The writer of the letter “Who’s going to help senior citizens?” (Nov. 2, TribLive) seems to forget that seniors got an 8.7% cost of living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security payments in 2023, the largest increase in 40 years. While this was not nearly enough for struggling seniors on a fixed budget, especially during the highest inflation rates seen since the 1970s, it was a start. Democrats are trying to tie future COLA increases to inflation, while current fights in Congress limited this year’s increase to 3.2%. If Republicans had gotten their way, there would have been a decrease.
Keep in mind that the budget fight is still not over and Republicans are looking for ways to substantially cut Medicare and Social Security. These are programs that all Americans have paid into over their working careers. Unfortunately, Congress has at times appropriated those funds for other purposes and now is trying to gaslight Americans into thinking the system is broken. Removing the current cap of approximately $160,000 on annual wages would do much to fix the shortfall.
Republicans are doing everything in their power to take these benefits away from us. Don‘t listen to their fear mongering!
Elizabeth Veronica Weaver
Hempfield