Social security benefits will increase 3.2% in 2024 as part of the annual increase of the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. This adds about 50$ monthly to the average retirement benefit according to the Social Security Administration who announced this change last Thursday. The cost-of-living adjustment is calculated based on an average of the inflation readings for the months of July, August and September. The aim of the increase is to aid seniors in rising costs of goods and services – but advocates for senior care in Pennsylvania say this is not enough.
“The cost-of-living increase is not going to solve the problem of senior services in Pennsylvania," said Candace McMullen, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration. "The only way to solve that problem is through legislative payment reform Think about it from your perspective, if you were given 50 dollars extra a month what impact would that make on your living?”
While the state budget was signed back in August after over a month-long impasse, code bills that impact senior funding are still pending.
“We’re continuing to see facility closures," said McMullen. "There have been closures across the state. We’re seeing a lot of financially distressed organizations and that hasn’t changed because nothing has changed with our funding we just continue to wait.”
McMullen tells us that reimbursement rates for seniors in residential settings have been in the negatives. Advocates say that the cost of goods and services needed by seniors is outgrowing the funds provided by social security benefits. They urge people to contact their local representatives for action.
“If there’s legislators that folks have access to, I would strongly encourage them to contact them and advocate for senior services when it comes to the Pennsylvania budget, as they’re looking at appropriating funds across the various lines and services across the state," she said.
If you need help finding your local legislator, visit this website.
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