(Photo By 401(K) 2012)

You may be asking yourself, what do gas prices and Social Security have to do with the economy?

It so happens that if the gas prices stay lower, then there will be no Social Security increase in 2016.

According to cinewsnow.com, millions of social security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect no increase in benefits this year.

Later this week, the government will announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment.

The adjustment is based on a government measure of inflation, which is being dragged down by lower gas prices.

Inflation has been so low this year that economists say there’s little chance the numbers will produce a benefit increase for next year.

For the record, only twice before has there been no increase in Social Security.