[Update - 21 October 2011]
The US Senate has passed the Veterans Compensation Cost-Of-Living Act of 2011 which is another step forward to an increase COLA for disabled vets. There is still some hurdles to get through until it makes it to the White House, but it seems to be on track to possible be approved before December 1st 2011. Updates to follow over the coming weeks.
[Update - 19 October 2011]
News continues to spread of the cost of living allowance increase for 2012. But the potential for a higher inflation index could mean workers will pay more into the social security system. For social security recipients, this increase is the first since the 5.8% increase in 2009. The money required for people to successfully function in today’s society has increased dramatically over they past 10 years.
The employed community doesn’t always feel the effects of inflation because employers will gradually increase wages over time. Those living off any form of COLA are left unprepared when the cost of goods increase, but the money they receive does not. Seniors dealing with medicare costs or senior citizen life insurance may be able to breathe easier over the next year.
Though the COLA increase is good news, it is also possible the rates will not increase over the next few years due to the governments debt reduction plans.
There is no current legislation to prevent COLA increases.
[Previous - 11 October 2011]
There could be some good news for those receiving cost-of-living adjustments for military retirement pay, VA compensation and pension, and Social Security benefits. There has been a change in the inflation rate according to the Military Officers Association of America. This inflation rate rose .3% in August. There has been a steady increase in inflation rates over the past couple of months, which may mean a possible increase in the COLA rates in 2012. Currently, that projected increase will be 3.7% which will most likely start in January.
The COLA has not increased in the past 2 years. There is, however, a proposal to change the basis for COLA. By adopting the Chain Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers would have the potential of lowering the COLA by .3%. This would equal out to a 2012 COLA rate closer to 3.4%
There is a concern among many individuals that this increase to the cost of living allowance will just mean higher rates on various products and services making the point moot. But, it is unlikely that the change to the cost-of-living allowance rates will mean an immediate change of the price of goods and services.
With any increases in military pay and benefits, there is usually a large gap of time between being informed of the change, and change occurring.
Source [Military.com]
It is grievious that veterans continue to fall behind financially. Broken up, unable to hold a job is a hurting thing, yet we get no break on bills forx services we need we are doomed by all. Our families are still being shortchanged
Grow up nobody owes you anything, juast ask any Viet-Nam Vet!
I would hate to be as ignorant and judgmental as you. Sorry but those soldiers earned every damn dime and benefit they got. And I include every war that has ever been fought. I’m going into service myself and if you’re in the military I would hate to work alongside you because you come off as someone who would abandon someone to die just to save your own ass. And if you’re not in the military your that one person I will never under any circumstances consider protecting because assholes like you don’t deserve it.
Us veterans faught for this countries freedom and now we are fighting for our servival,because we never have enough money,that is why so many veterans are sufering from deppresion
I would have hated to be wirh you in the jungles and rice paddies .
It is a shame that we veterans volunteer to fight for our country and this country is grateful. Yet when we come home and out of the service, we are forgotten when it comes to COLA. How many would volunteer if the recruiter would say to the volunteer: yes we will take you but, once you are out, if you live, we will forget you and you will be all on your own. Don’t expect anything, you will be just like the person who did not volunteer!
You said yes to them didn’t you?
The adjustment increase has been voted on and is in the final stages of being implemented. Still the pay is $100 per month short of where it should be which is $1,200/ year short changed for other theatrical fake programs.
Grow up nobody owes you anything. Ask any Viet-Nam vet!
Reply to James, “Ask any Vietnam Vet”. Lets get to it you ready to Rock and Roll Sonny. You are not a Vietnam Vet otherwise you would have not made such a brainless, preposterous, lowdown, insulting remark. If you are a Veteran you must be off, literally be OFF somewhere doing the Thorazine Shuffle. I was 18 when I arrived in country January 3, 1968 (does that year mean anything to YOU). To my Brothers and Sisters I am in no way disregarding all the other years of serving in the Horror that it was. It was only meant for Sonny Boy. Ya see james arriving at 18 yrs of age and coming home about 30 or so, the audacity to tell us to “grow up”. Ya see james when your stripped bare ever so slowly to honor, duty and country you dig deeper and dig deeper yet, till your soul is fallible and unadorned. And then you find it, do you know what that is Sonny? Fearless courage, bravery and valor beyond your training, beyond your skills, beyond anything that you might have thought of yourself. You pull on those bootstraps, you pull hard, real hard with an adrenaline rush that has NEVER been felt before. You conquer the enemy. No ONE can put a price tag on that!!!
Mr. Miller you have won my full respect, and I thank you from one vet to another, I was only 2 years old in 68 and have no idea what vietnam was like and to be honest I really don´t want to know what type of hell that was, I have endurd my own hell… I feel that all vets wether nam, golf or any other war we fought in should be treated the same… I wish you nothing but the best for you Mr. Miller and as you can see we still have to fight for our rights to this day……..!!
In reference to W.Miller. I totaly agree with James. You got in-country 1-3-68. then there was no way you took any part in the “68″ Tet offenseive what with the intro time and the time spent in “Jungle School” the best you could have done was in-unit action by 2-24-68 and Hua was already under the 1st ME control. If you are going to be a FAKE V-N vet at least get your dates straight.
I STILL SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT OWED ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE YOU VOLENTEERED TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY. IF YOU DID NOTHING ELSE WITH YOUR LIFE AND EXPECT THE USA TO SUPPORT YOU THE THAT PROFILE FITS A DESK JOCKEY IN SOME REAR AREA.
REMEMBER: WE THE WILLING VETS DID THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE UNGRATEFUL AND THE UNKNOWING. WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG, WE ARE NOW QUALIFIED TO DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING AT ALL.
SFC THOM US ARMY AIRBORNE RETIRED
To G. Stemp and Elsargento Thank You so much sincerely above board and open-hearted with your kind words. Elsargento you mention the “ungrateful and the unknowing”. Just one ticket to Hell, few people know. During TET we pushed the enemy back and took more land then at anytime during the war, we were WINNING. You are right on Elsargento. What we need are about a dozen General MacArthur’s in congress and a dozen more field Generals. That should be enough to sway the opinion of what to do with North Korea. Truman and Eisenhower told MacArthur to pull back, he was twenty miles on the other side of the 38th parallel. Another fact few people know during this Time we had advisor’s/foot soldiers in Vietnam. When Kennedy became President he was pulling our troops out of Vietnam at a 1000 a day, When LBJ was sworn in within a couple of days he reversed that order and started sending 1000 troops a day back to Vietnam. So NO Kennedy NO Vietnam! Well, James maybe you learned a few things here. There is a lot more that meets the eye over that OIL rich country called “Vietnam”.