31May

Social Security benefits increase coming in 2012?

By Tomasz Stasiuk, May 31st, 2011 | SSA News | 144 Comments

After a two years freeze in Social Security benefits, a thaw may finally be coming. The Baltimore Sun reports:

The Social Security trustees’ annual report released this month estimates that the cost-of-living adjustment in next year’s checks will be 0.7 percent. The increase, which will be announced in October, could be higher, depending on where prices head in the coming months.

So, we won’t know for sure until October and the increase may be as small as 0.7 percent, and not put into effect until 2012. Hurray(?)

UPDATE 10/18/11: The 0.7 increase was the only news of an increase in 2012 for a long time. AP reports a real cost of living increase is coming to Social Security in 2012.

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Disclaimer: This is NOT legal advice. This site provides general information about Social Security disability cases in Colorado. To discuss your particular circumstances, please contact a lawyer in your area. Please review the full disclaimer .

Tomasz Stasiuk is the founding attorney of the Stasiuk Firm - a law firm devoted to exclusively handling Social Security disability cases in Colorado. Contingent fees available.

Doddlinda

Everyone who has complaints about the corrupt republicans need to get out and cast their democratic votes. If you can’t get out to vote, do request an absentee ballot. Fill it out and mail it back. We all know the republicans are a crooked bunch who advocate for the rich, and will do whatever it takes to make sure the rich and the large corporations don’t have to pay their fair share of taxes. That burden will be left up to the working poor and middle class folks. Thier also attempting to suppress our constitutional right to vote in presidential elections. We need to stand up and fight them tooth and nail on this one, for “We The People” pay their salaries so they can have many homes, boats, cars, airplanes, and luxery vacations. They are the definition of greed. As far as social security goes, it is not a handout, it is not charity, and it is not relief. It is an earned right based upon contributions and earnings of the individual. As an earned right, the individual is eligible to recieve his/her benifits in dignity and self respect. (102 Congressional Record15, 110 (1956).
Sarge401

heyyy people change name to pedro, gomez or gonzales and no problem then you can get everything you need no questions asked or go to los angeles or tiajuana north it seems everybody benefits except the people who have paid for them
Mhteate

All entitlements must be greatly reduced to balance the federal budget. The unfunded liability of all entitlements is $50 Trillion including Social Security, Federal Pensions, Military Pensions, Medicare and Tricare. The money we placed in the Trust Funds has been spent by both Republicans and Democrats. Also, life expectency has increased by 400% and has increased the unfunded liability by that amount. = life expectency is now 85 yrs vs 70 yrs when social security act was passed in 1937. The printing of paper money and the large deficits has destroyed our financial system. It has happened many times in history when Greed takes over in a Democracy and citizens vote themselves excessive payouts.
Nort52

Why not just keep it, I like all recipients on Social Security woud’nt notice it any way. after looking
down so long I’m now afraid to look up! I’m afraid a Buzzard might SHIT in my face. silly me though
0.7 percent I looked up and it was our own beloved mascot the AMERICAN EAGLE. Our elected officials Let him SHIT all over the poor one more time. Please remember we voted them in, we can vote em out. But you have to remember their replacements will either be the same or worse.
The American people own this country just ask any CEO who stole all he could from the company
that put them in charge. I’m still waitin on all those good ole Boys to do some time. I guess they were
sorry so the congress and senate just could’nt find anything wrong with all the corruption going on.
Almost makes you think that our leader’s of this Great Nation of ours is on their payroll also .
This is my opinion. Anyone else who might think like this may not love America.
If You can’t take care of your own. How do you sleep?
Thanks everyone and good luck our Government has shown it’s loyalty to all of the poor working
class. I never dreamed our own Government would turn on the working people as they have.
FDR is rolling in his grave. I’m sorry I took so long .
Thanks again. Nort Stephens Home town America.
Fallout137

I really hate to read about the horrible republicans. Look dumb ass–. when the Democrats are in control they do nothing but run up the debt and give away your tax dollars. wow how damn dumb can you be?
Hockeyman Paul

Well all the Republicans said when voted in was jobs, jobs, jobs, not one time have they put in a jobs bill. Instead they want to do is completely do away with social security, medicare and medicade. Anyone that votes any Republicans in office, President’s, Congressmen/women or senators this up coming election get what they deserve. The Tea Party/Republicans hate america and the Middle class, the poor, seniors, blacks, gays, lesbians and anyone else thats not lining their pockets. They do not deserve to be in any form of public office
Hockeyman Paul

There shouldn’t be a Republican Party/Tea Party. They all hate America. All they want to do is destroy the fabric of this country. To me they are no better then terrorists, and comunists for wanting to do to the american middle class, poor and most of all our seniors.
Stlulo

Yeah we need a Robin Hood…or a revolution. Just imagine all the Fat Cats and their best dressed women being knocked down to our level ….living on less than $800.00 a month and no health insurance. It makes me so ANGRY to see them waltzing around in their expensive suits with their smug expressions…”let them eat cake!”….REVOLUTION!!! Where is our rescuer??
Popwgl

were NOT through yet with these short-shighted people like reps lamborn and mcconnell and randy pauly there.. they should now be out of office for good .. screw the teaparty haters of our dear belov ed social security and now medi care and also greedyy politician thayt can stand a chance at the polls in november!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4MNWH6PLKWJEKAUBVG6TN27W2A miltong

I agree with all of the comments, but when you look at it this has been going on like for ever thats why we have this problem, of jobs, soc sec, medicare, medicaid, and on and on and on.And the sad part about it is its a little late to do anything about it . Our enemies have put this country right where they want us. in a financial funk. short on money, gas, and you do the math . its depression time in the U.S.A. I don’t want to sound negative , and i love my country but the truth is the truth.M.L.G.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4MNWH6PLKWJEKAUBVG6TN27W2A miltong

so true
Smithrosemary90

How can the government make a comment that social security is an entitlement!!!!!!! Most of us paid 40+ years into it!!!! If I had the 40+ years of money that i paid into social security invested over the years. I wouldnt be drawing 1100.oo monthly!!!!
Chellie

I sure hope the increase comes I worry about my dad and his friends. I will check this out further and then give him the good news if he does not have it already
Rainestony

My message was of hope and seems to have cut you! You seem to be Anti Christ! Your comments show lack of understanding therfore you have no wisdom for the correct use of knowledge. You must be unlearned in the Scriptures, and your language shows your Arrogance; thinking you are some what special! You have no idea of my works; but I will put them up against any mans. But works doesn’t save anyone! And sure you give a person water, and bread and shelter and clothing, and don’t forget his wife and 5 children, then there are his 12 brothers who have lost everything! But Jesus offers living water! And he is the bread of life and will deny no man Bread, if they ask of him! So- while you are giving a person a drink; who will need another drink soon, go ahead and feed all the hungry of this World since you are so high and mighty! But your Arrogance shall be brought low! Jesus was Meek, but he is not Weak! You are one day closer to death today and if you don’t know him, then he doesn’t know you, and will not miss you when he says depart from me into everlasting darkness! Maybe my message will burn in your ears as you are Judged on your good works! Without Faith there is no hope! So I will continue to Pray for the Lord to intercede while you get up off your #@# and clean up the worlds order; talk about rediculous; YOU ARE!!!!!! GOT IT??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Joann3258

Gee I just figures out That I would gat a big $12.20 raise in my SS. Which will go Right in to Medicare you know that! We will not see it in the wallet i can bet money on it. Gee That not even a 1/4 of a tank of gas depending on where you live! WHO IN THE HOLY NAME OF GOD are the kidding. They as in (The powers that be) should take a pay and and but in the SS, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA Benefits!
Are they kidding I repeat! Are they Kidding!
ANTONIO COSTA

IT IS ABOUT THE RETIREES AND DISAVLED GETS A NICE INCREASE INSOCIAL SECURITY AS WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE THE LAST TWO YEARS. TODAY, EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TWO YEARS AGO!
Anonymous

Gas was $1.61/gallon when Obama was voted in. It is now $3.61. That huge increase alone makes everything we buy higher. Plus … Medicare (+20%) has gone up as has supplemental insurance(+15%).

0.7%? Ridiculous. 5% at a minimum.
Rsaucier60

They raised my rent $65 a month. Yea the .07 increas will help extra $9 . what a joke.
Juneparks8

you are so right that oil company was ordered to pay for cleanups so what did they do? kept raising the price of oil. So who’s paying?? and if this country wants the worst depression ever, stop s.s checks,
58 million or ever how many not buying groceries or gas,not paying light bills or mortgages and
property taxes, pretty soon those who voted to cut would also be out their money comes from all of us.
Sometimes I feel like they want everybody over 50 to die
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jw-Mainer/100002072150738 J.w. Mainer

I think we need a president that is for the poor not for the rich and not a mosliem and get rid of the ones who is filling their fat belly’s and sitting on their fat behinds and doing nothing for the poor, not only have people haven’t gotten a raise for their social security and medicare has gone to pot everywhere you go doctors are refusess to take medicare cause our government won’t pay what owe to the doctors. Cause the way the poor and elderly and disable is treated I hope 2012 does happen and takes our greedy Government with it.
Disgusted with our lawmakers.

I am a widow of 6 years. I lost my husband and 9 months later I lost my job. No one wants to hire someone close to 60 years old. I know I tried. I have lived on a fixed income and no medical insurance for 6 years. I don’t qualify for an type of aid because I own my mobile home. I don’t know what this country is coming to.
My mother is 83 and they just cut her SSI out. She was over the $ limit because she had a burial insurance policy and grave site. Now is that not a joke.
Anonymous

This goverment has been the worst for the poor in the history of the United States.
It seems that they want to kill of starvation the people who worked hard their whole life
and now have to pay the consecuences of the ineptitude and currption of the polititians
who “lead”? the country.
Alvie_fizzy

Dear Mr Obma next Time you guys want a RAise I think 0.1 % would be good for you guys well 0% would be better come on 0.7 what the hell is medcare going up 0.6 give us a break iworked in a steel mill then back gave out i guess we the people are just not that imporant to you or any of you guys in washington well i say we have the power to get you ourt and try some one else out maybe if you guys knew going in well i better do good or i am out well then maybe you would do for us yes people let get out there and vote and we and we alone have the power so let s use it and find us some body who Truly cares for us
Ilovelarry1964

they need more compassion on people, they need to come out of thier pockets besides ours, the rich will not go to heaven, i feel for them . AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
Ron

the policy cant be counted as a resource make sure its put in an irovocable burial fund your bank can help you with this is what i did for my mom and when she passed the burial was payed for also you can put as much as you want in for the burial only and when a person passes if there is any left over you would recieve
Madelinhardman

With the prediction of food, clothing, energy and everything to skyrocket, how are we supposed to make it; or maybe they don’t want us to. The congress and the president get and promote themselves to higher wages with huge expense. That should not be allowed. There has been no SS raises in two years already. What are they thinking!
Jeklly55

well if the government would honor its debt to the people of the united states and return the money that was paid into the system and spent by the government ss would not even be an issue. Some of those lost and stolen billions of this stupid war and tax breaks for the rich. they didnt have the guts to return some of that money to ss. This government has stolen ss money and appears they want to default on its debt to the people but not to china, elect people who will acknowledge this debt, lower spending and cut fraud in medicare and raise revenue as it should be.
AMERICAN VOTER

I have plan that i think ( WE THE PEOPLE) can agree on, lets start garnishing the wages of all past and present congressman, senators and Pres. that are living today. We can amend a bill and name it.
                 (H.R. 0001 – stating that all employed congressman,senator and Pres. that has stolen from
                                          the social security fund will be garnished wages and any tax returns do him or her
                                          until all monies are returned to social security…. )

If i am not mistaken these people work for us,THE PEOPLE OF THE U.S. so i guess that makes us employers. Lets start doing the things that need to be done, because apperently these ladies and gentlemen and thats being nice can’t seem to figure it out. What a waste of all that education in Wash.
Unknown

The disabled did not get an increase for 2 years and cannot work, so this is the only income. Cost of living has increase dramatically which makes it hard.
Itsmehurricaneb

This is all too sad and just pure WRONG! I am on SSD, and can’t afford to have the bones in my mouth called teeth taken care of, yet the drunken druggie on SSI who never worked for she is a drunk and crack user can afford to have a state “voucher” to assist with her rent, gets a free cell phone even though she has one of her own on a prepaid plan, gets assistance with her utlities, went and got top and bottom dentures all free! I worked and worked hard my child and I live in someone elses home (closed in carport) for I cant afford to save a down payment for a mort, and rent is even higher, my car maintenance and ins and live and eat otherwise, had to go to er for bad bad teeth pain and they said I need a dentist and they couldn’t do a thing for me! guess when the infection gets in my blood stream and I get real ill they will then do something for my teeth. This person I am reffering to also gets food stamps I am denied make $600 a year too much! The housing grants and helps I really cant find the true assistance and the news paper articles that show a family getting a grant to help get a home a help of over 20,000 I emailed the writer of that article to ask where they got the real help only to get NO RESPONSEQThis is all too sad and just pure WRONG! I am on SSD, and can’t afford to have the bones in my mouth called teeth taken care of, yet the drunken druggie on SSI who never worked for she is a drunk and crack user can afford to have a state “voucher” to assist with her rent, gets a free cell phone even though she has one of her own on a prepaid plan, gets assistance with her utlities, went and got top and bottom dentures all free! I worked and worked hard my child and I live in someone elses home (closed in carport) for I cant afford to save a down payment for a mort, and rent is even higher, my car maintenance and ins and live and eat otherwise, had to go to er for bad bad teeth pain and they said I need a dentist and they couldn’t do a thing for me! guess when the infection gets in my blood stream and I get real ill they will then do something for my teeth. This person I am reffering to also gets food stamps I am denied make $600 a year too much! The housing grants and helps I really cant find the true assistance and the news paper articles that show a family getting a grant to help get a home a help of over 20,000 I emailed the writer of the article to find out where to go for this great help for a no response! I think it was just a bogus writting to make people think good things are being done, when in fact you get sent in a cirlce or no answer or to be told funds have been depleted as they are getting new furniture! but you know the officals all have nice homes, clothes, cars and all medical is a given top best not to mention our new president likes to drink as well I am sick and tired of this! how can you fix your neighborhood when your house is broken, dont believe what you hear or read people see the REAL TRUTH GREED has taken over and this is a part of sick population control. If they the officals and vps etc were not corupt when they started it takes only a month or two before they are, its greed. and LORD have mercy on us all for we the people have laid down and allowed all this to happen!
Kvmare

In my case, this .7% increase amounts to $6.00. The Medicare part B increase is expected to increase $17.60.
http://www.facebook.com/phyllis.t.may Phyllis Tedeschi May

well this is gooooood!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QYGDB7RX3BW3DM7FJ6FRXXSUWI Goddess Melanisia

That’s….. 6$ for my family (My husband is disabled). Whooo hooo! I can finally buy…. a gallon of gas.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QYGDB7RX3BW3DM7FJ6FRXXSUWI Goddess Melanisia

SSD pays so little, that if I would just stop working and stay home, we could get food stamps and medicaid. Inflation floats at 3% a year so shouldn’t we get around that for increase?
Guest

Not only do I get very little to live on from DSS to add insult to it all I can not even get food stamps. Lucky for me I can at least go to a food pantry but they only allow 1 bag of food per month. Now the price of food is increasing. We need a president that gives a crap about helping the people that vote in to the office.
Je1babs

They should have to lie on what the average amount a single womanl lives on for the next two yearand see how theylike it. They seem to have no trouble getting a raise every year and crying that they can’t lie on that mount.
Pisces_teddy1962

sad thing is that if any raise comes they gobble most of it up by raising medicare premium also
Wadepatricia31

i have noticed that a lot of ppl are making it Obama’s fault we are in this situation but its not it started with bush and how is the president gonna get anything done when every time he tries to accomplish anything that will help our country and our ppl the republicans block it!!!! They have stopped every idea or proposal that have come their way because why it will cut into their own personal finances!!!!
Jwilliams

If they are going to raise medicare premium they wil have to give us an increase to be
able to pay for it. Times are tight. My husband and I are 75 and 85 years old and retired, but still working part time for a son in law in order to be able to live. I am a retired banker and my husband a retired sales manager but my investment account has gone down so much I hate to draw on it, but my age demands that I do. We are in a catch22
Thestr8man

I paid into Railroad Retirement for 20 years & paid into RR Retirement a the max rate. Then I worked in the private sector for 20 years and for over half that time I was self employed and paid both the employer/employee portions into Social Security. Now I go to sign up for my RR Retirement and Social Security and they tell me NO NO, I can’t draw both. I can only draw on one or the the other, whichever pays the best. They say I can’t “Double Dip”! So—I have to forfeit one or the other. So when you take the earnings of 20 years vs 40 years I get penalized in my entitlements. This is Fair? An Elected official can serve one term in office and get full pay as retirement, This is Fair? That’s the LAW.
Thomas Jefferson said “When injustice becomes law, then rebellion becomes duty.
DWOLLENM

Face it everybody, we are on our own. We are all struggling to make ends meet and I have never considered that the government owed me anything because I have been working for 45 years and have never taken any government handouts like so many have done for generations. The only one who is goig to take care of you is yourself. Stop looking for handouts.
Agape4all

It’s amazing that there are people who think the government providing assistance to people in time of need is a hnd out! The number of people who receive goverment asistance is a very small amount in regards to what the government spends our money on. It is wonderful that you gave 45 years to your career, I myself would have given more. However one day I was feeling like i might be coming down with the flu…a doctor said it was pneumonia and then changed the diagnosis to broncitis. In les than a day I went into cardiac arrest twice and then a coma. I was 38. I have a pacemaker defibulator, a trache a 17 year old and an eight year old. My husband could know longer drive for his employer because he got a pace maker. I worked 20 years and paid taxes should my goverment not help me?
Reflection444

That handout is considered the credits that are due you; ande based on the amount of your earnings. Social Security will use your work history to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits or your family’s eligibility for survivors benefits when you die. I would not consider 45 years employment as a handout; rather that which is owed to you.
Jsulli1122

you must be a moron. The government owes you for your social security deductions they have been taking out your paycheck for 45 years you goof ball idiot.
GH

Groceries alone have increased more than 0.7%. I just got my new rates for my Medicare advantage plan, and eventough the monthly premium did not increase, the physician visit’s rates increase by $5 each and the prescription drug plan increased by $6 on each 90 day supply. Then take into account, we still have to have clothes, necessities, gas. I do believe that my COL as way increased past 0.7%. When the Congress votes they next raise in will they get more than 0.7%? Isn’t it strange how the cost of living hits Congressmen and Senators harder then it does people on Social Security????
NoFreebies

By all means. That is what Welfare and other Government assistance programs were set up for. However, if a person has never worked, continues to have children that they have no intentions of supporting by themselves, and honestly believes that it is the Government’s place to support them then those are the ones that I would also say get “hand-outs”. If a person has paid into the system, by all means get your money’s worth out when you need it.
ObamaNot

Maybe it did start with Bush. However, I am sick to death of hearing “remember where we started from” from the Obama camp. Obama needs to move on and has made NO effort at all to correct the mess he continues to refer to. Bushes days are over, let it rest. Hopefully Obama’s days will be over soon and we can hear a new President scream “Please bear with me, while we get the bulldozers in to clear the mess that Obama left behind”.
ObamaNot

Great minds think alike. It took me 2 1/2 years to get my SSD after working for over 30 years. However, if I had 5 children, by five different daddies, had never worked a day in my life and never intended to, therefore, nevery having paid anything into the system, and was also doing everything you described, I could have gone into the Welfare office and walked out with some type of Government assistant that very day. Fair? I DO NOT THINK SO!!!
Thanks

Why in the world would you not draw your SS Retirement? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Maybe you never knew how to read your pay stub. THAT MONEY BELONGS TO YOU. YOU PAID INTO IT FOR YOUR RETIREMENT. Hand-outs are when people have never worked and paid into the system and the government doles out to them. Let me thank you for on behalf of the Social Security Department for your generous donation.
Mighty49

i had an irrovocable burieal fund for my mom and that cannnot be counted as it is to be used for the funeral expences only i set it up with funeral home and bank it should not be counted agaaint you at all its the law of what can be counted as countable income please check into this further