Cola

[carlie]

http://vetlawyers.com/vetblog/index.php/2012/11/cost-of-living-increase-passes-congress/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BergmannMoore+%28Bergmann+%26+Moore%29

"Cost of Living Increase passes Congress

On November 14, 2012, in COLA, Department of Veterans Affairs, by CharlesSheehanMiles

Congress Passes 1.7% COLA for Veterans

Veterans benefits is an important issue followed closely by Bergmann & Moore. We are pleased to share welcome news for our Veterans and families concerned about the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for disability benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Acting immediately upon returning to Washington after the election, today the United States Senate passed the annual benefits increase of 1.7 percent for 2013. The Senate sent the legislation to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it soon. On September 27, 2011, Bergmann & Moore alerted Veterans and reporters about how one or more Senators were blocking what, until two months ago, was a bi-partisan, no-nonsense bill. The secret hold was lifted today, and Senators quickly passed the bill.

The bill appears to have passed in time for VA to add the increases to benefits effective for 2013. If the COLA bill was delayed, then Veterans and dependents may have had to wait until February 2013 or later to see the increase."

For Veterans and dependents receiving VA disability benefits, this means and increase of $47 per month for a single Veteran rated at 100%, or an annual increase of $564. Expect VA to publish the exact amounts at VA’s web site in the next few months.

Let us all hope the a few bad actors in the Senate don’t ever disrupt or threaten to disrupt Veterans’ hard-earned disability benefits again.

[broncovet]

John..

You better hope they "cut" the debt, because, if they dont it will certainly "cut" your benefits, through inflation. We have seen it with other countries before, and we are already starting to see that right now. Our checks will be going up a mere 1.7%, and who beleives inflation is at 1.7%? My cable bill went up 14% this year. Ditto for my phone bill, food, and gas. The government "doesnt count" gas and food when it figures inflation...but that is precisely what we have to buy. When prices go up, with little or no increase to seniors and Vets, this means the purchase power goes down. You see that with the elderly. Some of them get social security of 800 per month or less. They are trying to live on that. When they retired, 20 years earlier, their social security of 800 per month seemed like a lot. But now, they cant pay their heat bill, and that is because social security payments have not kept up with inflation. You wind up "loosing ground" each year, which is precisely what happened in the past 4 years. Two years we got "zero" percent Cola's, and this last year it was only 1.7%. Worse, we saw our home values go down, while we have to pay more for things like food, and gas. Someone pointed out that 4 years ago gas was under $2 a gallon, so it has about doubled in 4 years. If it keeps this up, we will have to get a shopping cart and collect cans to pay our heat bill.

When the government debt gets too high, the gov starts printing money. Then, hyper inflation sets in. O, yea, sure you would still get $2924 per month from the Va and your social security, but what is that going to buy you if gas and food is hyperinflated, to $50 a gallon or more?

In some countries, workers went home at lunch time to buy their goods. Why? Because if they waited until they got off work, the prices would have sometimes doubled, because inflation was so bad due to the government printing too much money.

Our country wont do well with massive amounts of credit card debt, no better than you would.

[jbasser]

The twinkee will still be here. Just made by another company,

J

[john999]

Ever had a deep fried Twinkee? It is like the end of the Roman Empire. If my relatives survived the "Dust Bowl" and the Great Depression I think I can survive the Fiscal Cliff and a Twinkee freeze. Why worry?

[carlie]

What ever will I do without Hostess Twinkies. The increase will help me buy Tasty Kakes.

sharon,

We have never bought any Twinkies - until this past Friday - 5 boxes, I hope

they freeze good : - )

[tanker2]

bronco...you ain't wrong!

[carlie]

Although I don't drink the kool-aid, I sure do enjoy the COLA : - )

any and all that are provided.