That innocent looking headline this morning means your money is worth less

[Conan The Librarian]

Today's headline was that social security recipients finally get a 3.6% increase in cost of liviing adjustment. Sounds innocent enough until you recall that Bush gave seniors a whopping large adjustment about the time of the last presidential election, supposedly to aid seniors in a down economy. There were no adjustments for a few years, and that's because it took a while for inflation to catch up with the big adjustment.
 
Now there is a new and signficantly large cost of living adjustment. This means that, no matter what anyone else may tell you, there has been enough inflation to warrant it.
 
Some may argue that inflation has been double digits for a while in things that seniors typically buy, like food and fuel. That's true too.

[Graybeard]

If you think a 3.6% increase is significant after not getting any upward adjustment for a few years then clearly you're not retired living on a fixed income like many of us are.

I've not heard that retired civil service folks will get an increase and we've not had one the last two years. My wife and I are both retired and I can assure you our cost of living for the things you have to have to live have been going up regularly unlike our income.

[bigMikeA]

If you think a 3.6% increase is significant after not getting any upward adjustment for a few years then clearly you're not retired living on a fixed income like many of us are.

I've not heard that retired civil service folks will get an increase and we've not had one the last two years. My wife and I are both retired and I can assure you our cost of living for the things you have to have to live have been going up regularly unlike our income.

Absolutely 100% right on.  From someone trying to row the same boat.

[powderman]

GB, BIG MIKE. Me too. 3.6 % in 3 yrs when food and all necessities is up at least 20% in 3 yrs is nothing. This is just another pr stunt by obummer fishing for votes, nothing more. POWDERMAN. 

[Pat/Rick]

 But SS is such a gooood campaign tool.

[powderman]

I talked a good friend into signing up for ss a year ago in Aug. He was 70 yrs old and survived on odd jobs and lives in an old house with no elect or water. He got a whopping $712 a month but couldn't get a med card for a year because he never filed when he turned 65. His chk has been CUT to $526 after med deductions. POWDERMAN. 

[rio grande]

I talked a good friend into signing up for ss a year ago in Aug. He was 70 yrs old and survived on odd jobs and lives in an old house with no elect or water. He got a whopping $712 a month but couldn't get a med card for a year because he never filed when he turned 65. His chk has been CUT to $526 after med deductions. POWDERMAN. 

Thank you powderman for looking out after that gentleman.
What a shame they wouldn't start covering his medical right away.
I'm getting older, almost 60 now, but always, all my life, I've respected old folks and felt they should be taken care of.
This man, who has most likely lived in America all his life and contributed to the community, now gets $526 a month while many others, newcomers and others, scam the system.
Absolutely wrong.