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Why did federal employees receive a cost of living raise
this year when those on SS/SSI did not [seniors/disabled
were told no inflation = no raise.]
Federal employees are scheduled to receive another raise in 2011.
~
It's very simple. Federal employees do not receive raises based on the cost of living and haven't in decades. Their raises are based on the Emplyment Cost Index (ECI) which measures how much wages in the private sector have risen in the past year, not the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation. And in fact, Congress and the President usually reduce it to less than the ECI.
If you want to try to compare apples to apples, then you should compare SS/SSI to federal retirees. And you no doubt will be happy to learn that federal retirees will not be receiving an increase in their monthly annuities this year because those "raises" are based on the CPI, just like Social Security.
It's a very simple system but I'll lay it out again:
Federal employees salaries rise in relation to private sector salaries.
Federal retirees monthly payments rise (or don't rise) using the exact same criteria as Social Security increases.
It's very simple. Federal employees do not receive raises based on the cost of living and haven't in decades. Their raises are based on the Emplyment Cost Index (ECI) which measures how much wages in the private sector have risen in the past year, not the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation. And in fact, Congress and the President usually reduce it to less than the ECI.
If you want to try to compare apples to apples, then you should compare SS/SSI to federal retirees. And you no doubt will be happy to learn that federal retirees will not be receiving an increase in their monthly annuities this year because those "raises" are based on the CPI, just like Social Security.
It's a very simple system but I'll lay it out again:
Federal employees salaries rise in relation to private sector salaries.
Federal retirees monthly payments rise (or don't rise) using the exact same criteria as Social Security increases.
Although, as a SS recepiant, I can put that $250 to good use-------if it is determined the COLI didn't go up, there is no reason whatsoever for those checks.
The US is sending tons of money to Pakistan to help people that hate us. Give it to us blue hairs.
I agree. I don't begrudge helping poorer countries, but we seriously need to take care of our own first. We've got lots of elderly folks out there who can barely pay their medical deductibles or afford medications needed.
It's very simple. Federal employees do not receive raises based on the cost of living and haven't in decades. Their raises are based on the Emplyment Cost Index (ECI) which measures how much wages in the private sector have risen in the past year, not the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation. And in fact, Congress and the President usually reduce it to less than the ECI.
If you want to try to compare apples to apples, then you should compare SS/SSI to federal retirees. And you no doubt will be happy to learn that federal retirees will not be receiving an increase in their monthly annuities this year because those "raises" are based on the CPI, just like Social Security.
It's a very simple system but I'll lay it out again:
Federal employees salaries rise in relation to private sector salaries.
Federal retirees monthly payments rise (or don't rise) using the exact same criteria as Social Security increases.
Additionally, I didn't see any mention in that article about federal retirees who are retired under the Civil Service Retirement System as being included in the legislation - only those individuals receiving Social Security benefits.
I also checked THOMAS (Library of Congress), OpenCongress, and GPO Access for the "Seniors Protection Act of 2010", but could not find the bill. Must be too soon for them to have it available online.
Additionally, I didn't see any mention in that article about federal retirees who are retired under the Civil Service Retirement System as being included in the legislation - only those individuals receiving Social Security benefits.
Yeah, the initial bill usually neglects to include CSRS retirees, but an amendment is invariably added to other legislation to accomplish this. At least that's what has happened in the past.
I am a senior but we need to stop the borrowing and spending. If we get a COLA based on inflation of COL that is fine. But we need to stop deficit spending not increase it.
Remember, everyone drawing Social Security retirement benefits got a $250 stimulus payment in 2009. An identical payment for 2010 was voted down by Congress. So here we go again with this same wastefulness.
Why do I call it wastefulness? Because it goes to all Social Security beneficiaries, which include many who do not need it at all. At the very least it should be means-tested.
I was angry when I received my payment in 2009 - angry at the waste. (And no, there is no provision for refusing it or sending it back.) On the advice of a wise friend, I used that money to buy groceries for four needy families.
The business of the COLA or no COLA sure does raise the issue of the entitlement mentality. It was incredible to hear the seniors on the AARP website moaning and belly-aching about "their" COLA being stolen by the government, or by Obama (who had nothing to do with it). They were so used to getting a COLA every year that they were convinced someone was screwing them over big-time. (Sure, I, too, feel sorry for people who are reduced to surviving on Soc. Sec. alone, but there is such a thing as seeing the big picture, i.e., who is going to pay for it.)
escort Im me and I will give you my address you can mail your $250 to me if you dont want it
escort Im me and I will give you my address you can mail your $250 to me if you dont want it
I understand your sentiment - It must be galling to hear me complaining about getting something which you probably genuinely need. But I am complaining about the unfairness of "helping" those who don't need it. The more waste there is the less is available for legitimate purposes. Don't you agree it should be means tested? And that would be easy to do because the Social Security Administration already has our adjusted gross income on file (from the IRS); that is what they use to determine the amount of the Medicare Part B premium we pay.
Remember, everyone drawing Social Security retirement benefits got a $250 stimulus payment in 2009. An identical payment for 2010 was voted down by Congress. So here we go again with this same wastefulness.
Why do I call it wastefulness? Because it goes to all Social Security beneficiaries, which include many who do not need it at all. At the very least it should be means-tested.
I was angry when I received my payment in 2009 - angry at the waste. (And no, there is no provision for refusing it or sending it back.) On the advice of a wise friend, I used that money to buy groceries for four needy families.
The business of the COLA or no COLA sure does raise the issue of the entitlement mentality. It was incredible to hear the seniors on the AARP website moaning and belly-aching about "their" COLA being stolen by the government, or by Obama (who had nothing to do with it). They were so used to getting a COLA every year that they were convinced someone was screwing them over big-time. (Sure, I, too, feel sorry for people who are reduced to surviving on Soc. Sec. alone, but there is such a thing as seeing the big picture, i.e., who is going to pay for it.)
Escort Rider - now we're on the same wavelength!
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