The Social Security Administration is set to announce tomorrow that no cost-of-living allowances will be paid next year, so to offset that, President Obama called on Congress today to approve $250 payments to more than 50 million seniors. The White House estimates the cost at $13 billion.

It will be the first time since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975 that annual increases — pegged to inflation — will not be paid.

The one-time payments would also go to people receiving veterans benefits, disability benefits, railroad retirees and retired public employees who don't receive Social Security. Congress is considering similar plans.

Obama said the payments cannot come from the Social Security trust funds, the Associated Press writes.