ONLY the GOP want to do away with the Social Security all together. The Democrats, Independents, Socialists, etc. all want to refund the Social Security & make it law the funds are not to be use for anything else. The Democratic candidates are running on that platform, among others.

I agree the money taken from the Social Security Trust Funds should be paid back, and the original Trust Funds re-established as they were set up.  However, I doubt that will ever happen.

As far as no Cola (Cost of Living Adjustment)  increase this year, it has nothing to do with any current "off-the-wall" decision made by any current politicians from either party.  

Before 1975, it took an act of Congression to increase benefits.  But Beginning in 1975, Social Security benefits began receiving automatic cost-of-living adjustments each year so beneficiaries' buying power could keep pace with inflation.  Since 1983, COLAs have been based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the prior year to the corresponding quarter of the current year.  Due to slowing inflation over the past year, the CPI-W during the first two quarters of 2015 has actually declined from a year ago. Therefore, no COLA increase is due.  Other non COLA increases occurred in 2010 and 2011 — the only two times since automatic COLAs were instituted since 1975 that Social Security recipients received no bump-up in benefits.  There were modest increases from 2012 till now.  

It's disappointing I know (I am a Civil Service Pensioner and a Social Security recipient and will get no increase in either this time), but that is the Law and it will not change unless that Law is changed and again, I don't see that happening. I'm sorry but all the rambling reasons for why we will get no raises in 2016 are way off the mark.  

Its not only the GOP.. its all of congress.. Congress is a mess...I say vote every one of them out of office...if its a dem then vote for the rep.. if yours is a rep then vote for the dem... Wow would that kind of a mass revolt shock all the press and the Fed Government....then maybe the Senate and President would liisten to us.. and besides it would feel good just to do it.. I am so FED up with the FED.

I also heard that even though there will be no increase in benefits, some premiums may go up as much as 50%.

I think the "low gas prices" was just an excuse to not increase benefits! They had to blame it on something.

When gas prices were high I wonder how many people were notified that they didn't have to pay into it becauses prices were high!!!