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Guarantee full COLA for Social Security
Guarantee full COLA for Social Security
Litigation

Litigation (Legal Safeguard)

Explore last-resort legal avenues to delay or challenge benefit cuts if they loom.

Though Social Security benefits are not contractually guaranteed (Supreme Court has ruled Congress can change the law), one could explore legal avenues such as arguing that failing to pay full benefits once someone has qualified violates due process or the trust relationship. This is untested, but if Congress did nothing and cuts loomed, lawsuits would certainly fly. Perhaps better is pushing state legislatures to pass resolutions or even state constitutional amendments declaring support for full benefits – symbolic but adds pressure (like how some states had “keep your government hands off Social Security” measures in the past).

Why this works

Litigation could delay any benefit cuts if it came to that, buying time for Congress. Also the threat of legal chaos might spur preemptive action.

PennFuture

Tax-deductible
pennfuture.org

Leading Pennsylvania’s transition to a clean energy economy

PennFuture (Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future) is a statewide environmental advocacy organization founded in 1998 that works to protect public health, restore landscapes, and move Pennsylvania toward clean energy. It employs legal action, legislative advocacy, and public outreach to address issues like water pollution, fracking, and climate change. PennFuture has been instrumental in advancing policies such as Pennsylvania’s adoption of clean car standards and fighting rollbacks of air quality protections.

Mechanism

How PennFuture uses funding

About Litigation
  1. Screen potential claims for standing, venue, and downside risk before action is urgent.
  2. Identify plaintiffs and facts that support realistic remedies in court.
  3. Build the record through briefs, motions, and evidence as cases proceed.
  4. Seek interim relief when needed to prevent abrupt benefit cuts while litigation unfolds.
  5. Track compliance and enforcement so outcomes translate into real protection.

Partner notes

Partner notes coming soon.
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Updates

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Updates will appear here as the strategy progresses.