social Security and Medicare. 

More from VERIFY: No, Social Security won’t go broke in 12 years

House Republicans have proposed some modifications to Social Security and Medicare. But these modifications are included in a finances proposal from a House GOP examine committee, which advances Republican insurance policies within the House, not the “Commitment to America” plan. 

A fiscal year 2023 budget proposal from the Republican Study Committee (RSC) suggests the Medicare eligibility age needs to be adjusted on account of a rise within the common life expectancy, although it doesn’t present a selected age. A previous 2022 budget proposal from the RSC additionally instructed that Social Security’s retirement age be upped to 70.

The 2023 RSC proposal additionally recommends that employers and staff could possibly be allowed to forgo paying a portion of payroll taxes, that are used to fund packages corresponding to Social Security and Medicare, and “instead use those funds to pay for private disability insurance.”

None of those proposals match what’s on the viral graphic.

VERIFY additionally reached out to Lauren Fine, communications director for House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who confirmed the factors within the faux social media graphics will not be included in the true “Commitment to America” plan. A spokesperson for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy didn’t reply to a request for remark by the point of publication. 

More from VERIFY: Bill proposes additional $2,400 per yr in Social Security advantages, nevertheless it hasn’t handed