After two years without any help for Social Security recipients to deal with rising living expenses, beneficiaries will receive a 3.6 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in 2012, impacting more than 200,000 Rhode Islanders in a difficult economy. Millions of retired Americans have paid their fair share into Social Security, and we must preserve our nation's promise to them by ensuring payments keep up with the high costs of vital needs like health care, food and housing. Rather than wait and hope that a fair increase will occur next year, I am cosponsoring legislation to ensure the COLA more accurately reflects the cost of living for seniors.