The Social Security Administration made the announcement following the release of Consumer Price Index inflation data, which showed that inflation rose at an annual rate of 3% in September.
“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said Friday. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”
According to SSA numbers, the COLA increase has averaged around 3.1% over the last ten years.
Meanwhile, experts across the political spectrum have been warning about the upcoming depletion of the Social Security trust fund, now projected to happen as soon as 2032. Once insolvency occurs, recipients could see a benefit cut as high as 24%, reversing over a decade’s worth of COLA increases.
Congress is in no position to unilaterally boost benefits, with the U.S. national debt topping $38 trillion in the past week, only months after reaching $37 trillion.
According to the Cato Institute, a median wage earner making $60,000 annually would need to pay an extra $2,600 in taxes yearly for Social Security at its current benefit levels to remain solvent in the near future.
While Congress continues to collect their paychecks and the other federal employees are left to work their ass off and get NO pay day. This is so typical of the greedy bastards and so unfair.
“Inflation rose at an annual rate of 3% in September”, now just exactly what does that mean?
It means we’re getting screwed again!
September is only one month, annual means all 12 months 11:19. How can a rate be annual in only one month, I ask again?
Inflation is still on the rise, Only gas and eggs have come down a few cents. My grocery bill is as high as usual.