Older adults express tempered enthusiasm about Social Security increase
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Gary Gorby, of Waynesburg, said the price of groceries has skyrocketed, and he无毛视频檚 hopeful the Social Security benefits increase, while overdue, will offset the cost of food.
A group of friends discuss the Social Security benefits package over lunch at the Washington Senior Center Thursday afternoon. From left are David Fisher, Lee Alexas, Mary Comfort, Wilma Desmond and Helen Frabell. (Photos by Katherine Mansfield)
Katherine Mansfield
David Fisher, of Washington, said the Social Security benefits package is helpful, but doesn无毛视频檛 take into account the full extent of inflation on cost of living.
Katherine Mansfield
Lee Alexas, of Washington, is pleased with the Social Security benefits increase, but worries the changes to Medicare do not go far enough in helping older adults afford medications.
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Last week无毛视频檚 news of the largest Social Security benefits increase in decades was met with tempered enthusiasm by area older adults.
无毛视频淚 could buy a new car with that,无毛视频� Bob Rhome, of Washington, joked. 无毛视频淎nything is helpful today, with the price of everything.无毛视频�
Helen Frabell, also of Washington, shared Rhome无毛视频檚 sentiment.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 excited. Every little bit of money helps me,无毛视频� she said.
Frabell and friends discussed the Social Security package 无毛视频� which includes a 3% decrease for Medicare Part B premiums and no increase for other premiums 无毛视频� over lunch at the Washington Senior Center Thursday, and debated its real-world application.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檒l take a lot more than that to help me,无毛视频� said Lee Alexas, a Washington native who said she spends hundreds of dollars monthly on diabetes and other medications for her health issues. 无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 like Medicare. They claim there无毛视频檚 so much help out there for the diabetes, but where无毛视频檚 it at? It seems like everything I get is so expensive. We need more help in Medicare. Two hundred dollars isn无毛视频檛 going to help much at all.无毛视频�
Though frustrated by the cost of medications, Alexas said her prescriptions would be more expensive without insurance, and she appreciates Medicare despite its perceived faults.
David Fisher, of Washington, applauded the Medicare move.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 actually good the Medicare didn无毛视频檛 go up. The Medicare went up last year and Social Security went up last year, and they just basically canceled out,无毛视频� he said.
But Fisher, while appreciative of an additional chunk of change each Social Security payday, wonders if the increase is enough.
无毛视频淭he COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) only takes into account your basic needs and the increase of the basic needs. It doesn无毛视频檛 really take into account the increase of your overall life if you无毛视频檙e an active person. That无毛视频檚 why it无毛视频檚 only a drop in the bucket,无毛视频� Fisher said. 无毛视频淭he prices of everything went up 20%, and we无毛视频檙e going to get 8.7%. It is helpful, but it would be awfully helpful if the economy wasn无毛视频檛 tanking.无毛视频�
Fisher conceded the increase will certainly help offset some costs, like groceries and gas.
Gary Gorby, a Waynesburg resident who spent Thursday afternoon shopping at Tanger Outlets in South Strabane, said the extra money will most impact him in the grocery bill department.
无毛视频淲hat you used to spend, you carry two bags out and spend the same amount after the hike,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淎t least the extra money from the increase will help out buying a few extra things.无毛视频�
For Gorby, the benefits increase is welcome but overdue.
无毛视频淚t should无毛视频檝e been done a long time ago,无毛视频� said Gorby, whose wife, too, receives Social Security benefits. 无毛视频淵ou figure what a person puts in through their whole lifetime of working, and you get piddle back.无毛视频�
Both Mary Comfort and Wilma Desmond, who spent Thursday afternoon at the Washington Senior Center, echoed other area adults无毛视频� sentiments, stating the benefits increase is welcome news.
Whether the changes go far enough in helping older adults navigate the rising costs of living or not, one thing does seem unanimous: Every penny counts.
无毛视频淲ill it have an impact on people? Absolutely. Is it needed? Absolutely. It benefits those who need it most and will help pay the bills, the heat, the things they need to live their lives,无毛视频� said Bruce McDowell, a Washington resident who serves as board secretary for Food Helpers.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 not trying to make a statement on policy. Those that live on, depend on, Social Security, this is a wonderful help in times that are difficult.无毛视频�