Wednesday October 14, 2009, 10:02 pm
The Social Security Administration preparing to announce Thursday that there would be no cost-of-living raise in 2010.

Social Security benefits are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year. But by law, benefits cannot decline. This would be the first time benefits have not increased since 1975, when cost-of-living adjustments became automatic.

Obama's proposal, announced Wednesday, calls for a one-time payment sometime next year. It would be equivalent to about 2% of the annual benefit for the average Social Security retiree, senior administration aides said, and would also go to Supplemental Security Income recipients, veterans, railroad retirees and government retirees. Each person would be eligible for just one $250 payment, even if he or she qualified under more than one program.

Although the White House characterized the $250 as an "economic recovery payment," officials insisted this was not the first step toward a second stimulus program. The original $787-billion Recovery Act, approved in February, included payments of $250 to seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Republicans have sharply criticized the economic stimulus for driving up the deficit without bringing down unemployment.

Economists said a second round of $250 checks to those largely on fixed incomes would give a measurable but relatively small and temporary boost to the economy. Many analysts worry that sluggish consumer spending could derail the recovery next year.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 12:03 am
1)... Why is the benefit no longer linked to inflation?

2)... Is $4.81pw enough to compensate?

Li'l ol' Australia handed out $AUI,400 (pa) to pensioners but that wasn't enough...How on earth does anyone living on a goverment income and then pension justify such a slap in the face to US pensioners?

Thursday October 15, 2009, 12:56 am
kat== Thanks for this article. As perhaps only a few of you know, I work in the area of selling credit monitoring services to businesses. They get our service to monitor the financial health and risk of their business partners--clients, vendors, etc.(www.crmz.com)
One of the scenarios being presented in higher analytical circles is that the next crash will come in commercial real estate pretty soon. Banks are simply not really lending much anymore for this, so financing new construction is next to impossible. Also retail stores are closing unprofitable branch locations like crazy, and the reduction in local tax revenues that results also depresses local economies everywhere.Payments like this are a drop in the bucket towards recovery.
My view is that only socializing large segments of the economy will lead us out==this is radically different than most of my co-workers of course, but I know from experience that behind the economic figures lies a deeper personal pain shared by way more than 10 percent of the people who are officially unemployed. Our leaders need to encourage fiscal responsibility and also push edcation, a long=time boost to the economy always and jobs right now, and all sorts of jobs at that.

Thanks for posting this!

Thursday October 15, 2009, 6:58 am
This is good news for those on Social Security, especially in light of the fact there will be no COLA, and that has not happened in decades. But, there are also others that are unemployed still, may not be able to find a job yet, and also need something to help them. So many of us are in such a difficult position, from the weak economy, to the unemployed, the bankrupt people, those losing homes and living in tent communities... it is just not only to the point of being outraged at all of this, but also very sad to see our nation in such dire straits.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 7:15 am
There hasn't been a COLA freeze since it was established! They site that inflation is in the negative due to decreased energy costs!! I (disabled) and most seniors don't drive enough to appreciate those savings. And the food & sundries costs that skyrocketed when energy was high, DIDN'T lower with those energy costs. And the utility companies sure haven't lowered their rates. In fact, in Northeast Ohio, FirstEnergy decided they're going to distribute 2 compact fluorescent bulbs to each customer, then charge them monthly for three years to cover the cost of the bulbs AND recover the revenue lost due to the energy saving from those two light bulbs! And, even if you're like me that uses only these bulbs, you can't opt out! The social Security COLA formula needs to be ammended! Times have changed since 1975!

Thursday October 15, 2009, 7:18 am
SOCIAL SECURITY ...
SOME are THERE due to INJURY that EMPLOYERS should BE COMPENSATING and
ARE BEING VIOLATED FURTHER by a meager amount, left IN POVERTY... !

$674 month... SSI for example.
SEVERAL NOTCHES BELOW POVERTY
to the INJURED VICTIMIZED CRIPPLED LIFE of a USA company INJURY
and too often in the USA the CORRUPTED company and the CORRUPTION go on!
and on!
and on and on! AND OTHERS ARE VIOLATED.
or at times "THE GREAT COVER UP" by DIRTY USA companies begin.
and THE VIOLATED are even MORE ABUSED and TREACHEROUSLY WRONGED.

$250? ___doesn't BEGIN to PAY the NEEDS
let alone cover that ANGUISH of BEING VICTIMIZED.

--->FOR the other recipients of SOCIAL SECURITY
it varies.

SOME are THE
"I don't care what happens/happened to ANYONE ELSE! I have my $$$!"
SOME are those of the
"SO WHAT! SO WHAT some are VIOALTED WITH INJURY by USA companies! SO WHAT! WHO CARES that they ARE LEFT IN POVERTY! I don't! I pay my BILLS!" right, and fortunately though SUCH A CRUEL AND DEMENTED VILE existence of a person THAT DID NOT HAVE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP or VOLENCE or OTHER PERILS.
BRAGGARTS of THEIR OWN "ENTITLEMENTS" and their CLEAR DISDAIN for others!

THERE ARE THE
"LIVING IN POVERTY! $674 a month!!! and this is the USA!
WHAT A SHAMEFUL country!
AND IT REFUSES TO GO AFTER USA companies that put how many there!!!
WHAT a country the USA has turned out to be!"
People FED UP with the VICTIMIZATION of even strangers!!!
GOOD WILL PEOPLE.

there are those
"EVERY RAPED VICTIM DESERVES IMMEDIATE "DISABILITY STATUS"
UNTIL RECOVERY for that ORDEAL is 100%...
NO MATTER HOW LONG that TAKES!!!
THE USA PAYS!!! OWES the VICTIMS for NOT doing MORE to PROTECT THEM!
FOR ONE THING more LAW on the SENTENCING OF THE CRIMINAL RAPISTS!
NEVER PAROLE THEM!!!
NEVER!!!
FOR ANOTHER THING THE USA SURE HAS NOT SUPPLIED HEALING to THE VICTIMS!
ANOTHER DEBT OWED to THE VICTIMS OF RAPE across all the USA!!!
NO DOUBT it is the USA owes the VICTIMS of RAPE!!!
and
THAT COMPENSATION... THAT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AT FULL IN FULL paid by USA,
and
MONTHLY SSI, SSA whatever IT IS... PAY IT!!!
TREAT THE VICTIMS WITH RESPECT!
R
E
S
P
E
C
T
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and get that VILE RAPIST in PRISON for life no parole
make that one PAY for the CRIMES too!!!
THE USA CONTINUE TO PAY and MAINTAIN DISABLITY TO THE VICTIM...
OH YES INDEED FOR NOT PROTECTING THEIR LIVES!!!
though
TAKE EVERY CENT those RAPISTs thought in any capacity of as if "his"!
(VAST MAJORITY OF RAPISTS in the USA are heterosexual males THEIR TARGET VICTIMS by VAST MAJORITY the FEMALE POPULATION!)

AND
THERE ARE OTHERS VIOLATED.
DESERVING more.


I read yesterday for hours... on the POVERTY and the PERILS
of that USA insult of $674 month
TO VICTIMS of the USA not doing their DUTIES to ALL CITIZENS LIVES
and
I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO BEGIN TO SURVIVE ON THAT RIDICULOUS AMOUNT!!!

The current SSI Benefit of $674 is below Poverty




Will SSI now be raised form $674/mo to at least the poverty line?
If not, what does all the flowery language really mean?

Millions of disabled Americans
are EXISTING on $674 per month.

Does that "reaffirm the inherent dignity and worth
and independence of all persons with disabilities?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


THE INSULT
of some "DISABLED" with their OTHER SS PAYMENTS from the USA
who DO NOT CARE ONE IOTA how others VITIMIZED struggle and are in PERILS
DESERVE their SS CUT and REMOVED for LIFE
L
I
F
E
!!!!!!

PAYING some to LIVE comfortably
that CARE NOT ONE ANY ASPECT OF ALL SUFFERING VICTIMS
is INDIGNANT
is REPUGNANT
is A CRIME AGAINST THE DISABLED!!!



WHERE IS THE
NOT PENALIZING THE INJURED AMONG us
on the SSI payments
limiting their other "INCOME" to what is it now $60 month
YET
for those others... on the "other" SS payments
it is A GRANDIOSE FIGURE of MORE WITHOUT PENALTY... at
1]___At full retirement age or older : NO LIMIT ON EXTRA $$$ EARNED
2]___Under full retirement age :$14,160
{MEANING can HAVE EXTRA $$$ EARNED AT !4, 160 however will begin to PAY For every $2 over the limit, $1 is withheld from benefits.}

WHEREAS THE VICTIMIZED BY RAPE say at 4... CRIPPLED BY IT and on SSI
WHEREAS SAY BRAIN INJURED on the job at 15... and on SSI
WHERAS MANY OTHER VITIMS IN THE USA on DISABILITY
are PENALIZED... AND SUBJECTED TO HARDSHIPS... AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
WHICH
IN AND OF ITSELF IS IN FACT
DISCRIMINATION

DISCRIMINATION BY THE USA against the DISABLED!!!






AND ANOTHER
FACTOR OF ABUSE Of the SSI DISABLED
is the "MARRIAGE" or LIVE TOGETHER PENALTIES
that the MEAGER and BELOW POVERTY $674 be REDUCED EVEN MORE
"There is a net loss of $337 or roughly 25% of their income for getting married or living like they are married."


PENALIZING THE DISABLED
is A FORM OF ABUSING THE DISABLED
and setting
ONE FORM OF SUBSISTANCE to ONE SECTOR DISABLED
and
REFUSING INCOME NOT IN POVERTY
REFUSING INCOME NOTABLY WITHOUT PENALTY FOR WHOEVER ONE LIVES WITH
REFUSING INCOME TO THESE DISABLED based on A PREJUDICE apparently?
and WHAT BIAS is it?
THAT A VICTIM(s)
the DISABLED in this CASE
is FROM COMPANY ABUSE??? ___SURE WANT TO KNOW IT HOW OFTEN?
certainly A BIAS.
is FROM HOW MANY VIOLENT ATTACKED CITIZENS???
so PENALIZE them DUE TO THE USA REFUSING TO HAVE PROTECTED THEIR LIVES???
is that the USA CREED???

$674 month
NOT ADEQUATE
PENALIZING SSI CITIZENS: NOT ACCEPTABLE

VICTIMIZING FURTHER THOSE INJURED AND SUFFERING VICTIMIZATION
DISABLED no matter if THE "USA or whatever "state" DETERMINED it
after the GAMES of HOW LONG
and the CHERADES of "get that attorney and LOSE how much of "YOUR" SSI"
so the GREAT USA courts... STATE and otherwise DO RIGHT By YOUR INJURIES.

CRIMINAL comes to mind.
and the CRIMINALS are the ALLEDGED "LAW MAKERS"
VIOLATING THE CITIZENS WELFARE
WITHHOLDING THEIR DISABLITIES

AS I SAID
I KNOW OF MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS AND MORE
WHO WANT
EVERY RAPED VICTIM
IMMEDIATELY COVERED AS DISABLED
AND "HER" HEALING PROVIDED BY USA AT 100%!!!


WHY IS IT THE USA IS NOT PROTECTING THE CITIZENS!!!
HOW LONG will it continue? A day? At some point assuredly only one hour.
FOR IN THAT HOUR a NEW GENERATION
Who SECURES TO THE INJURED and EVERY DISABLED
RESPECT
REGARD AND GOOD WILL.

namaste.


I BELIEVE THE USA GOVERNMENT
OWES EVERY PERSON ON SSI... BACK MONEY
NOT with a "LAWYER" back money going into UNNECESSARY POCKETS
GET IT RIGHT AMERICA!

AMERICANS ARE TIRED AND FED UP WITH THE FLEECING OF THE POOR!
FED UP WITH THE FLEECING OF THE DISABLED!
FED UP WITH THE FLEECING OF THE INJURED By corrupted USA companies that ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE ACROSS THE USA!!!

PAY THE SSI victims
FOR HAVING VICTIMIZED THEM WITH POVERTY!
OVER ALL THOSE YEARS!
WITHOUT PENALTY!
and
PAY THE SSI VICTIMS ALSO RESPECT.
AND EACH OF us ABLE TO EARN... on SOCIAL SECURITY
THAT AMOUNT OF "WHATSOEVER ONE CAN!!!"

LET THE DISABLED AMONG us WHO CAN
REACH HIGHER HEIGHTS
and LEAVE the DISABLITLY payments for NEW CAREERS... !
THOUGH NOT ALLOW the USA corrupted COMPANIES to get away with THEIR CRIMES!

GO AFTER THEM.
YOU HAVE HOW MANY INJURED LIVES ON DISABLITY???
AND HOW MANY ARE DUE TO COMPANY of USA ABUSES of their HEALTH!
MAKE THE COMPANIES pay!!!

and that ALONE WILL SUFFICE.

MAKE THOSE VIOLENT OFFENDERS PAY... THAT ALONE WILL SUFFICE.
YOU USA YOU PLACE THE RAPED UPON THAT TERRORISM VIOLATON ON DISABILITY.
AND
INCARCERATE THAT RAPIST WITH NOT EVER PAROLE!


SEND THAT MESSAGE LONG OVER DUE TO THAT heterosexual male PERPETRATOR:
WE IN THE USA
DO NOT TOLERATE YOU
VIOLATING ANY LIFE IN THE USA
"DO NOT TRED ON OUR PEOPLE!!!"


NAMASTE.


IN OTHER WORDS...

$250 MORE...
AS IF A 'GIFT'
FOR BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST???

OK... THANK YOU FOR THE $250.
IT WILL BARELY PAY FOR SOME MINOR SOMETHING THOSE IN POVERTY HAVE BEEN GOING WITHOUT!!! IT WILL NOT BE WHAT IT SHOULD BE! THERE NEEDS TO BE THE LAW OF BRINGING THE SSI OUT OF POVERTY AND STOP ATTEMPTING TO PENALIZE THE DISABLED FOR INJURIES, ESPECIALLY INJURIES MUCH OF THE TIME IS THE FAULT OF THE USA HAVING VICTIMIZED CITIZENS!!! GO AFTER THE CORRUPTED USA COMPANIES.
DO IT.
YOU OWE THAT TO THE DISABLED AND TO ALL THE TAX PAYERS!
ALL OF us!!!

namaste.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 8:06 am
Ironically, the lack of an increase to recipients is most closely linked to... drop in energy costs. Octane has gone way down in cost, other fuels have experienced a drop too.

So it will cost less money to heat your home this winter.

But a lot of senior citizens don't drive, so they don't realize the immediate benefit of cheap gas.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 8:36 am
Ok I am not on SS but I dont see how this is a good thing for anyone that lives completely on SS. I mean they dont get a cost of living increase yet most of their other monthly expenses will increase. I mean the cost of food keeps going up - the cost to heat your house may come down but I dont see it being enough to really make a difference b/c the money saved will have to go to other costs that aren't coming down.

I feel or those and wish - truly wish this wasnt happening.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 8:40 am
Cal, agree with your assessment of commercial real estate heading down and on banks unwillingness to lend. But your statement, "only socializing large segments of the economy will lead us out", is interesting. How and where will the money come from?

Trivia, anybody know where the money to pay current SS comes from? And, since we're on the topic of money, anybody notice treasuries yesterday?

Thursday October 15, 2009, 11:42 am
He can take my $250.00 and stick up his where the sun doesn't shine. Barack Bush Obama. If I had know now that I should have known before now, I would not have voted for him. I would have stayed home and watched cartoons.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 12:34 pm
Paul,
The money to pay for Social Security benefits and disability benefits comes from the Social Security taxes that working Americans pay into the system. All the money that is paid into the Social Security Trust Fund is supposed to remain there, and government officials are not supposed to be allowed to take any monies from the trust fund, but Bush changed that when he actually took monies from the Social Security Trust Fund. What he did was illegal, but no one prosecuted him for what he did. In fact there was very little mention of that fact that he did it.

When there are millions of Americans who are not working no money is being paid into the Social Security Trust Fund. I know some people believe that the Social Security Taxes they pay while they are working goes directly to them, but it does not. The men and women who are currently working and paying the Social Security Taxes goes into a general trust fund, and that fund is what pays those of us who are fully retired and or are receiving disability payments. SSI payments are different. Although they are paid by Social Security it is each individual state who contribute to the SSI fund, and it is reflected on a statement that is sent out at the end of each year, and how much the state is paying. SSI is determined by by the total household income of each working member of the household. In some cases the SSI payments are extremely low due to the overall income of an entire family with those who are employed. So some SSI payments may be as low as $30.00 a month, or as high as $300.00 for an example. It depends on the annual income of an entire working household. If only one person is working then the SSI payments will be higher. If the wife is not working she will receive half of the child's benefit amount each month. Social Security looks at her payment as a baby sitting fee. A child who is determined to be disabled must meet the Social Security Rules for a specific disability. If the child qualifies under their rules then they will be paid under SSI, and not SSDI. SSDI benefits are paid to those who have worked and paid into the Social Security Trust Fund, providing they meet the eligibility requirements. Social Security routinely denies benefits as often as they can, but there is an appeals process that one can use to have their claim determined by a different group of doctors and others who make a determination if one qualifies or not. You have the right to 3 appeals, and the final appeal will be heard before an Administrative Law Judge in a federal district court. In most cases the cases that are heard before an Administrative Law Judge generally overrules the Social Security Administration. And then the award is paid on one lump sum payment with monthly benefits that follow for as long as an individual is disabled.

In 1989 I was determined to be permanently disabled, and my disability continues to this very day. In January my disability benefits will be changed to full retirement benefits. Disability benefits are paid from the Social Security Trust Fund.

I hope this adequately answers the question you had about who pays for retirement benefits and or disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration uses the last 5 years at the highest pay rate for the last 5 yrs of your employment and then determines by some unknown formula that they use to determine what your monthly benefit will be. Social Security also looks to see if there are individuals who may qualify for extra help with paying the monthly Medicare premium and the annual deduction. The current amount for the monthly premium is $96.40 a month with an annual deduction of $135.00. A single person can earn up to $85,000.00 a year to remain at the payment level I have posted here. It is higher for a married couple. In addition Medicare pays 80% for most services that are covered and the 20% balance is paid by the recipient. Not bad considering what it costs for private health care insurance. There are Medicare Advantage plans that must be approved by Medicare, which is separate from Social Security benefits. and some of the plans are very expensive. I have a Medicare Handbook with all the Advantage plans that are listed in all 50 states. You select the state you live in to see what plans are available for your state. There is one plan that charges $193.00 a month with no prescription drug coverage. This amount is in addition to the monthly amount of $96.40 a month that is automatically deducted from your Social Security benefit payment, plus the $135.00 annual deductible. If one qualifies for extra help then your states Medicaid program would pay the deductible and the monthly premium for those who qualify for extra help. And your monthly benefit amount would not change.

For those who live in Alaska or Hawaii the eligibility amount is slightly higher than the lower 48. Each state sets their eligibility income limits, so some states have a higher limit that others.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 1:30 pm
Stephan Hannon,

Thanks for the explanation. Sorry to hear that you are disabled but glad that Social Security was there for you.

I agreed with everything that you said about social security except the part about Bush raiding it. That story was heavily reported but the Social Security maintains on it's website a record of the value of the fund. Many people, including me, do not see it as a true investment trust because the US Gov't invests the money solely in the US Gov't in the form of non-marketable treasury debt. Non-marketable simply because marketable treasuries fluctuate in value between issue and maturity.

In essence, the funds are real so there really is a fund but all of the investments are invested in obligations of the US Gov't which is the same entity that pays social security. I have not quite figured out how to paste links at Care2, but hopefully the link to the Office of the Actuary's Office at SSA shows. If not, go to SSA, Office of the Actuary, and follow the links to Trust Fund Date by Calendar Year. You'll note that the value of the fund grew throughout the Bush administration and that withdrawals paid to retirees and other beneficiaries moved steadily.

Social Security, according to their website, is designed as a pay as you go system. Current workers pay retired workers. The excess, which does not always happen, is 'invested' in the trust funds. If Bush took money from these funds, how much and when. The SSA tables don't show any withdrawals. If you can tell me where to look, I would be interested in what Bush reportedly did. But, based on the social security agencies website, it doesn't appear to have happened?

Thursday October 15, 2009, 1:33 pm
Figures, the link didn't show. Anybody know where instructions are for posting links on Care2?

Here it is without any periods or punctuation

http www ssa gov OACT ProgData funds html

Wherever there are spaces, it's either periods or slashes.

Sorry.....

Thursday October 15, 2009, 2:10 pm
I am quadriplegic because of a spinal cord injury. I got my master's degree a few yrs. ago, but currently cannot work because I have a pressure sore that severely limits the time I can sit in my wheelchair. I live on SSI, and it is incredibly difficult. I hope we do get the $250! You know, we did get the last stimulus payment, but the first one ($400) only went to those on SSDI, but not SSI. Watching the gap between rich and poor steadily grow into a chasm in this country is sickening. We live in an oligarchy. I'm still grateful I'm not sitting on a corner with a tin cup, begging as I would in many countries. Or more realistically, I'd be dead because of lack of health care. I get through each day by being grateful for what I do have. It still is an outrage to see the corporations and bankers growing like a parasite while our quality of life goes down the drain. It doesn't matter whether Tweedledum or Tweedledee is in the white house or Congress.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 2:39 pm
Judy C., thankfully there is SSI even though it clearly isn't enough. Just jumping in to say that I agree completely with your comment that it doesn't matter who is in the White House. They only sign what the Congress prepares and Congress hasn't prepared a lot worth talking about in years. Hopefully, they will eventually address chronic conditions, either injury or disease. Current system doesn't do what it should and, unfortunately like you, I have little confidence that they will turn it around soon. Maybe it will be people, like you, that show them who really needs the help.

You deserve a great deal of respect for not giving up and getting a Master's with that kind of injury. I wish you the best.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 4:05 pm
As one of those living on a very small SS check plus food stamps (I am retired), I can attest to the lack of purchasing activity in my life. Not only am I no longer spending to meet my needs, there are no gifts to friends and no "gifts" to all the many wonderful causes I used to support. Food, heat, utilities, and taxes are about it, with a small amount to gas in order to get to the store once or twice a month for the food. Fortunately, I have real health insurance for the first time in a long time...Medicare. Wish everyone who needed insurance had access to Medicare.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 4:06 pm
Paul,
It wasn't easy. I had to fight and fight hard to get my disability benefits. I even had new medical evidence to present, and I called Social Security and asked them to hold off on making a decision until I had time to send them the new medical evidence to substantiate my claim that I was under a disability. They went ahead and denied my claim. I went before an Administrative Law Judge in federal court in Boston. I told him that I had new medical information but the Social Security Administration refused to wait until I sent it to them. He asked me if I had the medical information with me, and I told him I did. He asked me for the new medical evidence, and I gave it to him. He looked it over briefly, then he asked me an odd question. He asked me if I could pick up a gallon of milk. I thought about his question momentarily and then said, "sometimes I can and sometimes I cannot." Then he said he would send me his decision in the mail. He overruled the Social Security Administration and approved my claim. He sent them a copy of his decision where he said that I was under a disability when I filed my claim. It took me 3 yrs. before I was finally approved to receive disability benefits.

In October of 1989 I went back to work, and I worked as a counselor in a women's Pre-Release Center in Boston. I worked there for the next two years, and I went back on my disability payments. I was approved immediately as I had already had an open case with the Social Security Administration. They didn't want to fight with me because they knew they would lose. They make it extremely difficult for people who really are disabled to get benefits. One would think it was coming out of their pockets when it isn't.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 4:30 pm
Stephen, unfortunately I've heard similar stories from people who clearly qualified for disability benefits. When you finally got approved, I hope they paid an amount equal to what you would have received during the three years it took to approve you for payments!

Off-topic, and you don't have to answer since it's very controversial, but given the desire so many have for the single payer health insurance plan that the US Gov't would administer, I'm curious what you think about that plan and whether you think that your experience might be something we should anticipate with the single payer plan?

Moving even further off topic, visited Boston for the first time a few years ago and loved it. Hoping to move to Cape Cod, great coffee shop in Falmouth, Coffee Obsession. Loved the people and the area. My uncle lived in Boston for years but he visited us in Florida and passed away before I graduated high school. After seeing Boston, wish I'd made it there sooner!

Thursday October 15, 2009, 8:43 pm
My parents could really benefit from the $250. thanks Peace! Hugs.

Thursday October 15, 2009, 8:48 pm
Well I just wish it was more for them...250.00 isnt that much...

Big Gorilly Hugs

Saturday October 17, 2009, 11:13 pm
this almost caused a revolution which we need anyway because if it wasnt for world opinon they would take the old and disabled out and shoot them.and because of the government lying and saying they would cut $250 and then saying $400 dollar cut from ssi,social security, and veterans retirement pay was really making people want to kill there self and or other people. but i think were smart enough to stick together and fight the government for our rights including our constitution especially whole bill of rights. which the government also wants to in the second admendment to take our guns away from us because they are afraid that some day we may try to take our country back.and also because congress does what they want to do and not what the people want to do.the people are supposed to be the ones to run this country not big companies that line there pockets with money. this is a god for saken country we live in we have about have 350 million in the so called the most embarrising country we live in that can do something about it. well lets put it this way they are going to keep on going with a bunch of chaos they tried to pull these pasts months.people im telling you if we have a war between the government dont back down because we have a right to bear arms;and a well regulated militia and by golly we will see that we do our job and do it right. this is just a replica of the revolutionary war which this day and time half of us have old fashion modern guns and not musket guns this is what i stand for and will remain standing as long as im alive. i was a democrat most of my life. but as i got older i opened my eyes and didnt like what i saw. please for god sakes and this country in the up coming mid term election and this year governers election think twice before you vote democratic. this is some sorry country we live in huh.................

Monday October 19, 2009, 8:29 pm
Being one who is drawing Social Security, I for one would rather the take the insult and apply it to something where the combined total would do some real good. Say World Hunger. Two trips to the grocery store is all that $250 would mean to me, maybe three, but the total amount of this insulting handout could provide food for a lot of hungry people for a lot longer period. I realize in some cases that $250 may mean the difference in whether or not some seniors are able to buy their medication or not or will be able to eat more than one meal a day for awhile.