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Congress should increase funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. Funding should reflect the increased population of older Americans.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the states should increase support for taxpayer assistance programs such as the Tax Counseling for the Elderly and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
The IRS and state revenue departments should increase their efforts to make tax forms—including electronic forms, publications, and correspondence—more accessible and understandable.
The government should simplify the recovery of money withheld each year and reduce the need for older individuals who do not owe income tax to file tax returns.
The IRS should continue encouraging taxpayers to file electronically but maintain the option of paper filing without penalty.
Enforcement measures should be applied equitably across income classes and types of taxpayers.
The IRS should increase its audit rate and raise penalties for noncompliance.
The federal government should require state CSBG and SSBG officials to consult with state and local agencies and organizations representing older people and other groups served by the programs.
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds should maintain a minimum reserve of one and a half to two years as a cushion against an economic downturn.
AARP supports retaining wage indexing of both the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings and the bend points used in the formula for the Primary Insurance Amount.
If changes are made to Social Security that extend the life of the trust funds, Congress could authorize the investment of a portion of the Social Security reserves in investments