Social Security Benefits Not Expected to Rise in ’10

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New York Times

WASHINGTON — For the first time in more than three decades, Social Security recipients will not get any increase in their benefits next year, federal forecasts show.

The absence of a cost-of-living adjustment, calculated under a formula set by law, will be a shock to older Americans already hit by plummeting home values, investment losses and rising health costs. More than 50 million people receive Social Security.

“Most seniors have never been through a year in which there was no Social Security COLA,” said David M. Certner, legislative counsel at AARP, the lobby for older Americans. Beneficiaries have received automatic cost-of-living adjustments every year since 1975. The increase this year was 5.8 percent.

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Before I called Chihak & Gustad, I had given up all hope I would receive my Social Security DisabilityAn impairment that qualifies as a disability under Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines must be quite serious. The impairment must render the applicant unable to perform any substantial gainful activity — that is, the applicant must not be able to earn more than a minimum amount of money, determined each year by the SSA. The impairment must completely disable the applicant from working. It must be expected to last for a year, have already lasted a year or be expected to cause the applicant's death. But this is not the end of the qualifying tests.. I had no money and many bills to pay. After my first phone conversation with Mr. Chihak, I felt confident I had called the right attorney. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Within a few months, my claim was approved. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the job Mr. Chihak and his staff did for me.

Mike L.

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