Penalizing retirees | The Salt Lake Tribune

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The cost-of-living adjustment that seniors on Social Security will receive in January will be 1.7 percent. For me, that's $18.

I appreciate the raise. But I hear some grumbling that seniors got a cost-of-living raise when many employees did not.

For the record, the COLA raise for seniors will not add to the current annual federal budget deficit.

Because my income is below the poverty level, I qualify for a food stamp allotment of $33 per month. However, due to the COLA raise, my allotment will be reduced to $25. That's $8 of the $18 dollars back into Uncle Sam's pocketbook.

Additionally, my cost of Medicare Part B will increase from $99.90 per month to $104.90. There's another five bucks. And so it goes. From HEAT to housing assistance, all will see modifications.

The bean counters in Washington have done an outstanding job of watching out for those who are not retired by penalizing those of us who are.

Mike Sorensen

Salt Lake City