Eudora residents question impact of Social Security increase

Like the 70 million other senior citizens in the United States, Sharron Harris relies on Social Security checks each month. 

Despite this help, Harris still struggles to get by. 

An 8.7% cost-of-living increase to Social Security benefits will take place in January, but it may not be as helpful as it seems. 

After last year’s 5.9% increase, Harris saw little to no change in her finances. Although it is nice to receive a larger amount, Harris said it was actually less money in her pocket due to inflation and higher costs of living right now. 

As a result, Harris said it’s hard to put anything into savings. 

“There’s no way we can get ahead. There’s no way that we can, unless, you know, we went out to work, but a lot of us cannot,” Harris said. 

Harvesters is one local program that helps provide additional resources for many Eudora seniors. Harris said she will pick up food and then give what she doesn’t want to other seniors in her retirement community. 

“I’ve loaded up my wagon and gone around the neighborhood to see if anybody else needs anything, you know, and a lot of us do that,” Harris said. “We share what we get because everybody here is in the same boat.” 

Utilities have also increased, leaving seniors with a higher cost for heat in the winters. 

“And if we want to stay warm this winter, we’re going to have to pay it,” she said. 

Janice Ballard started sitting down with fellow seniors to assist them in applying for government assistance programs. Ballard thinks cities need to offer classes to educate seniors on budgeting after retirement. 

“I think it would help seniors if they gave them classes on how to manage their money,” Ballard said. “It would be sitting down with people with a pencil and paper and saying, ‘Look, this is what you make, and this is what you can do with that.’ I think our senior population needs to be re-educated.” 

Throughout the six years Ballard has received Social Security, she has done ample research to make sure she can provide herself with the best information on resources available to her. 

“The small increases really don’t help us much because part of it goes to our rent. We live in rent subsidized housing here,” Ballard said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have a roof over our heads.”

Ballard said the state of Kansas’ resources have helped her more than the federal government’s increases. 

Ballard recommends seniors in Eudora apply to have their Medicare premiums paid for by the state. The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program of Douglas County is also a great resource to help seniors pay for their utility bills, Ballard said. 

“Continuing the housing subsidies and the additional food stamps, those have helped more than the raise ever will,” she said. 

What is changing? 

Seniors will begin seeing an increase in their benefit checks of 8.7% in 2023. For the average American, this increase will come in the form of about $140 per month beginning in January. About 70 million Americans will see the increases from these checks. 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will also increase 8.7%. More than 7 million people who benefit from SSI will receive increased monthly payments. SSI is available for those who are disabled and have low income and resources. 

Where can seniors find help?

Kansas Advocates for Better Care Executive Director Dan Goodman said the COLA increase for Social Security is a start, but it is not a solution. 

“As a state, in general, we need to do more to keep older adults in their homes,” Goodman said. “It tends to drive them into a more controlled environment, and we need to continue to create that balance necessary for folks to delay and divert from long-term care placement, and one of those things is to make sure they can afford and take care of their needs in the community.”

Resources are out there, but Goodman said older Kansans may need help finding them.  

The Douglas County Senior Resource Center sees many seniors looking for help patching together their budget each month, especially as expenses have gone up in the last year, Executive Director Megan Poindexter said. 

“Unfortunately a great deal of the individuals who we see who are reliant on Social Security are individuals whose monthly allotment is insufficient to meet all of their needs,” Poindexter said. 

Poindexter said they work with many organizations to give seniors different kinds of assistance. 

Senior Wheels can help with affordable transportation, Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaboration helps with rent and utilities when people are in emergency situations and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act helps assess if people qualify for financial assistance on their premium costs. 

“We are often able to brainstorm and troubleshoot with individuals when they sit down and talk with us about their specific circumstance,” Poindexter said. 

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].