And reformers in both parties threw in the towel on a plan to trim Social Security payments to affluent beneficiaries.

Q. What about the argument that eliminating the retirement earnings test would mainly help more affluent beneficiaries?

There is also considerable support for charging affluent beneficiaries more of the true cost of Medicare benefits.

In 1997, the Senate voted, 70 to 30, to charge higher premiums to affluent beneficiaries.

It said that more affluent beneficiaries would have to pay a new surcharge, ranging from $12.50 to $68.60 a month.

It said more affluent beneficiaries would have to pay a new surcharge, from $12.50 to $68.60 a month, depending on their incomes.

For the most affluent beneficiaries, premiums would more than triple.

Republicans said the premiums would increase by smaller amounts for less affluent beneficiaries.

That rewards the workers who elected Mr. Clinton, rather than the affluent beneficiaries of the Gingrich plan.

One would increase premiums for more affluent beneficiaries.