OMG Lowest since '75
 

The DAILY SUN front page main headline in a LARGE FONT attempts to scare us all with its headline. "SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT BOOST LOWEST SINCE '75"

So what's the problem? It's a false statement. Why would the SUN attempt to scare seniors into thinking they are not getting something we might feel entitled to receive in the worst increase since '75? Continue reading on page 13 and the true statement appears that in fact the raise was zero in two of the last three years while this year it will be 1 to 2 %. Not mentioned in the article is the fact the the COLA adjustment has been under 2% 5 times since 1975 so if the 2012 increase is 2% this would be the sixth lowest boost. I will await the front page correction.

Apparently many other publications are saying the same or similar things as the Sun, including the Huffington Post.

Social Security Benefit Increase 2013 Among The Lowest Since 1975

Social security benefit
 

Scare tactics work on some people -

The Huffington Post and Daily Sun articles are written by Stephen Ohlemacher from Associated Press. So the only difference is the heading the publications chose to use.

Correct, and the Huff Post correctly summarized the information while the SUN printed a misleading vs false headline. The SUN writes its own headline and the author of the article is not the author of the headline nor does he control the editing of the article.

The article I saw in Yahoo finance said there would be an increase of 1.5% to 1.7%. It's nothing to write home about but it's better than nothing.

Here is the first paragraph as written for the AP by Stephen Ohlemacher.

Small 2013 Social Security benefit increase likely

WASHINGTON (AP) — Social Security recipients won't be getting big benefit increases next year, but the small raises they will receive are playing an important role in helping seniors grow their incomes even as younger workers lose ground.

Here is the first paragraph as ??re-written by the SUN
" Social Security recipients shouldn't expect a big increase in monthly benefits "

By omitting the additional information that the original sentence gives regarding seniors incomes increasing while younger workers are seeing a decrease, the tone is certainly altered and the retirees' response to the complete information is likely to be gratitude, while the re-write leaves the retiree feeling negative.

Fox News has the same sentence as the SUN. Perhaps that is the source of this re-write of Mr. Ohlemacher's work. It is also possible (although I have no evidence for this) that the AP released multiple variants of the article.

You are right. However everytime I go to the grocery store or the gas station it doesn't feel like the cost of living only rose a little

SS cola
 

An asute newspaper would report that the cola is based on inflation for the general public and not based on what seniors have to pay. For example health care. IMHO that's the scary part of SS colas....

Most seniors are on a fixed income. right? Does your pension have an escaltor cause based on inflation? With inflation rates the way they are one has to invest in the market where you have risk or take probably a bad deal with an annuity. Just my opinion...

Imho
 

I found the article left a lot to be desired in that it lack a coherent point of view. The view is that somehow seniors were getting a great deal while younger people were suffering due to loss of income. A 1.5% to 1.7% increase is not a lot considering that most seniors SS is there only source of income as I have read in AARP magazine many times.

Younger people can get another job which is not an option for some seniors. Some younger people feel SS won't be there at all when they reach retirement and are paying for senior SS benefits just like we did for the seniors before us. I agree there is a financial crunch the middle class is going through, but to imply that seniors have the better end of the stick is simply not true. We received a 3.6% increase last year that was mostly eaten up by increase in premiums.

This is a gray situation that is being painted as black and white.

The issue is that the CPI isn't the most accurate measure of the change in living costs for seniors. When the CPI was driven by the housing and tech bubbles, seniors actually did really well. Now senior living costs are hurt by the increasing cost of health care, gas (gotta travel to see the kids), and food (wait 'til the real cost of the drought shows up at the meat counter).

So should we argue for a more reflective measure of the CPI - that's a big "Nope." "Entitlement reformers" on both side of the political fence eye CPI changes as a fix to the budget mess. Remember - these "entitlements" are benefits based on taxes that you paid for your entire working life. SSA is a very easy fix and both parties know it (remember, it is one of the few truly regressive taxes - remove the FICA limit and SSA is fixed and those who pay in more will get a larger benefit; but due to how benefits are calculated - this will increase the trust fund).

Medicare is a harder fix and difficult choices will have to be made...and to avoid a political debate...I'm leaving it there.

So enjoy your little COLA and remember - sometimes the squeaky wheel complaining about the COLA may suddenly find that they are left with nothing but an axle and a bill. Silence can be golden.

Apparently it was a wire pick up for The Daily Sun.

Here is the same article on the online CBS news.

Social Security announces benefit increase Tuesday - CBS News

Social Security Increase
 

The Sun constantly prints misinformation and distorded facts
about many issues. You have to understand this is not a
newspaper as most are used to reading. They do not employ news reporters. Rarely do they fact check or seek the truth, opposing opinions or the background of any article that is printed.

I agree; it is more of a "Happy News" newspaper. Doubt if they would print the following....or any other sordid type stuff going on in the vicinity or thereabouts outside the bubble.

Police charge 21 men in Kennebunk prostitution case | SeacoastOnline.com





First 21 names released in Zumba Studio or “Zumbagate” as it’s being called in Kennebunk Maine.



Obviously, this newspaper and others in Maine do print “all the news”.........which as adults, we should be allowed to read, in order to make our own decisions.



A lot of these type “studios” are being sneaked in under the guise of exercise or massage, etc. while surrepticiously being advertised on Craig’s List. We have one here in our own town which took over a retired "responsible legitimate business" spot........and is shocking to everyone. They keep changing their Craig's List ad.


Kennebunk and Kennebunkport are charming little towns on the Maine seacoast.........who would have thunk? The B family are not on the list, as was reported last week.


There will be more names to come.......even though it is only a misdemeanor charge.