Nearly 12 million Americans are "Notch Victims" -- they were born between 1917 and the end of 1926 and receive lower Social Security benefits than those born outside those years.

Now, a new legislative initiative proposed by TREA Senior Citizens League would make a one-time lump-sum payment of $5,000.00 to each Notch Victim. This settlement would compensate them for the lower Social Security checks they have received over the years.

The plan has already won overwhelming support among Notch Victims and many of their supporters in Congress have endorsed it. The proposed legislation is estimated to cost no more than $60 billion-far less than earlier initiatives which could have cost more than $300 billion.

"Lump-Sum Notch Reform can be funded without jeopardizing the long-term solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, or adding to the federal deficit. This can be done by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse within the Social Security system itself," says Michael J. Zabko, National Legislative Director of TREA Senior Citizens League.

According to research conducted by TSCL, reforms to Social Security disability programs such as ending payments to noncitizen aliens and an aggressive Return-to-Work policy could save the system well over the $60 billion cost of the settlement.

"One group should not receive less simply because of an accident of birth. Enacting Lump-Sum Notch Reform now would end the Notch injustice," Mr. Zabko asserts.

For more information about Lump-Sum Notch Reform send a self-addressed stamped envelope and $1 to: TREA Senior Citizens League, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22314.(NAPSI)