Thomas MacMillan Photo
Manny Gomez worked for Winchester Repeating Arms for 44 years, paying into social security with each paycheck. Now at 84 he can’t afford to live off his social security check, he said. And he can’t afford a proposed change to calculating the federal retirement benefit.
Gomez (pictured) shared his story at a Tuesday afternoon protest on the Green. He joined several dozen others who linked arms to rally against proposed changes to the way the federal government calculates social security benefits.
The rally was organized by the AFL-CIO and the Alliance for Retired Americans. It was part of a nationwide day of protest with human chains being formed at rallies in a variety of locations.
People collecting social security currently receive a monthly check made out in an amount based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the market price of a range of basic consumer goods. President Obama has proposed switching to a “chained CPI,” a method of calculation that proponents say more accurately reflects quick changes in the actual cost of making ends meet, allowing social security to stay solvent. (Click here for a story detailing both sides of the debate on the issue.) Switching to a chained CPI would lower the expected rate of increase in future social security payments. Opponents say the change would will mean too little money for too many people.
The latter message was on display on the Green on Tuesday afternoon.
“We can’t afford cuts,” Gomez said. “It’s all right when you’ve got a whole lot of money in your pocket, but there are those of us who are struggling.”
Gomez said he works part time as a gate attendant at Southern Connecticut State University; he gets laid off in the summers.
Gomez said he needs the extra money for medicine and health care co-pays. Even at 84 years old, he can’t afford to fully retire, he said. “Still working. Can’t do otherwise.”
Gomez said social security payments are not handouts. “We’ve earned it.”
“We’re entitled, we’re entitled to get the money we put into it,” John Olsen (pictured), president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO announced to the crowd. He compared the situation to putting money into a bank and then not being able to take it out. “If we keep fighting, we’ll win.”
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Senators Dick Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have all come out against a switch to chained CPI.
