Cicilline Sets Out to Fix COLA for Seniors

Press Release

U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) today announced co-sponsorship of a bill to make sure that the costs facing seniors in his district and across the nation are more adequately accounted for when the cost of living adjustment (COLA) is determined.

"Seniors tell me all the time that the price of things they purchase are going up yet their Social Security benefit remains fixed," said Congressman Cicilline. "Seniors have not seen an increase in their Social Security checks for the past two years. By modifying the cost of living adjustment to more accurately reflect the costs of items seniors purchase like medical care, prescription drugs, and housing we can ensure that seniors receive the cost of living increase they need."

Currently the consumer price index applicable to Social Security COLA does not adequately represent seniors' spending habits.

That's why Congressman Cicilline announced today he will co-sponsor H.R. 539 Preserving our Promise to Seniors, a bill that includes two distinct measures to help seniors afford their expenses:

* Create a Consumer Price Index that tracks elderly spending habits to be the basis for Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments; and
* Provide supplemental payments to certain SS recipients in years without a COLA.

The Preserving our Promise to Seniors legislation will stand to help the more than 210,000 seniors receiving Social Security benefits in Rhode Island afford their fixed costs including prescriptions, physician visits, home heating and more.

This bill has been referred to House Ways and Means, House Education and the Workforce, House Rules, House Transportation and Infrastructure, House Veterans' Affairs Committees for further review.

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