Seniors say COLA freeze means cuts

Area senior citizens receiving Social Security are preparing to tighten their belts because – for an unprecedented second year in a row – recipients will not be receiving a cost of living adjustment (COLA).Seniors at the Lynn Senior Center, waiting recently for a Bingo game to start, shared their concerns about the recent announcement by the Social Security Administration.Lynn resident Carol Johnson, who retired five years ago, shook her in head in disgust when discussing the lack of a COLA increase for 2011.”Social Security is my only income,” she said. “My rent went up. I am lucky my heat is included in the rent, but I have to cut back on how much electricity I use. I don’t have any money left at the end of the month now and I don’t even have enough for my health insurance. I have to cut back on everything.”This is only the second time since the cost of living adjustments were adopted in 1975 that Social Security recipients have not received a COLA increase. The first time was this year.Bill Knox of Lynn, who retired two years ago, said Social Security is his only source of income and it would be tough to make ends meet.I’ve been cutting back everywhere I can,” Knox said Friday at the Lynn Senior Center. “I come here for lunch every day to make it a little easier. It helps me save on groceries.”Revere resident Leonard Roy, who is a retired construction worker, said he eats lunch at the Lynn Senior Center to save money and socialize.His wife, Frances Roy, said the couple is cutting expenses everywhere possible.”A lot of money is taken out of our checks for health insurance,” she said. “We buy Brand X instead of name brands. I buy day-old bread and reduced produce. They always take away from the elderly and children.”Joan DiThomas, 75, of Lynn, who is a retired widow of a veteran, said she is anxious about the coming year.”I’m really concerned,” she said. “From one year to the next or even one month to the next we just don’t know what’s in store.”Robert L. Murray retired five years ago after working for Eastern Tool. He was incensed because there is not a COLA increase on tap for next year.”Social Security is not a handout,” he said at the Lynn Senior Center. “I worked and paid my Social Security taxes. I have a pension and Social Security, but those barely take care of the house. I have a couple of guys staying with me that help out. This country is becoming a Communist nation. I am voting in November and I know who I am firing.”Irene Anastos of Lynn, a retired Boston Gas worker, took a break from a game of cards to add her thoughts.”Why aren’t we getting COLA,” she asked. “There’s a lot of money in there. We all paid Social Security taxes.”The lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for 2011 was also a hot topic at the Nahant Senior Center, where many seniors said the coming year would be tough,Nahant resident Lea Lewis, 83, a retired nurse, is furious there will not be a COLA increase again next year.”I think it’s wrong,” she said. “We’re not getting what we’re supposed to be getting. I don’t like the way things are going in this country and I’m voting all incumbents out.”Mildred McLaughlin, a retired librarian residing in Nahant, said her lunch at the Nahant Senior Center is her main meal for the day.”It’s a way to save money,” she said. “We don’t get enough from Social Security and everything is going up. I just keep getting deeper and deeper in debt.”Anna Rooney of Nahant said she wasn’t surprised at the announcement, but it will make things a lot more difficult for people on fixed incomes.”Two years without an increase is not good,” she said. “I have to cut back wherever I can. Food and rent are going up, but I’m not getting more money.”Fran Ahern, who retired four years ago from her job as an accountant, said it’s tough making ends meet even though her husband is still working.I believe seniors have a great voice,” she said. “They just need to get officials elected who will listen to them. I know people on fixed incomes wh