Bad News On Social Security

fred, Social Security recipients aren't going to get a cost-of-living adjustment next year – even though their health expenses are rising fast. It's up to Congress to make sure 41 million seniors get the help they need to make ends meet! Tell Congress to address this critical issue for seniors. I have some bad news for 41 million seniors who depend on Social Security. For the first time in 35 years, seniors are not expected to receive a cost-of-living adjustment, the yearly increase that helps them make ends meet and keep up with rising prices. This is a serious problem – and unless Congress acts, millions of seniors will see their checks stay flat – or even reduced – while the costs of prescription drugs, utilities and health care continue to climb fast. Tell Congress to make sure that seniors get the help they deserve – and the Social Security relief they need – as soon as possible. The official measure of inflation – the consumer price index – has not increased in this weak economy while the things seniors need most have continued to increase in price. The reality is that the bad economy this year has hit seniors particularly hard. They spend an average of $4,400 out of pocket every year on health care alone. With home values dropping, losses in the stock market, and low returns on interest bearing accounts, it's no wonder that more Americans are counting on the promise of Social Security. In these times, many seniors have been forced to look for new jobs to find additional sources of income. But in this job market, it takes about 30 weeks for unemployed seniors to find a job. It's in tough economies like this one that seniors need Social Security the most. We need to demand that Washington address the problem of no cost of living adjustment and provide at least modest relief for seniors. Tell your members of Congress to act now to ensure that this is not the first year America's seniors don't get an automatic Social Security adjustment. I believe Congress can, and must, address this problem – and I believe they will. Once they've heard from you. Thanks for your help in making sure that Social Security continues to deliver on its promise to our nation's seniors. Sincerely, Barry Jackson AARP Online Advocacy Manager AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over www.aarp.org/about_aarp/aarp_overview/a20021218aarpmission.html Visit AARPs Politics & Advocacy page at www.aarp.org/makeadifference/politics/ to learn more about AARP legislative activities. AARP Membership: Join/Renew at www.aarp.org/join/ Make a donation today to AARP and help us ensure the voices of our 40 million members are heard in the nations capital and state capitals across the country.