Apr 15, 2009

Expect More Stories Like This

From the Charleston, WV Daily Mail:
Virginia Nesselrotte, 65, of Dunbar is upset about not getting a cost-of-living increase with her Social Security benefits this year. [They mean next year.]

"We'll lose $300 a year in 10 years," said Nesselrotte, a retired Verizon worker. "That kind of loss is going to be hard on a lot of people." ...

The Congressional Budget Office said in its latest budget estimates that inflation will dip so low that Social Security recipients will not qualify for annual increases in 2010 or for two years after that. ...

Scott McClanahan, executive director of Kanawha Valley Senior Services, said he sees tough choices ahead for senior citizens.

"It's going to be needs versus wants," he said. "Is it going to be medicines or food? Now some of the seniors are already cutting their meds in half in order to keep the longevity of the drugs to meet the dynamics of those meds." ...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the cost of living doesn't increase, why should payments?

Anonymous said...

People are so used to getting the COLA increase each year, they have come to think of it as an entitled benefit, but no increase of the CPI-W, then no COLA increase.

Still would like to know the affect it's going to have on Medicare Part B if the premium goes up, but no more of the Social Security benefit can be withheld.

Anonymous said...

Varible SMI for Millions yeah right that would never happen.

Anonymous said...

"Varible SMI for Millions yeah right that would never happen."

Well that is the current law.

HI 01001.004 The Variable SMI Premium

For individuals who are entitled to social security benefits for the months of November and December, the law prohibits the January premium increase from reducing the social security or railroad retirement benefit check received in January to an amount lower than received in December.

Unknown said...

Update information 2016