Comments on: Why Seniors—Not CEOs—Deserve a Raise

By: Ms Michael

Ms Michael — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:58:00 +0000

In reply to DHFabian. Something to consider...

By: Ms Michael

Ms Michael — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 08:50:00 +0000

And do not advise me to move “somewhere else”. I already live as far out in the “back of beyond” as I can manage and STILL retain access to the various physicians / specialists I MUST see.

I do not “qualify” for housing assistance in my state, as I am a single, white female. I have been on the list for over a decade. I was informed that families with children and mothers with children are placed first. So no help there….

Also in Southern California this is little to no mass transit / public transportation. I am physically incapable of walking a mile to reach the closest bus stop, to say nothing of riding on a bus for any length of time (unable to adjust the seats).

By: Ms Michael

Ms Michael — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 08:40:00 +0000

I *live* (use the term loosely) in Southern California on $857.00 from Social Security Disability. I deal with multiple autoimmune diseases ( lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, pustular psoriatic arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, et al) due to these diseases I have suffered multiple myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), lost a significant portion of my sight and have RA / Sjogren’s related damage to my mouth, throat and teeth. BTW… The damage to my spine from the psoriatic pustular arthritis and repeated surgical interventions has left me almost immobile.

On $857 TOTAL I cannot find so much as a Studio apartment. Let alone some place that is transversible for someone physically handicapped. The average rental price is $1,500. a month for a one bedroom apartment.( $1,200 a month for a one bedroom if your willing to share with 500,000 roaches / vermin.) I rent a ROOM for $600 a month. I don’t eat much. That’s another problem, I suffer from a gastrointestinal autoimmune inflammatory condition known as Celiac Disease… So I cannot have eat any food containing wheat, rye or barley. So, getting food from an average Food Pantry isn’t possible for me, as most are processed and contain some form of wheat or wheat by-product. Purchasing food that meets my dietary restrictions would mean shelling out approximately $5 -$7 for a 12 slice loaf of bread made from alternative flours…

Then there are all the medications and the co-pays….

With my various and sundry diseases and conditions, all of my doctors warn me that STRESS worsens them, and will shorten my life.

At times it is hard not to believe that there isn’t a governmental mandate to “decrease the surplus population” by making day -to-day living nearly impossible for those of us who are old, ill, abandoned or poor.

By: DougGiebel

DougGiebel — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:11:00 +0000

Fifteen years ago, this single so-called “senior” was forced by circumstances beyond his control to take early Social Security in order to survive. My annual income including SSI supplemental payments is $7668. Fortunately my impoverished situation means I get SNAP and a discount on my property taxes, Medicaid plus vital heating assistance in our chilly Montana winters. The $581 one-time proposed surprise payment would cover my back debts, a vital benefit. Before returning to my home town (I own my house here), I lived in midtown Manhattan in Section 8 housing. Without government secure assistance, how many more citizens would be destitute or homeless? When our well-off politicians address “my fellow citizens,” they are not speaking to nor have they much understanding of those for whom a car breakdown, an accident, an illness or even the most trivial set-back can mean severe hardship, descent into debilitating depression. How many elected officials have have needed to filch toilet paper from a public restroom and take it home for family use? While the proposed one-time payment boost is important, we might propose raising the monthly Social Security and SSI payments for those surviving (as I and many others do) on LESS THAN the average $1340 a month (almost twice my monthly income). From years of experience, I know that even a raise of $200 a month would be a blessing. At every level, our politicans who dismiss the poor as lazy, shiftless “takers” spend little or no time in the company of those in need. How many candidates currently running so hard to be President of the United States have devoted any campaign trail time to meeting with and getting to know those below the valued “middle class,” as Bobby Kennedy did during his too-brief moment in the sun? And yet, so many of us Down-and-Outers still try to lead productive lives. I am leading a rural non-profit organization aimed at creating a significant after-school program and cultural center — at no salary, because any funding and all donations must go into the project. The “pitiful poor” vote, and many more would vote if they believed politicians cared about their existence. Fortunately we have Elizabeth Warren and (too few) others who are trying to lead the nation out of the darkness of neglect.
Doug Giebel
Big Sandy, MT
dougcatz(at)itstriangle(dot)com

By: Mike Pfrang

Mike Pfrang — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:44:00 +0000

Poor seniors need help, but so do the working poor, especially those trying to support families, and there are a lot more of them. Let’s worry about them first, before giving a lot of worry and lip service to a whole lot of senior like me who are doing just fine at least financially. (I’ll take a handicap parking sticker for bum knees and a bad back).

By: liberalsuit

liberalsuit — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 19:13:00 +0000

This is not something I would have expected from Sen. Warren. She usually is more focused on addressing underlying structural challenges. In the case of SSA for example, addressing the existing income cap of $118,500 subject to payroll tax withholding to grow the fund makes sense. Doing this would potentially permit increased benefits or enable some adjustment to the withholding rate. This would benefit employees and small business owners. Also data used to consider COLA adjustments make no sense when considering the expenses of senior citizens. Income cap and COLA that considers seniors’ expenses should be a top priority, not a one time payment that is shortsighted and not worthy of a thoughtful consideration of the challenges facing Social Security

By: DHFabian

DHFabian — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 18:07:00 +0000

In reply to elaine stenzel. Would it be possible to move to more affordable housing, or obtain budgeting assistance? I know that some areas are very expensive, and when you retire, it's necessary to scale back. How much money is necessary for adequate food and shelter? We said that former welfare recipients, with benefits in the $400 to $500 per month range nationwide, were living so well that they enjoyed steak dinners and designer clothes.

By: DHFabian

DHFabian — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:59:00 +0000

Social Security provides retirement, disability and survivors’ benefits. Let’s hear what Elizabeth Warren has to say about Social Security Disability — an issue that Democrats carefully avoid ever since Bill Clinton took the first steps to “reform” it.

By: Juan D. Berrios

Juan D. Berrios — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:57:00 +0000

Besides, Seniors spend their money locally, CEO’s stash it in Gran Cayman or Switzerland!

By: elaine stenzel

elaine stenzel — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:20:00 +0000

I am a senior and we are living like paupers,there is one to two days set a side with no meat,no veggies.we can’t afford them,and than they freeze our social security,It’s like ,oh well just suck it in,and live with it.I am tired of always being hungry ,i shouldn’t have to live like this.