Introduction: Recently, Patriot Daily Wire reached out to our community of retirees to ask a simple question: Is the projected $200 monthly boost enough to survive? The answer was a resounding, heartbreaking “No.” While the official COLA for 2025 was 2.5%, our readers report that their actual spending power is vanishing.
Key Themes from the Patriot Community:
1. The “Medicare Neutralizer” Many readers, like Cheryl Y., pointed out that any increase is immediately swallowed by rising costs. “The Social Security COLA increase for year 2026 covered one thing: the increase for Medicare at $202.90/month!”.
2. The Housing & Utilities Crisis Sean C. shared the stark math of modern retirement: “Rent is $1,200 a month average… if we have enough to pay rent then we can’t pay our insurance or buy enough food”. Similarly, Gwendolyn S. noted that even a small raise can trigger a rent increase in government housing, leaving her worse off than before.
3. Taxing the “Safety Net” A recurring theme was the frustration over Social Security being treated as taxable income. As one reader noted, being taxed on 85% of their benefits because of IRA withdrawals feels like “stealing” funds from those who worked their whole lives.
4. A Sense of Betrayal Many in our community feel that the government has abandoned its own citizens. Gretchen M., an 81-year-old widow, expressed the sentiment shared by many: “AMERICAN CITIZENS MUST COME FIRST!!” she wrote, highlighting the frustration over government spending on non-citizens while seniors struggle with food and electricity costs.
The Verdict:
The data tells us that food prices in 2024 increased by 2.3% to 2.5%, but the “felt” cost of living remains much higher. For people like Vilma C., who only saw a $35 increase this January, the “dream of retirement” has turned into a search for part-time work at age 65.
Why are benefits being cut? While we’ve highlighted a few stories here, our full report dives deep into the Medicare Neutralizer and the Tax Trap that are stripping away your spending power. 👉 Get the full 10-page breakdown here
What do you think? Leave your comment below and join the conversation.