Senior citizens are among the most economically vulnerable in the country. Because of this, the Senior Citizens League says Congress needs to act on giving stimulus checks to senior citizens.
A letter sent by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) Chairman Rick Delaney to Congressional leaders illustrates the situation faced by some seniors. The letter reads in part:
“We’ve heard from thousands of them (seniors) who have exhausted their retirement savings, who have started eating just one meal a day, stated cutting their pills in half because they can’t afford their prescription drugs, to list just a few of the drastic steps so many have had to take because of what inflation has done to them this year.”
“Many have written to us that ‘our government has forgotten about us.'”
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Delaney’s group is proposing another $1,400 stimulus check for senior citizens. While Social Security checks are due to go up 5.9% in 2022, representing the largest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years, inflation threatens to swallow the bulk of the increase.
To help those on Social Security get through, TSCL is not only calling on Washington for help, but they’re asking the public to add their names to a public petition. The petition reads:
“I want Social Security recipients to receive a $1,400 emergency stimulus check to cope during this unprecedented inflationary year.
Social Security benefits are one of the few types of income in retirement adjusted for inflation. But soaring inflation has taken a toll on household finances of retired and disabled Social Security recipients.
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In 2021, Social Security benefits increased by just 1.3%, raising the average benefit by only about $20 a month.
But about 86% of Social Security recipients surveyed say their expenses increased by much more than that amount.
As one of the many supporters of TSCL who reside in your constituency, I strongly urge you that now is the time that you must support an emergency $1,400 stimulus check to Social Security recipients.”
On the other hand, the $700 million federal programs will give individual farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and grocery store workers a $600 stimulus check each.
Keep up with more finance news here with us at The East County Gazette.