Rep. Peters Applauds Long Overdue 3.6% Increase to Social Security Checks for Seniors

Statement

This morning Rep. Gary Peters welcomed news that seniors living on Social Security will receive a long overdue 3.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the first time in two years. During this period with no increase, Rep. Peters has continually fought to put more money back into the pockets of seniors. In one of his first acts as a member of Congress, Peters helped pass the Recovery Act which provided seniors with $250 SSI supplemental checks.

"With grocery prices going up and gas prices constantly fluctuating, this increase to Social Security checks is long overdue and this is why I've continually worked to put more money back into the pockets of seniors," said Congressman Gary Peters. "Providing our seniors with the Social Security checks that they've earned should not be a political issue, and I'm glad that they will finally see an increase in their payments."

In 2009, in anticipation that an automatic COLA increase would not occur in 2010, Peters voted for and helped pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provided a $250 supplement to recipients' checks. Again in 2010 when it became known that there would not be an automatic increase for the second year in a row, Peters co-sponsored legislation to again provide a $250 supplement, but it was defeated in the Senate.

According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the median income level for Seniors in 2008 was just $18,208. During this same year, 3.7 million seniors had family incomes below the federal poverty levels. Additionally nearly 70% of seniors received more than half of their total income from Social Security, so this COLA increase was badly needed.

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