I cant figure out Social Security

Well they announced this week that our cost of living raise for 2014 will be 1.5%. Remember these raises are based on the actual increase in cost of living and inflation right? Food stamps actually went down last year according to that same cost of living and inflation report.

I would like to know who's responsible for that report and where they get their information? How in the world they figure the numbers?

Obviously they don't shop right? Im positive that last year I got an entire 16 ounce's of bacon for less then the $6 I paid for 12 ounces I bought this week?

Im not sure what state these guys live in or use making that report and whether their Power & Light company hiked prices this year but Florida and Ky did.

My teen wears only Vans tennis shoes and has for 4 years wore the same exact style and last year in August school shopping those shoes at Journeys were $49. This August at the same store, same shoes were $54.99.

My premium on Humana last year was $14,this year its 19?

So the list goes. Im fairly certain that my cost of living rose more then 1.5%. Where do they get these darn numbers from? Why is it when they say that cost of living barely rose mine seemed to have leapt?

Whatever that 1.5% means to my check you can bet I will lose the same amount in food stamps!! That's exactly what they did last year.

Does anyone else feel like I do? If that's the best you got keep it! That amount of money costs me increases in rent and decreases in food! Not worth it.

Vickie, I was shocked to hear that SS benefits would increase by 1.5%. While I personally do not receive SS yet (but will in a couple of years), several of my SILs and friends do.

We live in NYS about 55 miles outside NYC. Every week I see something increase in price at the supermarket...milk is $4.69 a gallon, I don't buy any meat unless it's on sale or comes with a coupon. Our electric rates went up 40% (and our home is all electric), our real estate taxes increase every year by at least $300, our healthcare insurance is going up $125 a MONTH (don't get me started on that one). My husband drives an 11 year old Honda and it costs $44 to fill up his gas tank every 10 days or so. And on and on. Everything costs more with no end in sight.

Sadly, I've come to the conclusion that the powers-that-be must live in an alternate universe because they don't seem to have a clue about the real world.

I would like to know where they got that average? My brother draws $1608 a month in SSD but he was a high ranking electrician for the board of Education and made $80,000 a year.

I on the other hand was a piddly low paying nurse before they figured out we were worth more and made around $39,000 a year so you can figure I make a little more then half what he does and since 2 of the qualifying years for credits were workers comp. I draw about $200 more a month then folks who never worked and draw SSI. Anyone see something wrong with that picture?

Tells me that if you dont make around $60.000 a year your not falling into their averages?

I really wish those that came up with the cost of living amount ought to step into our lives for a month and figure out what to give up every month to pay your co-pays or buy medicine, do without toilet paper? Or laundry detergent? Or maybe a weeks worth of food?

Regarding the Food Stamps decrease Nov 1, 2013 that affected everyone who receives them. This was due to the increase that was added under the Recovery Act in 2009. The decrease is app $10 per person. The maximum allotment amount also was decreased. There was a slight increase of a few dollars Oct 1, 2013. And there will be another decrease an Jan 1, 2014 for those who receive anything from SSA.

I don't understand it either Vickie. I do feel blessed that we get our SSD and SSI, but taking food stamps away is just wrong in my book. According to our letter we got, we will lose $20, but those with more in their family will lose more. Food pantries will have more people knocking on their doors this holiday season, along with winter coming on.

I hope all are having a low pain evening.

love and hugs
Loretta

I was wondering about that David, didn't see an increase in the news release. I get extra care which actually covers my Medicare and Humana premiums but I'm right on the line for qualifying and every time I get an increase I hold my breath waiting for them to tell me I make too much money to qualify??

Obviously $870 is plenty to raise a child on. I make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay Medicare premiums and that's fine by me since Florida's Medicaid isn't designed for CPers!! My daughter gets Medicaid though.

I don't feel blessed by them handing my own money back to me. I worked 25+ years mostly 2 jobs and paid SS and Medicare taxes out my rear. Both my parents did as well and both died still working and paying and no one will ever draw from their accounts. My oldest daughters Dad was killed in a car accident when he was 38 and he paid in almost 20 years and she was his only child and she drew almost 5 years off his account and that's it.

All money paid in by my family and little of nothing paid out? I dont feel I have to be happy that they're giving it back to me when that was the sole purpose meant in paying it in and I was never given the option not to.

That's my way of seeing it and others may feel different.

Sephie your absolutely right! They probably have employees shop and fill their limousine and never see a utility bill before their accountant pays it.

Vickie, there's no doubt in my mind that our "elected" officials are clueless. Our utility rates (electric) went up 40% a couple of months ago; our health insurance premium is going up 7.5% come January; our real estate taxes go up every year by 3%. Where the heck the "government" gets the idea that inflation is "flat" and comes up with a 1.5% increase in SS benefits is beyond me.

Agreed, Lynwood, in the purest sense of the word. But the way the word "entitlement" is often used by some in Congress and the way it's used by various media sources with a very purposed bias, it often comes out to mean "hand out", which Medicare could, or should I say, shouldn't, ever be portrayed as a hand out. It's more of a pay back.

David

I agree David, they spit the word entitlement out in conjunction with food stamps, Medicaid, and welfare and include SSDI confusing it with SSI and are cringing at the very words.

I get looked at by the workers at the food stamp office like everyone else and then when they enter my income being SSDI the worker says sorry your not eligible for welfare, or Medicaid because we count all your check, we dont count any SSI.

Let me tell you what that means for me versus someone getting SSI. He doesn't pay child support but I cant get AFDC (welfare) even though my SSI counterpart drawing pretty much the same as me can. Technically they have no "qualifying income " I cant get Medicaid, same reason, no medical transportation, same reason, my SSI counterpart getting same money, gets 418 in food stamps versus our 250 now, my government housing same exact apt costs me 430 a month, my counterpart pays 0. Even gets a $50 utility check from the housing authority every month, I dont.

They either never worked at all or not enough to pay in and have credits!

What again am I supposed to be thankful to the rule makers for? Their overt consideration? To those who worked?

Now I feel bad for getting SSI. I'm sorry that you can't get any help Vickie.

hugs
Loretta

That makes me feel better. I don't understand those idiots either. I have never understood why those of you that draw SSD ever had to pay for your medicare.

It really bothers me that you just barely get enough SSD that you don't get food stamps, etc.

love and hugs
Loretta