Social Security COLA: Congress Gets Pay Raise, Seniors & Others Did Not

RFFM.org ^ | January 22, 2010 | Daniel T. Zanoza

[Wolfie]

It’s good to be the boss. As for SS recipients, times are tough, and the largesse of the public purse only extends so far.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“For those of you who have parents or grandparents who were surprised to learn they will have to live on the same amount of money per month in 2010 that they did in 2009,

OR

They could prepare so they don’t have to depend on Uncle
Sam to decide their financial situation...

[manc]

stopping SS was a telling off by obama for opposing him, it’s that simple.

I’m disgusted that my MIL is struggling to get by and we help her now but it’s hard when we have our kids too.

Prices have gone up and the cost of living has gone up but still they don’t get an increase but others get a pay rise.

so much for the little person right?

The Dems always talk fro the little person they say but all they are is an elitist party which thinks others are too dumb and that they know better
they make me sick

[manc]

yea well times were different back then , easy to say not easy in the real world

[Tonytitan]

What I find interesting is the Democratic Party seems hell bent on committing political suicide. And that's just fine with me.

SSSSHHHHH! Not so loud! They'll awaken...

[ImpBill]

Actually those on SS who also are on the mandatory Medicare Part A/B will net less as the cost of the mandatory Medicare Part A/B goes up each year.

As for the pay raises they voted themselves, I wish the author had included the amounts; over $4 grand for Congressmen and over $5 grand for Senators.

Typical of our "rulers"!

[Sacajaweau]

Why is AARP silent??

[aMorePerfectUnion]

manc,
Anyone can achieve financial independence - janitor or doctor. It does require having an income from job or business when you are in the accumulation phase.

If you don’t do that, and apparently most do not, then you take what Uncle Sam gives and gripe.

ampu

[knittnmom]

My parents are both past retirement age, but chose to continue working. One of my coworkers is WELL past retirement age and keeps working - I would count myself lucky to be as fit now as he is in his mid-70s!! Not sure if he does it because he needs the money, or to get away from the “honey-do” list for a while. :-)

[Reagan69]

Every single Republican should refuse this raise until the American people get economic recovery!

Every single one.

[silverleaf]

Congress got a pay raise????

HOW MUCH?

[manc]

she’s nearly 80 and when she grew up the woman stayed at home but sadly her husband died and then she fell behind on bills

it’s easy to say what you said but it’s not easy in real life for all

[kabar]

Retired Federal employees did not receive a COLA increase either.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

manc,

I am sympathetic to human suffering, but does she have a
family to care for her?

Did her husband carry insurance to provide for her?

ampu

[kabar]

The first thing that comes to my mind is: How can the Dept. of Labor predict whether inflation will impact our economy three years into the future? It is a ridiculous premise. But there will be those who will defend the Consumer Price Index as factual. The truth of the matter is, President Barack Obama, to offset his historical spending of tax dollars, has decided to take it out on the middle-class and poor.

As much as I despise him, Obama had nothing to do with this. This is how SS COLA is computed

This is how the latest non-COLA was computed.

[KarlInOhio]

There has been inflation during the last year. Everyone is experiencing this at the gas pump, many seniors who live in assisted living facilities have their rent go up every year, many other seniors live in manufactured homes where lot rentals go up every year, property taxes frequently go up, home heating costs are rising, grocery prices have gone threw the roof, etc., etc.

The big inflation was in the previous year. I think the CPI for the 2010 SS cost of living adjustment is measured from July 2008 to July 2009. During that time gasoline prices dropped from well over $3/gallon, natural gas prices dropped even more and food prices dropped. Housing isn't well handled by the CPI, but if it was included the deflation rate would be even higher because of the massive drop in house prices.

Maybe the CPI isn't the best measure of price increases in goods and services old people use, but it is the one which gave a 5.8% COLA in 2009.

[K-oneTexas]

Congress gets a COLA every year, unless they vote not to take it. The pay increase for them would be about $4,700 (http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/mar/14/congress-keeps-pay-increase-this-year-forgoes/)

There are bills to stop the automatic pay increases (HR 395 is one) but none have been voted on or passed. About a dozen similar bills have been filed since Jan. 2009 ... all with no action.

Evidently the Congress (1) works so hard they NEED more money or (2) THEIR economy is so bad they can’t make ends met.

Then again Congress has NEVER seen any money it didn’t like!

[manc]

insurance was lost when he lost the business to a stroke, now it is us who are trying t help but that is hard seeing she is over a 1000 miles away.

she needs that money as does many others who grew up in her generation.

[Wolfie]

Option #2 seems obvious. I’m not sure I understand the thrust of the original post. What? Social Security isn’t socialist enough?