We all need to act now because Congress and the Obama administration are talking about changing the measure of inflation for Social Security benefits by using what is called a chained Consumer Price Index. This chained CPI proposal significantly changes how cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, are determined in the future.
This fancy Washington, D.C., term means cutting Social Security benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years. For example, a veteran with severe disabilities who starts a claim at age 30, could see his or her veterans benefits reduced by more than $3,000 by the time he or she reaches 65. And once you add in Social Security benefits, a veteran could lose as much as $32,000 in total benefits by the time he or she reaches 90. This to me is a unfair and stiff price to ask of anyone who has risked their life for our nation.
Seniors as well as veterans are at risk so write your congressman or congresswoman and tell them that our benefits are not an “entitlement” or a “handout.” These are benefits due to us, and paid for by us. The power of the pen can be your weapon to fight this battle now.
Marlin Dunlap
Vancouver
