Grandparents Day and the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2007

Went to check up on H.R.1161, the bill that is intended to amend title II of the Social Security Act to credit caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service.

The bill is caught up in the Subcommittee on Social Security as of March 7th. I can see this bill falling out the same way that H.R. 175: Family Caregiver Security Act of 2005 did. Dead in committee.

We need to poke them people, send them a card and ask them to please support bills like this. If we don't they will never care about it. Maybe a letter writing campaign in November for National Family Caregiver Month? I had meant to suggest one for Mother's Day and Father's Day but forgot about it, my friend suggested looking up when Grandparents day is and everyone send them a card then. Maybe have your kids send in a card on Grandparents day asking congress to please help family caregivers care for grammas and grampas?

"President Jimmy Carter, in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. For 2007, Grandparents Day falls on Sept. 9th.." - source: grandparents-day.com


H.R.1161
Title: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to credit prospectively individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service.
Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 2/16/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

H.R. 175: Family Caregiver Security Act of 2005 - [109th Congress]

Unfortunately H.R. 175: Family Caregiver Security Act of 2005, that was introduced in the 109th Congress, has died on the books. Congress sessions last for two years, and since the Family Caregiver Security Act of 2005 was never acted upon after it entered the House Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, and House Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Therefore, the bill was allowed to die after introduction with no debate by the members of congress and no chance to reach the house or senate.

The Family Caregiver Security Act of 2005 would have sought to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the use of qualified family caregivers in the provision of home health aide services under the Medicare Program.

This would have meant that family caregivers would have been treated like any other care provider, rather than being penalized for being related to the care recipient.

Care recipients should have the right to choose their care provider and caregivers should have the right to be entitled to the same programs and benefits as non-family members that provide the same level of care.