FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. — January 23, 2026 — The Council of Seniors, a leading grassroots advocacy organization committed to protecting the financial security of older Americans, today announced the delivery of 81,429 signed petitions to Congress urging immediate passage of The SAVE Benefits Act — a landmark proposal that would provide most Social Security recipients with a $581 emergency payment to compensate for years of inadequate or missing cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).
“For too long, Washington politicians have slashed COLAs or eliminated them entirely, forcing seniors to fall further and further behind as prices rise,” said Barbara Godwin, Executive Director of the Council of Seniors. “We say enough is enough. The SAVE Benefits Act is a critical first step toward restoring fairness and financial dignity for America’s retirees.”
The petitions — signed by concerned citizens from every corner of the country — send a powerful message to lawmakers: retired Americans will not sit quietly while their earned benefits are diminished by inflation and ignored by Congress.
The SAVE Benefits Act would issue a one-time, $581 payment to most Social Security beneficiaries, addressing years of under-compensation due to manipulated or frozen COLA formulas. Many retirees, already struggling to pay for necessities like housing, medication, and groceries, view this legislation as a lifeline.
“This check isn’t a handout — it’s payback for years of broken promises,” Godwin said. “Retirees earned their benefits. They planned their lives around them. It’s time Washington kept its side of the bargain.”
The Council of Seniors has mobilized hundreds of thousands of activists through nationwide petition drives, congressional surveys, and digital advocacy campaigns. Their grassroots momentum is turning up the pressure on lawmakers to act.
“We’re proud of the impact we’re making, and we’re not slowing down,” Godwin added. “This is a movement. And we’re calling on every American who cares about justice and dignity for seniors to join us in the fight to pass the SAVE Benefits Act.”