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Social Security and You: You Must Pay In To Get Something Out
More than a few people are just bound and determined to believe the worst about the government in general and about the Social Security system in particular.
Here is one example of that. In my recent survey of the services provided by the Social Security Administration, hundreds of my readers praised the agency and gave it an average rating of ...Read more
Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm
Every day, the scene plays out in hospitals across America: Older men and women lie on gurneys in emergency room corridors moaning or suffering silently as harried medical staff attend to crises.
Even when physicians determine these patients need to be admitted to the hospital, they often wait for hours — sometimes more than a day — in the ...Read more
Column: An unexpected benefit of aging is how people tell you all kinds of stuff
This is my Medicare eligibility year so, naturally, I feel a bit like that home appliance with AI capabilities reaching the end of its warranty. I sense that things are breaking down, but I’m hoping to get years more service before being hauled off to the dump or whatever. I would also happily use the rest of this space to list my various ...Read more
Laid off right before retirement? Here’s what to do next
No one wants to get laid off, let alone five years shy of retirement.
According to a study by ProPublica and the Urban Institute, around 56% of workers over age 50 are let go from a job at least once.
If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, there are steps you can take while waiting for retirement age. According to Forbes, here are...Read more
3 ways to save money for people on a fixed income
Living on a fixed income in 2024 can be a tough task for U.S. retirees.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your budget well into your golden years.
Downsize
From scaling back on personal possessions to moving into a smaller home, downsizing for retirement is all about improving affordability. Downsizing is not always the right ...Read more
Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm
Every day, the scene plays out in hospitals across America: Older men and women lie on gurneys in emergency room corridors moaning or suffering silently as harried medical staff attend to crises.
Even when physicians determine these patients need to be admitted to the hospital, they often wait for hours — sometimes more than a day — in the ...Read more
Please simplify Medicare’s enrollment process
Toni:
I need to make the right Medicare decision because I turn 65 in August and have not had a health plan for 2 years. I do not know where to start or what to do. My friends are advising me that if I do not sign up for Medicare when I turn 65, I will be making a major Medicare mistake.
Can you please simplify the Medicare enrollment ...Read more
Social Security and You: Social Security Administration Services - The People Speak
In last week's column, I shared the results of a survey I conducted with my readers in which I asked you to rate the service you got from the Social Security Administration using the ubiquitous star system: 5 stars for good service down to 1 star for poor service. I got more than 200 responses. And your responses averaged out to 4.5 stars.
Many...Read more
As some nursing homes cry poverty, what can be done about increased staffing requirements?
If you suspect that you or a loved one might one day end up in a nursing home, and you breathed a sigh of relief when the Biden administration announced increased staffing requirements on April 22, you may need to pull a Larry David and curb your enthusiasm.
Biden's follow-through on an earlier promise was applauded by many, given the dark ...Read more
What’s the difference between in home health care and at-home?
Dear Toni,
I need your help regarding my parents who are in their late 80s. My mother has been disabled with Parkinson’s for the past 3 years and my father has been her caretaker, but due to his recent heart attack, he can no longer assist her.
They do not have a long-term care plan, and discussing having live-in help or living in an ...Read more
Social Security and You: Survey Says 4.5 Stars
Well, the votes are in. Several weeks ago, I asked my readers to rate the service they got from the Social Security Administration in the form of stars: 5 stars for good service down to 1 star for poor service. More than 250 of you responded. And the overall rating averaged out to a solid 4.5 stars.
This is much higher than I would have guessed...Read more
Enrolling in Medicare when laid off
Hello Toni:
My husband, Steven, has been laid off from a company he worked with for over 20 years. His employer is downsizing due to changes in the economy and May 31 will be his last day.
Steve is 68, enrolled in Medicare Part A but never enrolled in Medicare B because he had employer benefits. He is stressed, wondering how to apply for ...Read more
Social Security and You: Public Employees Are NOT Being Cheated by Offsets
A month or so ago, I wrote a column about people who mistakenly think they are being cheated by the Social Security Administration out of benefits they believe they are due.
But one group I didn't mention in that column are the biggest complainers of all: public employees such as teachers and police officers in certain states, many of whom don'...Read more
Travel Trending with Kathy Witt: Savor the journey on Amtrak
There are many reasons travelers choose train travel over other modes of transportation – and there are many reasons why they don’t. Nobody chooses a cross-country rail excursion to get somewhere fast, ignore the views, keep to themselves, binge-watch shows or pack food along (as has become the norm with plane travel).
Rail travelers are a ...Read more
Why is Medicare Part D’s IRMAA premium so high?
Dear Toni:
I am turning 65 in June, self-employed, and my income together with my wife’s is over $300,000. Recently I received a letter from Social Security telling me that my monthly Medicare Part B premium of $174.70 would double to $349.40 per month due to 2022 reported income. That was no surprise, but Social Security also said that ...Read more
Social Security and You: Foreign-Born Parents Not Mooching Off the Social Security System
Q: I am sick and tired of all these people who bring their parents over here from foreign countries and then immediately put them on their Social Security account. No wonder Social Security is going broke! I personally know two couples in my neighborhood who get Social Security. They brought their parents up from Mexico and now they are mooching...Read more
‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Raines, a white-haired man in a red track suit and matching University of Alabama ball cap, cracked jokes as physical therapist Brad Ellis led him through a series of exercises designed to strengthen his legs.
Raines, who is 79, pretended to be in pain, but his grin belied his tone of mock suffering. The men were ...Read more
The typical retiree might not look like what you imagine
ATLANTA -- America is facing a looming retirement crisis, according to a recent Business Insider report. Many older adults are financially vulnerable and live off less than $30,000 a year.
There was a spike in early retirements during the pandemic, but some have since “unretired” because of high costs and elevated interest rates. As of 2023...Read more
Study: Cannabis might lower blood pressure in older adults
A study from 2020 found the number of Americans age 65 and older who smoke marijuana or enjoy edibles increased 75% from 2015 to 2018. A newer study suggests that might be a good thing for some.
The study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and its affiliated Soroka University Medical Center found medical cannabis might reduce ...Read more
Column: Death is certain, but funeral home pricing often isn’t
ATLANTA -- There’s a new scam that has been sweeping the nation.
Crooks search funeral notices to identify people who have recently lost a loved one. After waiting enough time for funeral arrangements to be made, these unscrupulous folks call family or friends pretending to be the funeral home, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Then,...Read more
