COLA Articles

Are Deeper Cuts Coming? — How Much Would You Lose?

Most analysts believe that switching to a more – stingy measure of inflation to determine annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) will form a key provision to larger government-wide deficit reduction legislation. The idea received the blessing of President Obama who offered … Continued

What’s Next for Social Security and Medicare?

TSCL Tells Congress —”Leave Social Security and Medicare out of Budget Negotiations” It’s no longer a matter of ‘if’ Congress will cut Social Security and Medicare, but “when” most policy observers now believe. Much will depend on Congressional budget negotiations in … Continued

COLAs Overpay Seniors, Must Be Slashed! Deficit Cutters Say

Economists are saying that cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) overpay seniors and that recipients don’t need so much money to maintain their standard of living.  Cuts to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are a key provision of the deficit reduction plans on Capitol … Continued

Will 2013 Be a Year of Crisis?

COLAs Go Over The Fiscal Cliff Economic forecasts for 2013 warn of a financial crisis ahead.  Nobody is feeling it more acutely than seniors living on fixed incomes.  Retirees and disabled adults won’t see much of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) … Continued

Over 50 Organizations Sign Letter to Congress Opposing Chained COLAs

The Senior Citizens League is not alone in its opposition to a widely-discussed plan to reduce the federal deficit that would use a slower-growing consumer price index (CPI), known as the “chained” CPI, to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).  … Continued

Past COLA Changes Costing Seniors Thousands In Social Security Annually

A widely-discussed plan to reduce the federal deficit would use a slower-growing consumer price index (CPI), known as the “chained” CPI, to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).  The proposal, often referred to as “chaining” the COLA, would not be … Continued

Seniors To Get One of Lowest COLAs Ever to be Paid

Will 1.7% COLAs Become The New Norm?   Food, energy, and healthcare costs are climbing, but starting in January Social Security recipients will get one of the lowest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) ever paid — just 1.7%.  The low COLA comes … Continued

As Food, Heating, Prescriptions Climb, Another Low COLA In 2013

TSCL Expects COLA Will Be About 1.4% Cost–of–living adjustments (COLAs) are falling to anemic lows again in 2013.  Seniors and the disabled will learn the 2013 increase on October 16, 2012, but TSCL expects the increase will be about 1.1%.  … Continued

Benefit Bulletin: September 2012

With Inflation Dropping —  Low 2013 COLA Forecast The prospects for an adequate Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) boost for 2013 are dimming.  The rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is decelerating at the fastest pace in … Continued

Congressional Corner: We Have To Do A Better Job On The COLA

By U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) While many of you received your first cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security in more than two years, I understand the increase is less than it should be – and how it doesn’t keep … Continued