2025 Social Security COLA Disqualifies Harris & Trump Both

[protectionist]

Here it is Social Security recipients. The 2025 COLA. A whopping 2.5% increase. Arent you thrilled ? Wanna throw a party ?

This is a DROP of 0.7% from the 2024 COLA. In the meantime, the rent on all apartments where I used to live has skyrocketd from $600/month to $1200, in just 3 years. If the landlord requires your little chicken coop to be renovated, uh oh, now you're paying $1600/month (167% increase from the $600).

So let's take the lower amount IF you're lucky enough to evade the renovation hammer. Your rent increase is $1000 more out of your pocket, Your 3 years COLAs are about $86.

Both candidates for president are ignoring this, leaving us to think they're OK with it. Of course if Trump had become president in 2021, we would have had the near zero inflation we had all 4 years of his presidency, an we wouldn't have thr astronomical food and gas prices & housing rents of the current Biden train wreck.

But before election day gets here, somebody needs to talk directly and honestly about this absurd and insulting COLA we're heading to in Jan 2025. Trump's dodge talk about economic growth, and Harris' typical, mindless, word salads won't cut it. Only something that directly matches up to the inflation we're drowning in, will.

Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025 | SSA

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average…

blog.ssa.gov

 

[Auld Phart]

what does the President have to do with COLA?

 

[LuckyDuck01!]

As a retired person, I understand what the concern is. Believe me. Eliminating inflation would help, but not be an overall solution for the drain on Social Security. It all began with its implementation. The Social Security Act was enacted in August of 1935. In January of 1940, they issued their first check, many years before they should have started. Add to this, the government repeatedly "stole" from the Social Security Trust Fund to fund other projects. Fast forward to our present era. Quite frankly, the funds are running out. The problem sits squarely on our very government that repeatedly "stole" from that trust fund to give to other pet projects. In 2033, those of us still alive and receiving Social Security, will only receive about 76% of the previous monthly payments.
If the government would cease giving money to foreign governments and illegal migrants and redirect those funds to the Social Security Trust Fund, that would help. Always take care of our own first. That's what you do with family and what should be done with those that pay into the Social Security system.

 

[rightwinger]

Social Security COLA is based on that years inflation parameters
2.5 percent means inflation was low for the year.

Stop whining

 

[Hum Dinger]

Here it is Social Security recipients. The 2025 COLA. A whopping 2.5% increase. Arent you thrilled ? Wanna throw a party ?

This is a DROP of 0.7% from the 2024 COLA. In the meantime, the rent on all apartments where I used to live has skyrocketd from $600/month to $1200, in just 3 years. If the landlord requires your little chicken coop to be renovated, uh oh, now you're paying $1600/month (167% increase from the $600).

So let's take the lower amount IF you're lucky enough to evade the renovation hammer. Your rent increase is $1000 more out of your pocket, Your 3 years COLAs are about $86.

Both candidates for president are ignoring this, leaving us to think they're OK with it. Of course if Trump had become president in 2021, we would have had the near zero inflation we had all 4 years of his presidency, an we wouldn't have thr astronomical food and gas prices & housing rents of the current Biden train wreck.

But before election day gets here, somebody needs to talk directly and honestly about this absurd and insulting COLA we're heading to in Jan 2025. Trump's dodge talk about economic growth, and Harris' typical, mindless, word salads won't cut it. Only something that directly matches up to the inflation we're drowning in, will.

Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025 | SSA

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average…

blog.ssa.gov

At least Harris is planning on expanding housing to bring down housing costs.

But, yes, something should be done about Social Security.

Maybe, the government should pay back all the money it took, then put the SS fund in a lock box, like Al Gore proposed in 1999.

 

[protectionist]

Social Security COLA is based on that years inflation parameters
2.5 percent means inflation was low for the year.

Stop whining

2.5 % SS increase has nothing to do with the inflation of the year - which was the worst in my lifetime (78 years) by far.

If it was related to the year's inflation, the Social Security increase would match the inflation (100-200%)

Stop lying.

 

[protectionist]

what does the President have to do with COLA?

The COLA is set by the Social Security Commissioner who is appointed by the president, who is the commissioner's boss.

On July 8. 2921, Joe Biden fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, a holdover from the Trump administration.

 

[protectionist]

At least Harris is planning on expanding housing to bring down housing costs.

But, yes, something should be done about Social Security.

Maybe, the government should pay back all the money it took, then put the SS fund in a lock box, like Al Gore proposed in 1999.

"least" is the correct word.

 

[WorldWatcher]

The COLA is set by the Social Security Commissioner who is appointed by the president, who is the commissioner's boss.

On July 8. 2921, Joe Biden fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, a holdover from the Trump administration.

Per the law established by Congress, the head of the SSA doesn't make it up or pull it out of their backside. Title 42 United States Code Section 415.

"How is a COLA calculated?
The Social Security Act specifies a formula for determining each COLA. According to the formula, COLAs are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). CPI-Ws are calculated on a monthly basis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A COLA effective for December of the current year is equal to the percentage increase (if any) in the CPI-W from the average for the third quarter of the current year to the average for the third quarter of the last year in which a COLA became effective. If there is an increase, it must be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. If there is no increase, or if the rounded increase is zero, there is no COLA for the year."

WW

Latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Cost of Living Adjustment

www.ssa.gov

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:415%20edition:prelim)#:~:text=(2)(A)%20If%20an,by%20regulation%20prescribe%2C%20recompute%20the

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Here it is Social Security recipients. The 2025 COLA. A whopping 2.5% increase. Arent you thrilled ? Wanna throw a party ?

This is a DROP of 0.7% from the 2024 COLA. In the meantime, the rent on all apartments where I used to live has skyrocketd from $600/month to $1200, in just 3 years. If the landlord requires your little chicken coop to be renovated, uh oh, now you're paying $1600/month (167% increase from the $600).

So let's take the lower amount IF you're lucky enough to evade the renovation hammer. Your rent increase is $1000 more out of your pocket, Your 3 years COLAs are about $86.

Both candidates for president are ignoring this, leaving us to think they're OK with it. Of course if Trump had become president in 2021, we would have had the near zero inflation we had all 4 years of his presidency, an we wouldn't have thr astronomical food and gas prices & housing rents of the current Biden train wreck.

But before election day gets here, somebody needs to talk directly and honestly about this absurd and insulting COLA we're heading to in Jan 2025. Trump's dodge talk about economic growth, and Harris' typical, mindless, word salads won't cut it. Only something that directly matches up to the inflation we're drowning in, will.

Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025 | SSA

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average…

blog.ssa.gov

you are aware that the SS COLA is set by Congress, not the president or vice president....right?

 

[WorldWatcher]

you are aware that the SS COLA is set by Congress, not the president or vice president....right?

I don’t think so. Nor is he probably aware that there are those in the GOP side of the house that want to change the law on COLAs so that the calculation will result in SMALLER COLAs.

WW

 

[protectionist]

you are aware that the SS COLA is set by Congress, not the president or vice president....right?

Before 1975. Prior to 1975, Social Security benefit increases were set by legislation. Read the link >>

Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

Cost of Living Adjustment

www.ssa.gov

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

2.5 % SS increase has nothing to do with the inflation of the year - which was the worst in my lifetime (78 years) by far.

If it was related to the year's inflation, the Social Security increase would match the inflation (100-200%)

Stop lying.

You made up fantasies in your OP about rent.

Now you are rejecting simple facts about the inflation measurements.

If you have to do all this to make a point, you don't actually have a point.

 

[WorldWatcher]

you are aware that the SS COLA is set by Congress, not the president or vice president....right?

Before 1975. Prior to 1975, Social Security benefit increases were set by legislation. Read the link >>

Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

Cost of Living Adjustment

www.ssa.gov

He's talking about the COLA forumla used to calculate the %.

The law, passed by Congress, was quoted for you. The President doesn't set the amount, Congress sets the formula.

MAGA - reduce SS increases.

WW

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Before 1975. Prior to 1975, Social Security benefit increases were set by legislation. Read the link >>

Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

Cost of Living Adjustment

www.ssa.gov

and they still are.

 

[protectionist]

Per the law established by Congress, the head of the SSA doesn't make it up or pull it out of their backside. Title 42 United States Code Section 415.

"How is a COLA calculated?
The Social Security Act specifies a formula for determining each COLA. According to the formula, COLAs are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). CPI-Ws are calculated on a monthly basis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A COLA effective for December of the current year is equal to the percentage increase (if any) in the CPI-W from the average for the third quarter of the current year to the average for the third quarter of the last year in which a COLA became effective. If there is an increase, it must be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. If there is no increase, or if the rounded increase is zero, there is no COLA for the year."

WW

Latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Cost of Living Adjustment

www.ssa.gov

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:415%20edition:prelim)#:~:text=(2)(A)%20If%20an,by%20regulation%20prescribe%2C%20recompute%20the

COLA calculation is the biggest joke in US history. As gas & rental housing (2 of the most expensive constantly ongoing expenses) have risen 100-200% (even higher than that is some locations), we get a Social Security increase of 2.5%, which is supposed to emanate from the cost of living.

Well lets get own to brass tacks here. Millions of renters & motorists are paying 100-200% increases in their housing rents and gas to fill up their cars. This is what citizens pay every day of their lives, while the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE). nationwide household surveys conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to study how U.S. consumers spend their money, look at things like fishing equipment. banjos, ocean cruises, air fare, horses, facelifts, jigaws, and hundreds of items that most Americans have nothing to do with.

And while the prices of these things rise 0 - 10% , housing rents & gas prices skyrocket 100-200%. And while we use these astronomically priced items continually (and the others never, or rarely) the rents & gas are only 2 items among hundreds which in mean calculations, drive the average cost # waaay down.

So we wind up with ludicrous Social Security increases like >>

2021 -5.9
2022 -8.7
2023 -3.2
2024 -2.5........, instead of relevant #s that would coincide with how much is coming out of our pockets. See Post # 6,

To illustrate, in 2020, I was living in a 1 bdrm apartment which was $600/month. In 2023, that apartment was $1200/month, IF the landlord did not designate it for renovation (in which case it would be $1600)

So in light of these outrageous dichotomies of incomes and costs, could the president (who is the boss of the Social Security Commissioner of the Social Security Administration) step in snd fix this, to make income increases match up with cost increases ?
He absolutely can and should.

 

[protectionist]

and they still are.

1. Post # 16 answered that.

2. If that were the case tan why oes the BLS say >> Prior to 1975, Social Security benefit increases were set by legislation

 

[protectionist]

He's talking about the COLA forumla used to calculate the %.

The law, passed by Congress, was quoted for you. The President doesn't set the amount, Congress sets the formula.

MAGA - reduce SS increases.

WW

The President can change it any time at all. Dont think so ? Just look at all the laws Biden has manuevered around, over the past 4 yrs.

Immigration & Jan 6 incarcerations alone, would be more than enough

 

[protectionist]

You made up fantasies in your OP about rent.

Now you are rejecting simple facts about the inflation measurements.

If you have to do all this to make a point, you don't actually have a point.

Would you like to BET me, about what you call "fantasies" ? Because what I said is easily provable.

And because I would like to teach you a lesson about keeping your mouth shut, when you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Would you like to BET me, about what you call "fantasies" ? Because what I said is easily provable.

And because I would like to teach you a lesson about keeping your mouth shut, when you don't know what you're talking about.

False. They are fantasies. The data on cost of living is widely available. As are numbers on inflation.