Just a waste
By me
@dfollin (27267)
United States
December 20, 2019 8:00am CST
As most of you know I am receiving a social security check. And next month we get our annual raise! It used to be I would receive a fair amount. They compose, print and send out letter's to each recipient , which cost money.
Plus they put the amounts on the phone recording.
However now, the raise is not as much as it was in the past.
. Then the recording also say's that the Medicare Part B cost is going up too! That wipes out the cost of living raise right there. Plus I also got a letter from Medicare office telling me this. More cost!
Then I get a letter from the Depart of Human Developement which tells me that my Food Stamps are going down also!. So that makes me behind even more.
But my bills have gone up!!!!!! Rent and utilities! As well as the price of food.
Earlier this month I got an email from Social Security telling me that I have a message in my box on my Social Security online page. Well they had paid someone to do the necessary work to build this website that cost money. Then they paid people to post my message on there and more time for them to send me an email telling me so.
Then I go to the website and it won't let me log in, so I click the link saying that I forgot my password and it takes me to a page that says that they need to send me in the mail a code. More paper, postage and time paying someone to do it.
So I got it in the mail on Saturday. I tried to log in and it still wouldn't let me. So Monday morning I call them and am told that I have to wait to get a second letter to come with a temporary password........ more paper, postage and money to pay a person to do it.
I was asking the person what's the point of the raise? She said that's what she has been saying too.
Plus they put the amounts on the phone recording.
However now, the raise is not as much as it was in the past.. Then the recording also say's that the Medicare Part B cost is going up too! That wipes out the cost of living raise right there. Plus I also got a letter from Medicare office telling me this. More cost!
Then I get a letter from the Depart of Human Developement which tells me that my Food Stamps are going down also!. So that makes me behind even more.
But my bills have gone up!!!!!! Rent and utilities! As well as the price of food.
Earlier this month I got an email from Social Security telling me that I have a message in my box on my Social Security online page. Well they had paid someone to do the necessary work to build this website that cost money. Then they paid people to post my message on there and more time for them to send me an email telling me so.
Then I go to the website and it won't let me log in, so I click the link saying that I forgot my password and it takes me to a page that says that they need to send me in the mail a code. More paper, postage and time paying someone to do it.
So I got it in the mail on Saturday. I tried to log in and it still wouldn't let me. So Monday morning I call them and am told that I have to wait to get a second letter to come with a temporary password........ more paper, postage and money to pay a person to do it.
I was asking the person what's the point of the raise? She said that's what she has been saying too.8 people like this
8 responses
@porwest (112717)
• United States
21 Dec 19
This is NOT to make light of anyone's situation. But simply to serve as a reminder to especially our young people. Social Security IS NOT, and was NEVER intended to be a retirement check. It was intended to be a SUPPLEMENT to one who reaches retirement age to pensions and life savings.
I am not sure how you came to the determination that the raise is less than in the past. 2019 was the highest raise since 2012, and in 2015 the raise was zero.
I feel for your situation. But I think a lot of people misunderstand that you are not supposed to expect to live on social security alone in retirement. It's just not what it was ever intended to be. I mostly blame the government for not being clearer to people what social security actually is. As a result people spend everything they have, don't save near enough for retirement, and then find themselves woefully shocked when they make their claim.
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
22 Dec 19
@dfollin Clearly you are missing my point. I never have said that people are not ENTITLED to collect from a system that they paid into. What the point is that the system that these people paid into and are entitled to collect ARE NOT and WERE NOT intended to be all you would have to live on. Granted, SSI is a LITTLE different in that people on it have generally lost their ability to continue to work. But the premise remains the same. SSI and Social Security Retirement Benefits were never intended to be the sole income in either situation. Only a supplement to other savings and retirement plans that the individual otherwise contributed to.
Take it from my perspective for a moment if you will. I also lose money in a sense since (not so much for SSI or Social Security) I have to pay more taxes to cover all of these food stamps and rental assistance programs and energy assistance programs out there. I am not saying I do not support them for those who NEED the assistance. But statistically there are A LOT of people on these programs that could otherwise get these needs taken care of on their own, but they choose not to.
What I am more interested in is the government taking more care and time to EXPLAIN to people what these benefits ARE. Because too many people are confused by what they are. When I hear someone say, "This is not enough to live on," I can't help but call them out and remind them that you are not supposed to be able to live on it. Not it's intention. Never was. Never will be. I think it does a great disservice to people exactly like you who were confused about what these benefits were before you had to collect them. Had you known what these benefits were for before you had to, you would probably be in a different situation, and would be more grateful that these programs even exist when you wind up in a situation where your ability to earn is slashed for whatever reason.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
20 Dec 19
Unfortunately, there are people who either can't or won't use a phone, can't or won't rely on the computer for this type of correspondence (even if they have a computer) and would much prefer the paper statement. However, the aforementioned offices could save / cut money by NOT sending the paper to those who are comfortable with receiving this info digitally / electronically.
I think that the government needs to re-think / re-work whatever algorithm they use to determine the raises that people witth SSI and SSD get.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86569)
• United States
20 Dec 19
I have a great idea! Let Social Security get the politicians’ raise percentage, and let the politicians live on SSI.
2 people like this
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
21 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Exactly!!!!! They think we have it so great, lets see them do it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
20 Dec 19
@FourWalls Right? Those politicians definitely need a pay cut! Let them live on the wages they expect the retired and disabled to live on!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86569)
• United States
20 Dec 19
I’d like to know how their cost of living isn’t going up.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
22 Dec 19
No it didn't. Mine comes down to where I am getting $2 less then I did last year! But my rent went up $80 then the person living with me left and now I am paying their have too. Plus utility rates and food, etc have gone up.
And now I cannot even go to the doctor
But my rent went up $80 then the person living with me left and now I am paying their have too. Plus utility rates and food, etc have gone up.
And now I cannot even go to the doctor
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
20 Dec 19
Where I live I get state aid to help with my Medicare costs because I'm on Medicaid and Medicare. You don't have anything like that?
My foodshare went up one dollar and is still quite low.
I always have that trouble with the Social Security site.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
22 Dec 19
Yes we have here where medicaid would pay my Part B. But the first month they did not process it right. I received a letter from social services that Medicaid will pick up the Part B but I still would have to pay the 20%. So I called the Socail Security office to make sure they were not going to take the $135 from my check or I wouldn't have money for my rent and utilities, They said they would have to wait till they got the notification from Medicaid themselves. Well my check was $135 short and I was short on my rent and utilities! I got it back in 2 two days after that but my rent was still late.Then it has to be re certified every 6 months. The worker sent me the paper and it was different that any of the other things I had got from them. I called her and she said it was just a form that she sent to me by accident and I didn't need to fill it out and send it back. Then a few months later I get a notice on how I was being cut off because I didn't return the form. I called her she said she never said that and she was going to send me a new form, which I never got. I called her again, never got the next form. Called her again she told me that I had to call and process it on phone directly at medicaid. I called and they didn't have access to that line so I had to do it like it was reapplying all over again. This was on October 29th! So, whenever they decide to not send something, not do what they are supposed to, I could be $144 short on paying my rent! Even tho my rent and utilities are a lot higher I still have to pay the 20% and my food stamps are lowered!
I got it back in 2 two days after that but my rent was still late.Then it has to be re certified every 6 months. The worker sent me the paper and it was different that any of the other things I had got from them. I called her and she said it was just a form that she sent to me by accident and I didn't need to fill it out and send it back. Then a few months later I get a notice on how I was being cut off because I didn't return the form. I called her she said she never said that and she was going to send me a new form, which I never got. I called her again, never got the next form. Called her again she told me that I had to call and process it on phone directly at medicaid. I called and they didn't have access to that line so I had to do it like it was reapplying all over again. This was on October 29th! So, whenever they decide to not send something, not do what they are supposed to, I could be $144 short on paying my rent! Even tho my rent and utilities are a lot higher I still have to pay the 20% and my food stamps are lowered!1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
20 Dec 19
I agree with you 150% That raise was gone before we received it.
1 person likes this
