Local seniors say Social Security increase won't be enough

Oct. 13—Senior citizens could see their biggest Social Security cost-of-living increase in decades but some local seniors say it's not enough to keep up with rising expenses and persistent high inflation.

The Social Security Administration is expected to announce its 2023 cost-of-living adjustment on Thursday and it could be the highest increase in about 40 years.

Mary Roselle, executive director of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, said Social Security benefits are expected to increase 8.7% for 2023 and that could amount to about $140 extra a month for senior citizens.

"That will go a long way to help our older residents in both counties make ends meet with the high cost of food and other goods and services that have increased substantially over the last several months," Roselle said.

Yet, 79-year-old Leona Shepanski of Nanticoke said she thinks it should be higher to keep up with rising costs like the 6.75% tax hike announced Tuesday in Luzerne County's proposed 2023 spending plan.

"We appreciate everything we get but it's not enough," Shepanski commented Wednesday at Nanticoke Senior Center. "We're being pushed aside."

Shepanski, a widow, is one of about 70 million Americans, including retirees and disabled people who are likely to see an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment.

In the meantime, Shepanski said she and other senior citizens continue to struggle with paying high costs for food, utilities and medical bills as well as garbage fees, car payments and home and vehicle maintenance costs as they fight the worst inflation in 40 years.

Shepanski, who has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, worked since she was 16 years old. She was employed in dress and shoe factories and she retired last year from her job at Integrated Power Designs in the Hanover Industrial Park, where she worked for 28 years. She also worked at a pizza shop.

She said she thinks Social Security benefits should be paid in one lump sum in January so seniors would have money to depend on for the rest of the year.

"I know that would help me quite a bit," she said. "I know us seniors didn't make a lot of money to put in Social Security but I think we're entitled to it for all the years that we worked. It's sad because we're all trying to live and we need more and less given away. Give it to the people who worked for it. We put the money in. I think we should be entitled to something to help us live."

Nanticoke resident Helen Beggs, 81, who has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, said she thinks an 8.7% increase is a nice raise but she agrees that it's not enough to keep up with the other costs going up.

"It should be higher," Beggs said. "When you go shopping, you don't get very much today and you have to watch the prices."

Joyce Rominski, 79, of Hanover Twp., also agrees that an 8.7% increase is a "nice raise" but she said she doesn't rely on Social Security much because her Medicare health insurance premiums are deducted from her payments.

"I don't really rely on it much because I figure someone is going to take it," she said. "It is a nice raise but I'm wondering how much of it we will really get after things go up."

Rominski, a grandmother of seven who retired 19 years ago, said she has additional income from her pension from previously working for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that helps her stay "above water." But, she added that the cost-of-living increase will help her as other expenses continue to rise.

"Every little bit helps with the price of food going up and gas," she said.

Contact the writer: [email protected], 570-821-2115, @CVAllabaugh

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