By Kyle LoJacono
Each month Laura McKnight waits until the third Wednesday for her $668 Social Security check to arrive.
For the 74-year-old Zephyrhills resident, getting the monthly check doesn’t let her buy something special for herself or indulge in a nice meal out. For McKnight, it is what she uses to pay her electricity and water bills, buy food and make other ends meet.
“I’m a widow and my 401(k) went right down the tubes when the economy crashed,” said McKnight, who worked for about 20 years as a waitress and another 20 years in customer service. “That check is basically all I have to feed myself and stay in my house.”
McKnight and the 60 million recipients of Social Security will have a little more in those checks starting in January — 3.6 percent more to be exact.
The additional $24.05 a month in McKnight’s check may not seem like a lot, but she said it would make a “world of difference” in how she lives.
“Well for one thing I wouldn’t have to keep my lights off for the last couple days to make sure I can pay the electric bill when I’m waiting for (the check),” McKnight said. “I would be able to go to the Village Inn in town without a friend buying my dinner too.”
The average Social Security check would get a slightly larger boost of $39 each month, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Recipients have not seen an enhancement in their payouts during the last two years to account for inflation or an increase in cost of living.
McKnight said she remembers the money from the checks going a lot farther with her bills just a couple of years ago.
“I only really started having to watch every penny for the last year, year and a half,” McKnight said. “Before that it was OK. I have neighbors who say the same thing.”
Betty and Paul Brown, McKnight’s neighbors, have a similar story.
“Oh we had to get rid of the cable a year ago and only take the car when we really need to so we save the gas,” said Betty, 69. “Anything we can do to save a little because Social Security doesn’t go as far for us anymore.”
Paul, who is a registered Republican, said he believes the government should watch what it spends, but not when it comes to Social Security.
“So many people rely on that money just to live,” said Paul, 71. “There is so much money wasted. They should give some back to the people who have worked for years.”
Paul said he worked in steel manufacturing in Pittsburgh before he and Betty came to Zephyrhills about five years ago.
Those who rely on Social Security will have to account for a new cost early next year, as Medicare premiums will be going up by 1 or 2 percent, according to projections from Department of Health and Human Services.
“Well I guess as long as the Social Security is going up more than Medicare, then it will be better,” McKnight said, who spends about $50 every month on blood pressure medication.
For additional information on Social Security, visit www.ssa.gov. For information on Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.
