Paul Sassone

Plenty of pain, but no gain.

Getting lost amid the turmoil surrounding President Donald Trump’s actions, pronouncements and tweets is a scam that is hurting millions of Americans.

I’m talking about Social Security. Not that Social Security is a scam as Republicans have been whining since 1935.

No, the scam is the annual increase Social Security recipients receive in monthly benefits.

Which is pretty much nothing.

Someone who obviously hates Social Security and all who receive it — probably some Republican bureaucrat — came up with the bright idea of tying the annual increase in Social Security benefits to the Consumer Price Index. So, when inflation is low, the cost of living increase is low.

In 2014, Social Security benefits rose 1.5 percent; in 2015, 1.7 percent; in 2016, no increase at all.

And in 2017, the increase in Social Security benefits is 0.3 percent.

That is nearly $5 a month on the average monthly benefit of $1,355.

But that’s not miserly enough. The premium for Medicare Part B went up by almost that same $5. So, once again, Social Security recipients get it right in the wallet.

And it matters. Matters to millions of Americans. Receiving Social Security benefits are 60 million retirees, disabled workers and their spouses and children; 4 million disabled veterans; 2.5 million federal retirees and 8 million who receive supplemental security income for the disabled poor.

The Consumer Price Index may contend inflation is low all it wants. But in the real world in which real people have to buy real goods and services costs go nowhere but up. And they don’t go up a meager 0.3 percent.

It’s as if the federal government somehow wants to punish Americans for receiving Social Security.

We know the Republicans feel that way. It’s part of the congressional record that Republican members of Congress are exploring ways to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Even less than 0.3  percent?

Congress needs to find a more realistic metric on which to base increases in Social Security benefits.

Unfortunately, Republicans dominate both houses of Congress.

So, never mind.

–Social Security not increasing fast enough–