2015 Survey of Senior Costs Finds Big Drop In Inflation
May Signal Zero COLA for 2016, Warns The Senior Citizens League
Alexandria, VA: Social Security beneficiaries have lost 22 percent of their buying power since 2000, according to the 2015 Survey of Senior Costs released today by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). The findings show a dramatic drop in inflation over the past year, due almost entirely to the drop in oil prices. The deflationary trend, while good news in the short term, could spell trouble ahead next year for retired and disabled beneficiaries who depend on Social Security for most of their income, TSCL warns.
Despite the big drop in costs related to petroleum prices — an improvement of about 9 percent in the buying power of benefits over the past year — the overall costs of Social Security recipients continue to grow faster than benefits. In most years, Social Security beneficiaries receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with rising costs. But since 2000, the COLA has increased benefits just 43 percent while typical senior expenses have jumped 74 percent.
Inflation has been at historic lows in recent years and seniors received a COLA of just 1.7 percent this year. “While there’s been a temporary improvement in the buying power of Social Security benefits recently, the drop in inflation is now so large that the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2016 may be zero,” says TSCL Chairman Ed Cates. “Going without any COLA at all has long-term consequences due to the loss of compounding over time,” Cates says.
| Category | Expense | Cost in Jan 2000 | Cost in Jan 2015 | Percent Increase 2000-2015 |
| Housing | Own | N/A | N/A | 44% |
| Housing | Apartment rental | N/A | N/A | 56% |
| Housing | Homeowner’s insurance (annual) | $508.00 | $1,135.90 | 161% |
| Housing | Real estate tax (annual) | $690.00 | $1,569.40 | 127% |
| Housing | Heating oil (gallon) | $1.15 | $2.97 | 159% |
| Housing | Natural gas (dollars per gallon) | $1.01 | $2.36 | 133% |
| Housing | Electricity per kilowatt hr | $.08 | $.13 | 63% |
| Transportation | New & used vehicles | N/A | N/A | 0% |
| Transportation | All grades gas (gallon) | $1.31 | $2.31 | 76% |
| Transportation | Oil change | $23.11 | $27.94 | 21% |
| Transportation | Maintenance/repair | N/A | N/A | 54% |
| Medical | Total out-of-pocket medical expenses | $1,074.50 | $1,391.90 | 30% |
| Medical | Prescription drugs, generic, brand, special. | $623.70 | $581.25 | -7% |
| Medical | Dental, general visits | $377.40 | $691.12 | 83% |
| Medical | Medicare Part B premiums (monthly) | $45.50 | $104.90 | 131% |
| Medical | Medicare Part D premiums average weighted for enrollment | $25.93 | $39.00 | 50%* since 2006 |
| Medical | Medigap average premium, all plans | $119.00 | $238.00 | 100% |
| Food | Potatoes (10 lbs.) | $2.98 | $4.98 | 67% |
| Food | cheddar cheese (lb.) | $3.84 | $5.40 | 41% |
| Food | Milk (gal.) | $2.78 | $3.76 | 35% |
| Food | Eggs (dz.) | $0.93 | $2.11 | 117% |
| Food | Ground chuck (lb.) | $1.90 | $4.38 | 130% |
| Food | Chicken (lb.) | $1.06 | $1.55 | 46% |
| Food | coffee (lb.) | $3.54 | $4.74 | 34% |
| Food | Bread, white (loaf) | $.91 | $1.48 | 63% |
| Food | Apples (lb.) | $.95 | $1.35 | 41% |
| Food | Oranges (lb.) | $.61 | $1.20 | 96% |
| Recreation | Movie ticket | $5.39 | $8.46 | 52% |
| Recreation | category | N/A | N/A | 13% |
| Communication | Basic phone service, 2 land lines, local | $55.37 | $84.97 | 52% |
| Communication | First class postage | $0.33 | $0.49 | 48% |
| Apparel | Clothing | N/A | N/A | (-3%) |
| Other | Personal care products | N/A | N/A | 7% |
| Other | Personal care services | N/A | N/A | 26% |
A person with average Social Security benefits in 2000 received $816 per month, a figure that rose to $1,166.30 by 2015. However, that individual would require a Social Security benefit of $1,419.00 per month in 2015 just to maintain his or her 2000 buying power, the study found.
The study examined the increase in costs of 34 key items between 2000 and January 2015. The items were chosen because they are typical of the costs seniors must bear. Of the 34 costs analyzed, 22 exceeded the amount of increase in the COLA over the same period. The selected items represent eight categories, weighted by approximate expenditure.
“This study illustrates why budget proposals that would cut the growth of COLAs would put millions of older and disabled Americans at risk of insufficient income to cover more growing expenses,” says Cates. “To put it in perspective, for every $100 worth of expenses seniors could afford in 2000, they can afford just $78 today,” Cates adds.
A majority of the 59 million senior and disabled Americans who receive Social Security depend on it for at least 50 percent of their total income, and one in three beneficiaries relies on it for 90 percent or more of his or her total income.
To help the protect buying power of benefits, The Senior Citizens League supports legislation that would base COLAs on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly. TSCL has developed an online calculator for the public to learn how much a COLA cut that would switch to a more slowly-growing CPI would cost in Social Security income.
Click here to use the calculator.
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With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Its mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.
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