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In reply to the discussion: Average monthly benefit for retirees on Social Security $1,230. [View all]Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)43. Total or near total, and that number will keep increasing.
And most SS beneficiaries are not that far above the poverty line. Their incomes are distinctly modest.
You are correct, and here is a paper with some stats that show that you are correct:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3261

And again, this number will keep increasing.
Nor will the "savings" from Chained CPI really be that much, because for many of those for whom SS is 80-90% of their income, Chained CPI along with later retirement dates will push them below the eligibility line for food stamps and Medicaid, which is more costly per recipient than the Chained CPI benefit reduction.
This is a very important issue and I commend the OP for bringing it up. We should at least educate ourselves on what this really means.
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Average monthly benefit for retirees on Social Security $1,230. [View all]
nadinbrzezinski
Oct 2013
OP
That's not what average means. Thank you for demonstrating the biggest problem we have
Egalitarian Thug
Oct 2013
#14
'average' doesn't imply half get more, half get less, that would specifically be the 'median'.
PoliticAverse
Oct 2013
#33
there is nothing to argue with. The SS administration is using the mean, not the median
magical thyme
Oct 2013
#38
It's not a matter of grammer, it is a matter of right and wrong, that's math.
Egalitarian Thug
Oct 2013
#56
hi Nadin! I think you're running up against the difference between average and median.
hedgehog
Oct 2013
#17
I think the important point is that some earn above average, and others below average!
hedgehog
Oct 2013
#21
regardless of how *you* are using the term, the SS administration is using the word average
magical thyme
Oct 2013
#39
I think instead of discussing chained CPI, we need to address the reality that for many (most?)
hedgehog
Oct 2013
#15
Gotta cut entitlements 'cause that was the Simpson-Bowles answer to all that ails us, surely
indepat
Oct 2013
#25
As to the President's specific chained CPI proposal, you can find it here...
PoliticAverse
Oct 2013
#34