Federal Income Tax was Increased on Retirement Incomes

As of February 2011, those with a retirement income package that deducts Federal Income Tax from the retiree's monthly salary, has increased fifty dollars or more. This means the fifty dollars per month that would have gone toward necessities like groceries and other costs of living is being confiscated by the US government in the form of income taxation.

The average US citizen between 60 years of age and above within the borders of the United States lives on an annual income of $20,000 to $50,000 (per Wikipedia). The majority of US retirees are 65 years of age and older. They are included within the statistical data that creates this average annual income of $20,000 to $50,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the US poverty level median ranges between the annual incomes of $10,326 through $44,346. This means if the average retired American receives an annual income of $44,346 or less, he is living within the US poverty level. Increasing the Federal Income Tax for those receiving retirement benefits could mean a worse-case monetary situation; the difference between having a sustainable income or not.

As a Middle Class American witnessing this Federal Income Tax increase via my husband's retirement income, I found this penalization toward retirees who worked diligently and dependably for numerous years to receive their retirement package appalling. The US Federal Government should never increase any retired person's income tax. There are no good reasons for doing this.

A retirement income does not increase annually. It remains the same. If the cost of living goes up, the retired person has less to live on. This further lessons a retired person's ability to pay for cost of living necessities, prescription medications, prescription glasses and dentures which are common retiree needs. An increase in Federal Income Tax for those retired has forced some into moving to a cheaper and older rental that does not have a dishwasher, washer, dryer and other amenities most take for granted.

My husband's reaction to this unexpected Federal Income Tax increase was that the US government was informing him "to hurry up and die." Is this the message the US government wishes to deliver to an elderly US citizen? It better not be.

The US government by increasing the Federal Income Tax on retirement incomes is indicating the retired American voter is insignificant. This is an awful message to give any citizen. Retirees know how the US republic works and the importance of their vote. There are many retired American voting citizens. Their votes could mean the difference between whether or not an elected official gets voted into office. All Federal elected officials know all votes in an election matter and are significant.

It is time for elected officials to make governmental decisions in favor of those retired and Middle Class. The US government must cease initiating unnecessary monetary stress and anxiety upon unsuspecting retired citizens by increasing their Federal Income Tax burden. This concerned Middle Class American has one word for the US Federal Government, "STOP!"

Alicia Rose, personal viewing of husband's 2 monthly paystubs, CalPers, January & February 2011
Alicia Rose, personal studies, Political Science, 1978 - present
Table 691 - Money Income of Households--Distribution by Income Level and Selected Characteristics: 2008, U.S. Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/income_expenditures_poverty_wealth/household_income.html
Table 709 - Poverty Thresholds by Size of Unit: 1980 - 2008, U.S. Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/income_expenditures_poverty_wealth/poverty.html
Table 34 - Persons 65 Years Old and Over-Characteristics: 1980 - 1990, U.S. Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/population/elderly_racial_and_hispanic_origin_population_profiles.html Household Income in the United States, Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States