Posted on 01/22/2010 6:54:50 AM PST by Daniel T. Zanoza
I'm sure many senior citizens, handicapped and those who are temporarily disabled noticed their Social Security check did not include a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2010. In fact, it is possible Social Security recipients will not receive a COLA for up to three years, according to reports out of Washington, D.C.
This is the first year a COLA increase has not been afforded to Social Security recipients for over 30 years.
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, they shouldn't have been. The Social Security Administration announced last year there would be no cost of living adjustment in 2010.
All Social Security recipients receive a statement of benefits in late December every year. This is the information regarding this year's benefits which was sent to all recipients.
"By law, Social Security benefits increase automatically to keep pace with inflation. when there is no period of inflation, the law does not permit an increase in benefits. Based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Department of Labor, there was no rise in the cost of living during the past year, so your benefit will remain the same in 2010. The CPI is the federal government's official measure to calculate cost-of-living increases."
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.
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 formula the Dept. of Labor uses must be a type of new math. It's absurd. Indeed, if Obama's political agenda--which includes the passage of Cap and Trade, comprehensive immigration reform and card check--would be passed by Congress and signed into law, many economists believe America will spiral into hyperinflation.
From the beginning of his administration, it is clear Obama has targeted senior citizens. The recent health care reform bill--which was an eyelash away from being passed into law--included a $500 billion hit on Social Security. Yes, Mr. Obama promised seniors and others who have put money into the Social Security system for many years a paltry, one-time only $250 payment. But even this pledge seems to have been forgotten. Yet hundreds of millions of dollars in stimulus money has gone to museums and other pork projects, mostly targeted for districts that voted Democratic in the 2008 election. This is a tragic farce.
However, members of Congress did receive a pay increase in 2009 and they will again in 2010. How come Congress received a pay raise? They voted themselves one.
You see, it appears Obama and many members of Congress have adopted Margaret Sanger's philosophy which states "more from the fit and less from the unfit". For those of you who are not familiar with Sanger, in the early 20th century, she founded Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider. Sanger also liked the idea of eugenics which was twisted into what became Hitler's Final solution. Senior citizens, the mentally and physically handicapped and those who are temporarily disabled would certainly fit into this category, wouldn't they?
So, it appears those who receive Social Security don't count in Obama's political playbook, but they should. Seniors make up a huge voting bloc. They have mostly voted Democratic in recent years. However, as in current trends, this, too, will change.
What I find interesting is the Democratic Party seems hell bent on committing political suicide. And that's just fine with me.
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.
“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...
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
yea well times were different back then , easy to say not easy in the real world
SSSSHHHHH! Not so loud! They'll awaken...
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"!
Why is AARP silent??
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
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. :-)
Every single Republican should refuse this raise until the American people get economic recovery!
Every single one.
Congress got a pay raise????
HOW MUCH?
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
Retired Federal employees did not receive a COLA increase either.
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
As much as I despise him, Obama had nothing to do with this. This is how SS COLA is computed
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.
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!
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.
Option #2 seems obvious. I’m not sure I understand the thrust of the original post. What? Social Security isn’t socialist enough?
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