Congresswoman Johnson Highlights Increased COLA benefits for Seniors in 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington D.C.—(October 23rd, 2014)—Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that beginning in January 2015, Social Security’s Automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) would increase by 1.7% for recipients.

Since 1975, Social Security benefits have been automatically adjusted each year to reflect cost of living increases and to maintain purchasing power. These adjustments have protected millions of seniors from falling into poverty as they age. According to the SSA, 6 out of 10 seniors rely on income from social security. This is especially true for seniors 80+ who make up 76% of social security beneficiaries. 

In the 30th Congressional district of Texas, there are 98,675 current beneficiaries, including retired workers, disabled workers and widowers. For District 30 residents, SSA predicts the new average monthly benefit amount will be $1,063.27 per person.

“The increase in COLA benefits is a positive and necessary advancement for senior constituents of District 30, many of whom have worked their entire lives to earn such benefits. I applaud these efforts by the Social Security Administration has taken to increase the financial security for aging citizens, and I will continue to work for increased security in the years to come” said Congresswoman Johnson.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.