From DC is Justice in Growing old’s weekly roundup of nationwide information and assets about points impacting older adults. To obtain From DC in your inbox as quickly as its printed, join our mailing listing.
Right here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
HUD Seeks to Slash Homelessness Funding for Everlasting Housing
Final week, the U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement (HUD) launched its proposal to slash funding for everlasting supportive housing (PSH) in its Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless help program. PSH offers long-term rental help with supportive companies for folks with disabilities. Older adults age 55 and over comprise 40% of PSH residents.
HUD’s proposal seeks to radically undermine the CoC program, lowering funding for everlasting housing from 87% to 30% of CoC funds. These drastic cuts would put roughly 170,000 folks susceptible to shedding their housing and companies. Underneath new standards, HUD additionally goals to prioritize funding initiatives in jurisdictions that criminalize homelessness and use measures comparable to involuntary dedication in opposition to people who find themselves unhoused.
Be taught extra in regards to the significance of PSH and HUD homeless help for older adults, and urge Congress to guard PSH and CoC funding.
The Senate Particular Committee on Growing old will quickly maintain a listening to on the important position of neighborhood residing for older adults and folks with disabilities. The listening to will spotlight packages comparable to Medicaid Dwelling and Neighborhood-Primarily based Providers (HCBS) and Facilities for Impartial Dwelling (CILs), which make it doable for people to stay of their properties, pursue training or employment, and keep related to household and mates.
At a time when Medicaid cuts threaten these helps, it’s crucial for lawmakers to listen to instantly from the individuals who depend on them. With out HCBS and different packages, many threat being compelled into pricey establishments as a substitute of residing independently of their communities.
Private tales from people and their households present why these companies are greater than packages—they’re lifelines that shield dignity, independence, and the proper to decide on the place and learn how to dwell. To submit a narrative for the listening to, electronic mail it to hcbs@growing older.senate.gov as a Phrase or PDF attachment by shut of enterprise Monday, December 8. Please word that submissions can be added to the congressional document as a part of the listening to.
CFPB Proposes to Remove Honest Lending Protections Towards Discrimination on the Foundation of Age and Different Identities
Final week, the Shopper Monetary Safety Bureau (CFPB) introduced a proposed rule that might dismantle truthful lending protections below the Equal Credit score Alternative Act (ECOA), harming older adults and others.
The proposal seeks to eradicate disparate impression from the statute, a authorized idea that prohibits discriminatory results of a facially impartial coverage or follow. The proposal would additionally permit geographic focusing on in lending choices, which has traditionally led to redlining, and limit the scope of “particular function credit score packages” supposed to help underserved teams.
If adopted, this rule might allow discrimination primarily based on age, gender, race, faith, or different elements in mortgages, bank cards, automobile loans, and different client lending choices, making it tougher for older adults and different folks from marginalized communities to entry the credit score they want for financial safety.
The Nationwide Shopper Legislation Heart has created a template remark and net submission type. Distinctive feedback describing the impression on older adults and others assist battle again in opposition to the proposed rule. Feedback are due December 15, 2025.
2026 Medicare Premiums Introduced
Final week, the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Providers (CMS) introduced the 2026 premium, deductible, and coinsurance quantities for Medicare Half A and Half B. Starting January 1, 2026, the Half B commonplace month-to-month premium can be $202.90, a rise of $17.90 from 2025.
The Half B deductible can be $283, a $26 enhance from 2025. The 2026 Half A inpatient hospital deductible can be $1,736. Extra info, together with Half A value sharing quantities for prolonged hospital and expert nursing facility stays and premiums for people who don’t qualify totally free Half A, is out there on this CMS reality sheet.
People with restricted incomes and assets who qualify for the Medicare Financial savings Applications (MSPs) can get assist with these and different Medicare prices. Be taught extra in Justice in Growing old’s concern transient about alternatives for states to make it simpler to enroll in MSPs, and get ideas for aiding low-income older adults with their Medicare protection choices in our 2026 Medicare and Market Open Enrollment information.
Proposed Adjustments to Immigration Public Cost Rule
The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) has proposed important modifications to the general public cost coverage. The proposed rule would rescind the 2022 Biden Administration Public Cost rule and hurt older immigrants in addition to older adults and folks with disabilities who depend on immigrant caregivers.
The Nationwide Immigration Legislation Heart has created an FAQ, Public Cost: What Advocates Must Know In regards to the November 2025 Proposed Rule. Justice in Growing old is working with companions to investigate and battle the rule and can present updates with extra details about commenting by the December 19th deadline.
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