Millions face shrinking Social Security payments - are you doing just fine with what you are getting?

I am glad this question was asked for reader contributions. We are a

couple who are not doing fine. We were below the rung of the system

before a couple of costs of living increases changed things. It was just

enough to drop the major amount of food stamps we had been re-

ceiving to a meek amount, that is hardly worth the trouble of allotting.

We never have enough money to meet everything. So it is a choice

each month of which to pay. We rely on as many food boxes we

qualify to get each month. And these contain so very little we can

actually use. We can only eat just so many cans of beans. And they

are high in natural sugars, which is bad for a diabetic.

If we have to pay for Medicare and aren't the users of it, this would

be a very unjust government to enforce this. We both qualify for

veterans care and we will continue to use it. Even though personel

has been cut in half, as well as some of their programs. We do find

tht the VA system is filled with errors and we have to oversee our

health care, and make sure things are carried out, that are requested.

Often one department will not connect with another and health care

is often incompetant. Which causes delayed treatments, and

continued aggravation for it's members. I believe the staff who re-

main are over worked and becoming forgetful of their duties. So we

have to be aware, and remind them, if necessary. At least, our

medications are filled and we don't have to go without. And for that,

it is a blessing.

I read that article in the local paper this morning. I intend to start collecting SS next year. I made too much this year but will be 66 next Aug. I have never believed that I could live on just SS and won't have a pension, just a 401K, need I say more?. In view of that I intend to continue working until I'm at least 70 health permitting.

We also plan to relocate to an area that has a much lower cost of living so that our income will go a little further.

I've watched annual COL increases for some time and noted that several items that no one can do without have been taken out of the COL figures so the annual increase appears to be lower. Also, as pointed out in the article, while the benefit may not go down, the gov't is free to increase additional premiums while results in lower net benefit.

This leads me to doubt that any gov't program can be relied on to provide what is originally intended, read national health care.

The monthly payments will not drop but the net dollar will. COLA is based on the previous years economy and since the economy is as bad as it is then there won't be any COLA increase in Social security benefits. Senior citizens should be aware that it is Obama who is responsible regardless on whether he inherited it or not. I wonder how many senior citizens supported and voted for Obama not to mention those at poverty level who did the same. Obama made a blunder when he bailed out the banks, corporations, and automakers. Imagine how much 700 billions of dollars could have help the poor and middle class to get them out of debt.

We are doing fine. Neither hubby or I are on Medicare or Medicaid. He almost lives at the VA they give him so many appts. I pay out of pocket as I don't have medical insurance. I may go to the doctor once every six months as I do for the dentist. Hubby gets a bill once a month from the VA hospital, he has no chance of dying, ever, the VA will see to that. Poppy

Thank God that I am not totally dependent of Social Security. The current conditions can be changed but the powers that be will not change them. We are exactly where they wish for us to be. Are we going to get much worse and then grab at what ever is offered to us ? The masses will and that is a certainty.

I heard something about it yesterday and I read the "Complete Article" today!

What I find interestingly amusing....BESIDES that AZZHOLE Senator saying Seniors need to learn, "They CAN'T ALWAYS have what they WANT"!

Congress says there is NO Inflation (Inflation tied to Interest rates) Of course there IS...Isn't food going up EVERY DAY, isn't it more EXPENSIVE to by Normal household Items?

Just BECAUSE the Congress is KEEPING Interest rates LOW, ON PURPOSE....DON'T TELL ME WE ARE NOT HAVING INFLATION!

TO HELL WITH CONGRESS!!

Lets just KEEP an Eye on "IF THEY GET A RAISE THIS YEAR! I'll bet you they DO and I'll bet you, it's kept VERY QUIET!!

AGAIN, we NEED to Dump ALL the Incumbents....it DIDN'T work in 2008!!

I already 30% lower then the min poverty level for the USA how much more can they cut as for me there be real 10% inflation this year no mater what the cola says

Allegedly, COLA's were to be suspended for the next two years. In light of this alleged proposal, it seems many of us will resort to other service agencies to fill in the gap. Where there are no services to assist, we will tighten out belts and make do, as always.

They aren't taking money away from us, they are stalling a cost of living increase for the next two years.

We don't have insurance, it's doubtful we ever apply or use Medicare. Both of us have a valid distrust of the medical profession.

We're doing well with what is received.

i hope they dont. the elderly and veterans have put in their 44 years of hard work and paid into s.s. the problem is in the 18 to 30 year olds that claim a disabilty. SS pays young people who have never worked because their over weight, ld/ed, have a mental problem or have a minor health problem(backpain, limb pain, or r missing an arm/leg)