Social security recipients get tiny increase in benefits

WASHINGTON — Millions of Social Security recipients and federal retirees will get a 0.3 percent increase in monthly benefits next year, the fifth year in a row that older Americans will have to settle for historically low raises.There was no increase this year. Next year's benefit hike will be small because inflation is low, driven in part by lower fuel prices.The federal government announced the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, Tuesday. By law, the COLA is based on a government measure