Social Security

Audience members talk about social security before a Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, campaign event at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(Paul Sancya)

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry

More than 100 seniors have called Congressman Scott Perry's office to complain about the same thing: they aren't seeing an increase in their Social Security payments this year.

And they're right to complain, according to the U.S. House Republican from York County.

The Social Security Administration in October announced Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for nearly 65 million Americans would not automatically increase in 2016.

That decision was triggered by a part of the Social Security Act that provides an automatic increase to payments if inflation increases - a cause-and-effect political policy that's been in place since 1975. It's a formula that ensured recipients received a 6 percent increase during the recession and 2 percent increase in recent years.

But inflation didn't increase in the last year, according to the Department of Labor's recent Consumer Price Index, and a cost-of-living adjustment was not made.

A closer look shows lower gas prices, which fell 22 percent in the last year, held down inflation while other consumer prices increased.

This is the third time in 40 years Social Security recipients haven't received an increase, and they've all happened during the Obama administration. A cost-of-living adjustment was also withheld in 2010 and 2011.

While that may be indicative of a recovering economy, it's not comforting to seniors and retirees who face higher prices for food and medical care.

Many seniors in the 4th Congressional District, which includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin and York counties, rely on Social Security as a primary source of income, "including my mother and other friends and relatives," Perry said.

"Their main frustration is with the Department of Labor's reliance on low gas prices to make this decision," he said. "Many constituents have argued that low gas prices don't impact seniors - who often drive less - as much as health care costs, food, taxes and other issues."

Perry has previously called for reforms to Social Security funding, including the formula that determines cost-of-living adjustments.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Scranton Democrat who represents Pennsylvania, has also called for reforms and is a co-sponsor of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act.

His office, like Perry's, has received "a fair number of emails and letters about the lack of" a cost-of-living adjustment this year, according to Casey's press secretary Jacklin Rhoads.

As he did following the lack of automatic cost-of-living increases in 2010 and 2011, Senator Casey has cosponsored legislation to make a one-time payment to Social Security beneficiaries and alleviate the effects of a lack of adjustment this year, she said.

The legislation, also called the SAVE Benefits Act, would give seniors a one-time payment of about $580 - a 4 percent increase.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee. As a member of the committee, Casey will continue to advocate for the legislation, Rhoads said.

Congressman Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., did not respond to questions for this report.