November 21, 2009
What's Inside:
Seniors fight to make ends meet
With no cost-of-living increase, some worried about finances
With no cost-of-living increase, some worried about finances
The federal government’s announcement last week that Social Security recipients’ checks would reflect no increase next year for the cost of living didn’t illicit much of a new reaction from Jerry Schwichtenberg.
Mr. Schwichtenberg, director of the retired and senior volunteer program for InterServ, said previous years’ increases were eaten up by Medicare deductibles.
“The deductibles have changed every year,” he said. “They’ve never gone down.”
Mr. Schwichtenberg expects to receive more calls from seniors for rent and utility assistance than in years past.
“I have people who call and say, ‘I can’t buy my drugs because I’m in the gap,’” he said. “It hits them in all areas of their life.”
The cost-of-living adjustment is tied to the consumer price index, which dipped 1.7 percent this year from last. Because of the dip in CPI, this will be the first time since 1975 that the elderly and disabled get smaller checks. Laws prevent the payments from being reduced from one year to another.
Lawmakers in Washington are weighing the possibility of kicking in a one-time $250 per recipient ($13 billion total) from stimulus funds, which could represent a 2 percent increase for some elderly and disabled. President Barack Obama has yet to win over Republican support on the matter.
Meanwhile, seniors such as Lila Deiter and Carol Yager, who met with a group of seniors at the Patee Park Baptist Church Friday for their monthly luncheon, will fight to keep their independence and not get strapped by the high cost of prescriptions. Both women have children living nearby, but they prefer to stay where they are.
“So far, I’ve been lucky,” said Ms. Deiter of her budget for prescriptions. “They keep taking away from us and everything goes up, too.”
“You might as well start digging my hole,” said Ms. Yager of the consequence of losing her independence due to finances.
Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.
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Any FOOL that thinks prices dropped by 1.7% is insane, A box of Club Crackers that was $2.99 in Feb. 09 is NOW $4.09, and How much did our utilities go up? My wife was in the Hospital again a couple of months ago, for 10 days, and No One was here, I stayed at the Hospital 24/7, how is it that my Light bill, Water AND Sewer increased by 10% when they were not being used 30% of that month? What the Hell does it take to just get some HONESTY, that's all we want, Stop lying to benefit your corrupt agenda, it's little wonder that they don't have much support in Government now days, all they know how to do is LIE to cover their A**.
Better get it together guys, you are getting ever closer to the people taking back what is rightfully theirs,,,, the hand writing is on the wall !!!! Ill Pray for you but I think it is going to take more than That!
Reporting an error in this article
Mr. Myers writes: "Lawmakers in Washington are weighing the possibility of kicking in a one-time $250 per recipient ($13 billion total) from stimulus funds, which could represent a 2 percent increase for some elderly and disabled. President Barack Obama has yet to win over Republican support on the matter."
The $250 per recipient, at this time, IS NOT being considered by Obama and the Democrats to be taken from the stimulus funds, but rather as additional borrowing which would further increase their staggering $1.4 trillion budget deficit.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (Republican) is on record as saying the $250 payments, if made, should be taken from the stimulus fund and not further increase the national debt.
The saga of the empty suit continues. He knows nothing and does nothing. Yet notice how the media props him by saying he wants to give $250 to each SS recipient but can't get Republican support. Baloney, he is doing slight of hand and the media is covering for him. If he takes it out of the so called stimulus which has failed and only served banks, auto makers, and his special interests. Come on media report it fairly and quit glossing over the inadequate leader that the media, the uniformed, and academia elected for ideology. He is a community organizer, an Acorn supporter, a union smoozer. Folks don't count on the government for help they are in the business of helping themselves. Look at the health care issue, most americans don't want what they are proposing yet they are going to pass it because THEY want it for us (not themselves as they have the best)!
We don't count any more {if you are on any kind of assistance}Because since you are not contributing any more you don't count and the government will continue to take and take until we don't have any more to give, then they will not have to pay us any more, Face it If you are on any kind of disability or Social Security you are doomed to die penniless and or homeless because the government does not want us to have "ANYTHING".Not even the right to die with dignity.
Ok people,It's just not the ones that are on Social Security that are pinching pennies here. It's everybody!!!!
It's a VERY tough world and I dont think its going to get any better.