Richard Borgens learned of the upcoming 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment to Social Security while traveling to Super 1 Foods in Post Falls on Wednesday for a grocery run.

He appreciated it.

"I could use the money," Borgens said.

The COLA will boost benefits for nearly 72 million Social Security recipients beginning in January. About 7.3 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income may see the higher amounts starting at the end of December.

Not all seniors in North Idaho were convinced by the Social Security Administration's COLA announcement and doubt it will even offset inflation.

Barbara Mowry said the pay increase means less actual help. 

“As soon as they give us COLA, our food program goes down, our housing payment goes up, and the people that are paying Medicare, the payment goes up for premiums,” she said in Post Falls.

Mowry, who receives Social Security, called the program's operation “a circle that is a disaster” and said she wishes “they would leave it alone.” She also said the national inflation already outpaces the COLA adjustment and will have little impact for many. 

“It’s never been enough,” she said. “We are one step away from homeless.” 

The COLA adjustment adds roughly $75 per month. 

Mowry said many people will be excited to hear about the COLA until they understand the effects. 

“They don’t know until it happens,” she said, “When they lose their food, when their rent goes up, and of course, electricity goes up.” 

Post Falls resident Regina Cockrell said she was glad to hear about the COLA increase and called it “wonderful.”

“Anything helps,” she said. 

Cockrell said she spends most of her Social Security payments on needs like rent, groceries and utilities. She echoed similar worries concerning inflation and how it has outpaced COLA. 

“It’s not enough,” she said. 

When asked what she thought would be a fair raise, Cockrell answered, “10%.” 

In June, a Social Security trustees report estimated that the federal Social Security program will be insolvent by 2032, according to CBS News. Cockrell said hearing talk like that makes her “sad.” 

“We are all in this together,” she said.