For there to be a 2016 COLA the average index for July, August and September 2015 must exceed 234.241. As things stand now, that significant an increase in inflation during the third quarter of 2015 is increasingly unlikely.
The June 2015 CPI-W was reported at 233.804. Not one month this year has had a CPI-W level that would generate a 2016 COLA.
WE ARE ENTERING THE CRITCAL MONTHS NOW. JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER ARE THE MONTHS THAT WILL BE COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTHS OF 2014 TO DETERMINE IF THERE WILL BE A 2016 COLA.
Inflation must accelerate over the next three months.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
why is Social Security in trouble..this is a very much needed program and people need this money..why dont those jerks in washington..stop giving themselves raises..and put the money back to the people..social security…i feel its wrong to keep paying them when they are no longer in office..that is a stupid waste of money.. we need COLA …stop taking money away from the people..
LikeLike
Congress didn’t receive any raise for several years and just recently a modest raise. No member of Congress gets paid after they leave office. If they serve long enough they receive a pension just like millions of other employees of corporations and government. Nothing they receive has anything to do with Social Security.
LikeLike
Assuming the CPI is a good proxy for inflation (sometimes true, sometimes not), wouldn’t you rather have no inflation than inflation with a Social Security COLA? Generally speaking, most individuals do not have pension income benefits that are indexed for inflation – other than social security. So, if the CPI increases, and if the CPI increase is reflective of inflation in general, an increase in Social Security via the COLA will only index one portion of your post-retirement income – reducing your purchasing power, no?
LikeLike
You think too logically Jack. I agree with you, but most people don’t. They just want a COLA and do not believe the CPI reflects their actual inflation like rent, property taxes and their out-of-pocket medical.
LikeLike