Increased benefits under the Social Security program will be among the first proposals considered by the 90th Congress after it convenes on Jan. 10, 1967. President Johnson has indicated on several occasions that he plans to seek improvements in the benefits for retired persons and other beneficiaries under the program. Republican leaders recently served notice that the G.O.P. minority in Congress, strengthened by the results of last November's elections, will launch its own drive for improvements which in some respects will go beyond the Johnson proposals. Among goals Republicans will press for, Rep. Melvin R. Laird (R Wis.) said Nov. 28, is a cost-of-living escalator clause to increase benefit payments automatically whenever the cost of living goes up by a significant amount.
Tying the benefit levels to the cost of living appears almost certain to be opposed by the administration, which has fought inclusion of such clauses in recent union contracts. Instead, President Johnson has proposed a minimum increase of 10 per cent in the benefits for retired persons and has suggested other improvements.