Letter to the editor: Inflation and Social Security COLA

Regarding the letter “The Obama-Trump-Biden numbers” (Dec. 2, TribLive): I want to address inflation. It is a fact that the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security recipients is tied to cost of living (inflation). The COLA happens in January of each year, which is based upon the previous year’s inflation number.

Let’s take a look at some numbers. January 2017 COLA (President Obama’s last year) was 0.3%. For President Trump’s last year, January 2021, the number was 1.3%.

The letter-writer stated that Trump’s inflation number, which President Biden inherited, was 7%. If the writer is correct, then all Social Security recipients were shortchanged.

Biden’s COLA for January 2022 was 5.9%, January 2023, 8.7%, and January 2024, 3.2%. According to Google, the inflation rate for 2020 was 1.23%.

I don’t know where the letter-writer got his numbers. I obtained mine from the Social Security administration.

By the way, I am 79 and didn’t need the help of a 6-year-old.

Brian Krupar

Hempfield