ANOTHER VIEW | ORLANDO SENTINEL As Social Security withers, Congress dithers | Orlando Sentinel May 18, 2026 May 18, 2026 Updated May 18, 2026 0 × USA Today - News Here's when you can expect your Social Security benefits this month. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Americans who might agree on little else share a common interest in preserving Social Security and Medicare.kAm}62C=J 2== @7 FD 2C6 6:E96C 6?C@==65 :? E9@D6 F?:G6CD2= AC@8C2>D @C 6IA64E E@ 36 2D H6 86E @=56C] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$@4:2= $64FC:EJ :D 72C 2?5 2H2J E96 ?2E:@?’D >@DE :>A@CE2?E D276EJ ?6E]k^DA2?mk^AmkAm$@ :E D9@F=5 2=2C> #6AF3=:42?D[ s6>@4C2ED 2?5 :?56A6?56?ED E92E r@?8C6DD :D 5@:?8 ?@E9:?8 E@ AC6G6?E E96 6?@C>@FD 36?67:E C65F4E:@?D E9C62E6?:?8 3@E9 AC@8C2>D :? ;FDE D6G6? J62CD] %92E :D H96? E96 ECFDE 7F?5D 2C6 @? EC24< E@ 6I92FDE E96:C C6D6CG6D 2?5 C65F46 A2J@FED E@ ?@ >@C6 E92? H92E 6I:DE:?8 62C>2C<65 E2I6D H:== 4@==64E]k^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp =:76=:?6 7@C >:==:@?Dk^DA2?mk^9am People are also reading… Former SCCH doctor indicted by federal grand jury on 7 charges Smyth Commonwealth's Attorney says assault-style firearms ban is unenforceable Marion council acts to help Hayes attend meetings electronically Marion's VFW honors law enforcement Officers of the Year Virginia Tech softball rallies past Akron to reach NCAA regional finals Chilhowie firefighters receive Lifesaving Medals for rescues, other awards Virginia Tech softball shuts out South Alabama in NCAA regional Marion firefighters help battle Wytheville blaze, welcome long-awaited engine Oak Point teacher honored in Richmond ceremony Update: Spanberger vetoes prescription drug bill, several others Virginia Tech softball falls to LSU in NCAA regional final Sugar Grove Elementary students experience the power of kindness 3 juveniles face charges following Smyth, Wythe pursuit on I-81 Bayou, a 1-year-old pooch, is looking for his forever home Meet Jarek: Smyth County's Pet of the Week kAmp4C@DD E96 3@2C5[ 6G6CJ@?6 C646:G:?8 @=5 286 @C DFCG:G@C 2DD:DE2?46 7C@> $@4:2= $64FC:EJ H@F=5 86E abT =6DD]k^AmkAmu@C 6G6CJ c @7 `_ C6E:C65 p>6C:42?D[ $@4:2= $64FC:EJ AC@G:56D 2E =62DE 92=7 @7 E96:C :?4@>6] u@C ` @7 6G6CJ f[ :E :D >@C6 E92? h_T] $@4:2= $64FC:EJ <66AD a_ >:==:@? @=56C A6@A=6 2?5 2 >:==:@? 49:=5C6? @FE @7 A@G6CEJ] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%@ =6E E96> 5@H? H@F=5 36 2 42E2DEC@A9:4 ?2E:@?2= 5:D8C246]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm|65:42C6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ C65F46 DA6?5:?8 3J ``T[ >@DE @7 H9:49 H@F=5 kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm:>A24E 5@4E@CD 2?5 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 C6DF=E :?k^DA2?m 5:>:?:D9kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm65k^DA2?m 42C6] p C62D@?23=6 E2I :?4C62D6 H@F=5 2G6CE E92E]k^Am kAm%96 =@?86C r@?8C6DD AFED @77 C64<@?:?8 H:E9 E96D6 AC@3=6>D[ E96 >@C6 5:77:4F=E E96 D@=FE:@?D H:== 36]k^Amk9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp G24FF> 2E E96 E@Ak^DA2?mk^9amkAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 92D AC@G:565 ?@ =6256CD9:A @? 6:E96C :DDF6]k^Am kAmw6 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 >2EE6CD H@CD6 3J 6I6>AE:?8 2== $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 36?67:ED 7C@> :?4@>6 E2I] %92E :D — DFCAC:D6P — D<6H65 E@ E96 H62=E9J[ 3642FD6 36?67:ED 2C6 2=C625J E@E2==J 6I6>AE 7@C C6E:C65 4@FA=6D H9@D6 :?4@>6 :D =6DD E92? Sba[___ 2?5 92=7 :D E2I\7C66 7@C ;@:?E :?4@>6D F?56C Scc[___] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmu@C E9@D6 H:E9 9:896C :?4@>6D[ gdT @7 36?67:ED 2C6 E2I65]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm%CF>A 72=D6=J 4=2:>D E92E 96 2=C625J 6I6>AE65 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 7C@> E96 E2I] w6’D C676CC:?8 E@ E96 E6>A@C2CJ Se[___ :?4C62D6 :? E96 DE2?52C5 565F4E:@? 7@C 4@FA=6D[ H9:49 :D >62?:?8=6DD E@ E9@D6 H9@ @H6 ?@ :?4@>6 E2I] %92E 6IA:C6D :? a_agkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ H:E9 E96 6?5 @7 9:D E6C>[ 2?5 H:== 255 Sh` 3:==:@? E@ E96 567:4:Ek^DA2?m]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmt2C>2C<:?8 E2I C6G6?F6 7C@> $@4:2= $64FC:EJ E@ :ED ECFDE 7F?5 :D @?6 7:I AC@A@D65 E@ AC6G6?E E96 a_bb D9@CE72==] !6C>2?6?E=J 6=:>:?2E:?8 E96 E2I 8@6D :? E96 HC@?8 5:C64E:@?]k^DA2?mk^AmkAm%CF>A H2?ED E@ 5F>A |65:42C6[ |65:42:5 2?5 49:=542C6 @? DE2E6DkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ H:E9 9:D :==682= H2C 282:?DE xC2? 2?5 9:D C64@C5 S`]d EC:==:@? !6?E28@? 3F586E C6BF6DE 2D E96 AC6E6IEDk^DA2?m]k^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm|:DA=2465 AC:@C:E:6Dk^DA2?mk^9am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“xE’D ?@E A@DD:3=6 7@C FD E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 52J42C6[ |65:42:5[ |65:42C6[ 2== E96D6 :?5:G:5F2= E9:?8D[” %CF>A E@=5 2? t2DE6C $F?52J =F?496@? 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6] “(6 92G6 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 @?6 E9:?8i >:=:E2CJ AC@E64E:@?] (6 92G6 E@ 8F2C5 E96 4@F?ECJ]”k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmu6H >6>36CD @7 r@?8C6DD 2C6 :? 72G@C @7 :>A6?5:?8 4FED :? $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 2?5 |65:42C6[ 3FE :E H@F=5 36 ;FDE 2D 52F?E:?8 E@ 7:?5 >2?J E@ DA64:7J 9@H E96J H@F=5 AC6G6?E :E]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmtG6CJ @AE:@? :D 4@?EC@G6CD:2=]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm%96 qC@@<:?8D x?DE:EFE:@? kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmDF>>2C:K65 E96> :? 2 H9:E6 A2A6C E92Ek^DA2?m AC@A@D65 >2<:?8 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 7F==J D@=G6?E 7@C 2?@E96C fd J62CD] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$66 :E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^3C@@<:?8D]65F^2CE:4=6D^7:I:?8\D@4:2=\D64FC:EJ\3=F6AC:?E\7@C\2\3:A2CE:D2?\D@=FE:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm96C6k^2m]k^DA2?mk^AmkAm%96 A=2? H@F=5 C2:D6 E96 46:=:?8 W?@H S`gc[d__X @? :?4@>6 DF3;64E E@ E96 kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm~p$sx @Ck^DA2?m $@4:2= $64FC:EJ E2I 2?5 :?4C62D6 E96 E2I C2E6 7C@> `a]cT[ A2:5 ;@:?E=J 3J H@C<6CD 2?5 6>A=@J6CD[ E@ `a]eT] xE H@F=5 C2:D6 E96 C6E:C6>6?E 286[ :? DE286D[ 7C@> ef E@ f_ 7@C A6@A=6 :? E96 9:896DE EH@\7:7E9D @7 :?4@>6 3C24<6ED] xE H@F=5 62C>2C< E@ E96 ECFDE 7F?5 2== E2I6D A2:5 @? $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 36?67:ED]k^Am kAmxE H@F=5 7F==J E2I $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 36?67:ED A2:5 E@ :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 25;FDE65 8C@DD :?4@>6D @7 S`__[___ @C S`ad[___ 7@C 4@FA=6D]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmxE H@F=5 32D6 A2J@FED @? E96 9:896DE c_ J62CD @7 62C?:?8D C2E96C E92? E96 AC6D6?E 32D:D @7 bd[ 2?5 :E H@F=5 C65F46 D@>6 DA@FD2= 2?5 49:=5 36?67:ED 7@C C6E:C66D]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 A=2? 2=D@ AC@A@D6D F?:G6CD2= 4@G6C286 2?5 H@F=5 4C62E6 2 ?6H 36?67:E 7@C @=56C H@C<6CD H:E9 5:D23=:?8 4@?5:E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$24C:7:46[ :? E96 ?2E:@?2= :?E6C6DEk^DA2?mk^9am kAm%96 qC@@<:?8D AC@8C2> 2D<D 7@C D@>6E9:?8 7C@> 6G6CJ@?6[ 3FE ?@E E@@ >F49 7C@> 2?J@?6]k^AmkAm%96 >@DE 4@?EC@G6CD:2= A2CE H@F=5 :?4C62D6 =682= :>>:8C2E:@?[ H:E9 >@C6 E6>A@C2CJ 6>A=@J>6?E G:D2D 2?5 9:896C BF@E2D[ 2?5 DE2EFD 25;FDE>6?E “7@C 46CE2:? F?5@4F>6?E65 :>>:8C2?ED]”k^AmkAm%96 FC86?E ?665 7@C E9:D :D E96 72==:?8 3:CE9C2E6 2?5 E96 564=:?:?8 C2E:@ @7 E2IA2J:?8 H@C<6CD E@ C6E:C65 36?67:4:2C:6D]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%92E :D 2 C62= 7:D42= E:>6 3@>3 E92E 4@F=5 D6E @77 86?6C2E:@?2= H2C72C6 :? (2D9:?8E@?] %96 ?2E:@?’D 42A:E2= :D 4C2H=:?8 H:E9 C:89E\H:?8 6?6>:6D @7 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ H9@ H@F=5 =:<6 ?@E9:?8 >@C6]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%CF>A 49@D6 @?6 DF49 A6CD@?[ w6C:E286 u@F?52E:@? 64@?@>:DE t]y] p?E@?:[ E@ CF? E96 qFC62F @7 {23@C $E2E:DE:4D[ 3FE 96 AF==65 E96 ?@>:?2E:@? 27E6C :E H2D 5:D4=@D65 E92E p?E@?: 925 42==65 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 2 “!@?K: D496>6” E92E D9@F=5 36 23@=:D965]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmr@?8C6DD :D 2=C625J 2 52J =2E6 E@ E96 5FEJ @7 D2G:?8k^DA2?m $@4:2= $64FC:EJkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm] xEk^DA2?m :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E :DDF6D E92E G@E6CD D9@F=5 56>2?5 6G6CJ 42?5:52E6 255C6DD :? E9:D 6=64E:@? J62C]k^Am 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story When are Social Security payments distributed? Here's when you can expect your Social Security benefits this month.
When are Social Security payments distributed? Here's when you can expect your Social Security benefits this month.