Local seniors say it isn't fair
MARQUETTE -- For the second year in a row, 58 million retirees and disabled Americans will be losing out on increases in Social Security benefits.
Why no increase? The Social Security Administration says that it's because the inflation in 2010 was too low to justify an increase for 2011.
And local seniors I spoke with say it simply is not right.
"You know, it's kind of disturbing. This is the second year in a row, and basically the government is telling us inflation is too low...well that's not true. Gasoline's up all the time, food prices are (up), electrical bills are up, how can they say inflation is not rising?" says Larry Heimburger, a local senior.
"It's a shame, it really is. Two years in a row and they're saying it's because inflation is down. Well, the president or government officials, they don't have to pay for gas. They really don't care, they have a job, they have good jobs and we're paying them," says Paul Smith, also a local senior.
Seniors living on a fixed income say they're being forced to dig into their savings to make up the difference. They'll also have to tighten their budgets.
One local senior I caught up with today says he'd like to make up the deficit, but he can't.
"We are no longer contributing to the workforce. It would be great if I could get a job, then I wouldn't have this problem, but I'm 84 years old and they don't hire people who are 84 years old. We're at the mercy of whatever happens to the entire country," says Donald Hall, a local senior.
Even though seniors won't see an increase next year, President Obama has proposed a $250 one time payment for those on social security.
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