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Social Security's January Surprise
wsj ^ | SEPTEMBER 27, 2009 | LISA SCHERZER

Posted on 09/27/2009 7:07:16 AM PDT by george76

Come January, seniors may do a double take after seeing their Social Security checks.

The 2% to 3% increase in benefits they usually get each year won't be there. The reason: For the first time in three decades, there likely won't be a cost-of-living adjustment.

Though benefit amounts for 2010 won't shrink, with investment losses and lower home values, the lack of an increase will feel like a loss to many seniors.

checks could be lower when factoring in premiums for Medicare Part B, which are deducted from monthly benefits.

For most of the 42 million Part B beneficiaries, the amount of the cost-of-living adjustment each year has been more than enough to offset the rise in Part B premiums...

But next year and in 2011, about 8% of Part B beneficiaries -- higher-income Medicare recipients and new enrollees -- will be subject to higher premiums...

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhoeconomy; cola; corruption; democrats; greedygeezers; medicare; medicarepartb; obama; seniors; socialsecurity; taxes
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To: george76
"Though benefit amounts for 2010 won't shrink, with investment losses and lower home values, the lack of an increase will feel like a loss to many seniors."

Let's see. The real cost of living has gone down. The SS payment will NOT go down. So, in effect, the recipients will actually have more spending power, which is the same as a "cost of living" adjustment.

21 posted on 09/27/2009 7:46:13 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog ( The Hog of Steel)
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To: george76

The teachers in my school district, since 2006, are limited to a 5.25% annual increase, roughly twice the CPI inflation rate in all but one year.
“But its all for the children.” Just ask them.


22 posted on 09/27/2009 7:47:17 AM PDT by BilLies
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To: george76
This was announced some time ago, but most seniors probably didn't get the message. I'm sure the MSM had a blackout on the news.
23 posted on 09/27/2009 7:48:28 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard (truth--the liberal's kryptonite.)
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To: nascarnation

Then let it be dictated that all Washington DC politicians pay 75% of their TOTAL income into the SS fund since they are the ones who have been robbing it blind all these years.


24 posted on 09/27/2009 7:49:34 AM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: MNJohnnie
The Bureau of Labor is responsible for collecting and publishing the data monthly. Here is the CPI homepage, which you can use to get all the details on what is included in each index.
25 posted on 09/27/2009 8:25:26 AM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

Thanks! As always you are treasure trove of useful information.


26 posted on 09/27/2009 8:31:57 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The 0 years, Too bad a requirement for adult supervision was not put into the Constitution)
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To: Wonder Warthog
The real cost of living has gone down.

Been to a grocery store lately?

27 posted on 09/27/2009 8:38:45 AM PDT by Oatka ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: MNJohnnie
I follow the data closely since my federal pension and SS benefits are affected by the CPI-W. There could be manipulation of the data, but I doubt it could be kept secret for very long, especially since federal pension increases rely on the same data. Current estimates indicate that there will be no increase for 2010 or 2011. Inflation could change all of that.

Check out the history of COLA increases during the Carter years, especially the one in 1980 of 14.3%. If we experience such increases again, the impact would be disastrous for the federal budget given the rapid increase in the number of new retirees due to the baby boomer cohort. Entitlement programs already make up almost half the budget now.

If you want some scary reading, take a gander at the A SUMMARY OF THE 2009 ANNUAL REPORTS by the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees

28 posted on 09/27/2009 8:45:28 AM PDT by kabar
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To: Oatka
"Been to a grocery store lately?"

Frequently. But there is this thing called "forest", and things called "trees". Some trees stick up higher than the forest. Similarly, current statistics show that, overall, the cost of living has gone down over the last year, despite certain commodity areas having increased.

29 posted on 09/27/2009 9:11:15 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog ( The Hog of Steel)
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To: MaxMax

That looks like a paint can opener.


30 posted on 09/27/2009 9:11:35 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (THIS SPACE FOR RENT! cheap!)
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To: JohnLongIsland

***If your a senor and live on your Social Security check, I just said a prayer for you.***

How about us who have two people living on ONE social Security check because the wife did not have to work while I was employed. But, for years I made preparations for this while I still hd a job!


31 posted on 09/27/2009 9:14:53 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (THIS SPACE FOR RENT! cheap!)
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To: lula
This years "let them eat cake."

As Americans across the country grapple with one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, members of Congress quietly are getting a pay raise. Each lawmaker's annual salary is due for a $4,700 cost-of-living increase starting in January, which will amount to a cost to taxpayers of $2.5 million in 2009, infuriating watchdog groups. "Members of Congress don't deserve one additional dime of taxpayer money in 2009," said Tom Schatz, president of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. "While thousands of Americans are facing layoffs and

32 posted on 09/27/2009 9:18:22 AM PDT by nufsed
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To: BilLies

Do teachers ever strike for anything but more money?


33 posted on 09/27/2009 9:28:35 AM PDT by PLMerite (Speak Truth to Stupid.)
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To: PLMerite
But the Obama indoctrination is given with no extra cost.
34 posted on 09/27/2009 9:34:51 AM PDT by BilLies
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Some people see a paint can opener and some see a beer bottle opener.


35 posted on 09/27/2009 9:50:39 AM PDT by BilLies
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To: JohnLongIsland

When we first became victims of SS & Medicare being taken out of our pay checks it seemed like a good idea. A savings plan. Wonderful! You can’t blame people who are on Medicare and SS, who deserve to get their savings back.

But they freely give it to people who don’t work or come here
from another country. They used up my savings while charging me more taxes.


36 posted on 09/27/2009 9:55:34 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (WARNING! WARNING! "Political Terrorist in Charge" — STAY AWAY FROM MY BODY)
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To: Wonder Warthog
"Been to a grocery store lately?"
Frequently. But there is this thing called "forest", and things called "trees". Some trees stick up higher than the forest.

Well, the trees in my neighborhood's forest that stick out the highest are food, clothing, taxes on almost everything, gasoline, utilities, etc. The real shorties are mink coats, Bentley autos, prices at Tiffany's and Neiman Marcus - and caviar.

Similarly, current statistics show that, overall, the cost of living has gone down over the last year, despite certain commodity areas having increased.
Mark Twain wrote of a man who drowned crossing a stream that statistically was only an inch deep. The things that we need are rising, despite the deflation. The fripperies are the ones that are dropping.

37 posted on 09/27/2009 10:09:29 AM PDT by Oatka ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: george76

No surprise here, folks. I’ve said for a long time that this was one way the government was going to help reduce the financial impact of retirees on the Social Security system.


38 posted on 09/27/2009 10:23:22 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (God is great, beer is good . . . and people are crazy.)
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To: kabar
You are correct. Social Security uses a wage index to increase benefits. For years, this index has grown faster than the rate of inflation. Now it is reversed. Wage indexing is unsustainable except in one scenario. If we suffer a serious economic decline, wages will fall not rise. However, Congress has threatened to intervene and provide a COLA even though the formula indicates no increase.

Even without the excesses of the rats on spending, regulations, and industry control, entitlement programs threaten to undermine the economy. We have seen the problem for many years. However, rat demagoguery, senior voting blocks, and political desire to spend excess payroll taxes have made changes impossible. Bush had a good idea to introduce some level of savings in personal accounts. Reagan should have proposed this idea in 80s. I see no solution except economic collapse to force changes. However, the baby boom generation will be robbed of the large amount of contributions because excess payroll taxes have already been spent.

39 posted on 09/27/2009 7:50:58 PM PDT by businessprofessor
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To: george76

Obama Hates Old People.

My best Kanye West voice.


40 posted on 09/27/2009 7:53:26 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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