On November 29, 2023

Government should equalize Social Security hikes

 

Dear Editor,

The better off get better off and the less fortunate get less fortunate. Every year the Social Security Administration (SSA) gives us elder people on Social Security a cost-of-living increase, or COLA. It is always in the form of a percentage increase.

I’ve been on Social Security for over 10 years and this is the way it is always done. Also, SSA deducts the fee for being on Medicare. Sometimes it goes up and like last year it dropped a little. But here is the problem. According to the SSA, the average Social Security recipient receives a little over $1,800 per month and they state that the 3.2% we are going to get this year amounts to around $59.

Well, if we are supposed to be helping those who are less fortunate, we aren’t. A person getting, let’s say, $1,200 per month will only receive about $38 more while someone who receives $2,400 per month will receive about $77 more per month. Now who do you suppose could use more money, the upper earner or someone struggling to pay the light bill? This has been going on every year since I’ve been receiving Social Security and the gap between those less fortunate and those better off has done nothing but widen.

What should be done is to establish what the average increase would be for the average Social Security receiver, this year about $59, and give the same increase to every recipient equally. For instance, this year lower and higher amount recipients would each get around $59. Wouldn’t this be fair? It wouldn’t cost the country any more money to do this and after many years there might be a more equitable result.

Jon Filion,

Salisbury

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Before school budget talks turn to slashing expenses

November 20, 2024
By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the owner and publisher of the Addison Independent, a sister paper of the Mountain Times.  With 2024-25 education property tax rate hikes well into double digits last year, it’s little doubt school boards will be primed for holding costs to a minimum for their upcoming budgets. Already…

Keep pets safe this trapping season

November 20, 2024
Dear Editor, The recreational trapping season in Vermont begins on the fourth Saturday of October each year and lasts through March 31st. For some animals, like otters and beavers, this season lasts for five long months. There are no limits on the number of animals a trapper may kill or on the number of traps…

‘You belong here’

November 20, 2024
Dear Editor, A Latin teacher from junior high school once told me that the word “trivia” comes from roots, meaning three roads. The idea was that people would come together where roads meet to exchange small pieces of information — trivia. Here in Vermont, we certainly swap news on street corners, and I’ve had my…

Welcoming new Americans will strengthen Vt’s economy

November 20, 2024
By Mike Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer As Vermont’s Treasurer, I am committed to growing Vermont’s economy and building a more inclusive future for our state. To keep our economy on a positive track, we must address our demographic challenges and grow our workforce. I regularly hear from employers about the difficulty of finding workers —…