Xenia Stathakopoulou
Senior HTF Member
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- Xenia
Im asking because my father, received his social security check this month from the USA, and it was 300 dollars less than what it usually is !!!
Originally Posted by Tony Zannikos
The col ??? Can you explain???
This is incorrect. SS payments, by law, CANNOT be reduced after an SS contributor starts collecting benefits. It is true that SS payments are tied to the cost of living (as represented by the U.S. consumer price index) - but only in the form of automatic increases when the CPI goes up. If the CPI goes DOWN, SS beneficiaries simply don't get an increase. But their benefits are not reduced in proportion to the dip in the CPI. Believe me, if that were happening you'd be hearing the screams where you are now. The mere fact that there won't be any COLA (cost-of-living allowance) increase for 2010 and 2011 due to deflation has already raised howls of protest. An actual reduction in benefits would never be tolerated, even if it were legal, which it isn't.Yes SS payments, by law, are based on the cost of living. The COL went down this year because of the recession.
From the Social Security Administration website:Originally Posted by Tony Zannikos
Thanks Joe, might you have their phone number??? I have a 1800 number, but it doesnt work here in greece.
Originally Posted by JonZ
Unless youre a member of Congress.
Originally Posted by Joseph DeMartino ) So "unless you're a member of Congress" doesn't really apply to what I said about COLA.
Obviously I did not know that. Thanks for the correction.Actually salaries for members of Congress are subject to COLAs