Your Social Security check will rise 3.6% next year, but will it be able to keep up with inflation?

RIGHT SO PICTURE THIS, I PUT MY GATORADE DOWN BECAUSE MARKETWATCH IS SAYING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS ARE GOING UP BY 3.6% NEXT YEAR WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY TO HELP 68 MILLION PEOPLE DEAL WITH INFLATION BUT I AM LOOKING AT THE MATH AND HONESTLY I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COVER THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OR IF IT IS JUST A NUMBER ON A SPREADSHEET BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW FAST INFLATION IS GOING TO HIT US NEXT YEAR OR IF PRICES WILL KEEP CLIMBING FASTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT CAN KEEP UP WITH. IT IS PROBABLY FINE BUT ALSO MAYBE NOT FINE AT ALL AND I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ANALYST BUT THAT PERCENTAGE FEELS A LITTLE LIGHT IF YOU ASK ME. ANYWAY I AM TELLING EVERYONE AT WORK ON MONDAY.

WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE OFFICIAL WORD IS THAT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ARE GETTING A 3.6% BOOST FOR ABOUT 68 MILLION PEOPLE TO HELP THEM STAY AFLOAT BUT THE ARTICLE ASKS THE QUESTION WE ARE ALL THINKING WHICH IS WHETHER THAT IS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY KEEP UP WITH WHAT THINGS COST NOW. I AM TRYING TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCE HERE AND IF THE COSTS GO UP HIGHER THAN THAT PERCENTAGE THEN THE INCREASE DOES NOT REALLY HELP ANYBODY WHICH IS A TOTAL HEADACHE TO THINK ABOUT WHILE I AM JUST TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS WEEKEND. WE HAVE TO WATCH THE DATA CLOSELY TO SEE IF THIS ACTUALLY WORKS OR IF WE ARE JUST CHASING OUR TAILS. ANYWAY I HOPE SOMEBODY IS WRITING THIS DOWN.

Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment next year, though it remains unclear if this will effectively offset inflation for the 68 million people affected.

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