BREAKING: Bad news on COLAs for Seniors [View all]

[Alan Grayson]

Help me stop the federal government from cheating seniors yet again. Become a citizen co-sponsor of my “Seniors Deserve a Raise” Act >>

We got some bad news today about the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs). Let me explain .…

Since 1975, Social Security COLAs have been based upon the CPI-W, the consumer price index for urban workers. They should have been based on CPI-E, the consumer price index for the elderly, but that wasn’t calculated until the 1990’s. And it’s a big difference. Seniors spend more on healthcare than others do; the real cost of healthcare has skyrocketed since 1975. Seniors spend less on gasoline than others do; the real cost of gasoline peaked in 1981. As a result, the real value of Social Security benefits is three percent LESS today than it was in 1975.

That means that by promising to maintain the purchasing power of these earned benefits, and failing to do so, the government has cheated seniors out of $388 billion since COLAs began, and $25 billion during last year alone. That means that on average, each and every senior should be getting approximately $400 more each year in Social Security checks.

Today, based on the wrong Consumer Price Index, the Social Security Administration announced that the 2016 COLA will be zero percent. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Cheating our seniors out of the retirement they were promised is utterly unacceptable. That’s why I filed a bill to give seniors the raise that they deserve, by fixing the COLAs. Become a citizen co-sponsor of my Seniors Deserve a Raise Act, right now>>

Fixing Social Security COLAs will ensure that millions of seniors (and the disabled, who receive the same COLAs) are getting the benefits that they deserve. $400 a year may not seem like a lot to Donald Trump and his GOP friends/butlers, but I know the difference that it can make. It can mean being able to make the mortgage or rent payments on time, being able to pay the credit card bills, or even just being able to buy groceries.

Here’s some good news: I lined up fifty other Members of Congress to be “original cosponsors” of my Seniors Deserve a Raise Act, even before I introduced it. They care. So should you.

We can get our seniors the raise they deserve, but only if you’re willing to help. Become a citizen co-sponsor of my “Seniors Deserve a Raise Act” now>>

Our seniors have done so much for us. The least we can do is keep our promise to give them the secure retirement they paid for, and earned. Thank you for your help.

Courage,

Rep. Alan Grayson
Candidate for U.S. Senate