All Posts in "Featured Articles"

Each year, on Nov. 11, America observes Veterans Day and honors the men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Many of our Vietnam era veterans are now nearing retirement age, or already there. It is important that they — and other American service personnel — know just what retirement benefits they can count on from Social Security as they make their future financial plans.

Like most of the civilian workforce, all current military personnel pay Social Security taxes and earn Social Security coverage. Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Also, earnings for inactive duty service in the reserves (such as weekend drills) have had Social Security coverage since 1988.

In addition to regular military pay, Social Security adds special earnings credits to an individual’s Social Security record when he or she serves in the military. The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty training. If, for example, a person served in the military between 1957 and 1977, he or she has been credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which active duty basic pay was earned. These extra earnings may help someone qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of the Social Security benefit.

The number of credits an individual needs to qualify for Social Security depends on his or her age and the type of benefit. Any future Social Security benefit payment depends on a person’s earnings, averaged over a working lifetime. Generally, the higher a person’s earnings, the higher his or her Social Security benefit will be.

And remember that Social Security is more than retirement. If a worker becomes disabled before reaching retirement age, he or she may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. A disabled worker’s spouse and dependent children also may be eligible for benefits. If a worker dies, the widow or widower and dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits.

If you, or someone you know, were wounded while on active duty in the military, find out more about what Social Security can do by visiting our website designed specifically for wounded warriors: www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors. There, you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Veterans and others who are within 10 years of retirement age should begin planning for retirement. A good place to start is with Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

For more information, you can read our fact sheet, Military Service and Social Security, which is available on our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html.

Contributing Author by — November 12, 2011 in Everything Else
Local senior experts put on free community panel

There’s a lot to caring for older relatives.  Most people think they are alone or and this can be even worse, they think they have to do it alone because they owe it to Mom or Dad or Aunt Jane.  The truth is the old joke about getting old not being for sissies isn’t much of a joke.  It’s tough on the person who seemingly suddenly needs help and it’s tough on the younger generation while they try to figure out how to offer help without injuring the pride of someone they love.

That’s where a free community panel on Nov. 5 comes in.  Local senior experts will answer a variety of questions and be available after the presentation for additional questions from members of the community.  Need to know what resources are available for someone with dementia?  Come to the forum.  Need to know if your parents have to lose their home to gain access to some benefits?  Come to the forum.  Need to know how to help your parents stay in their home as they age?  Come to the forum.

Local experts will speak on topics including: elder law, Medicaid Eligibility, geriatric care management, medical alert systems, resources for aging and long term care, in-home care and senior living facilities.

The community forum, which is sponsored by Rehmke & Flynn, PLLC, Elder Law Attorneys, Pierce County Aging and Disability Services, Elder Assessment & Referral Services and Cascade Park Communities, will be held at the Soundview Building, 3602 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.  For questions, contact Jonete Rehmke at (253) 460-3190.

Bonnie Dickson by — November 3, 2011 in Everything Else
Hill and Dale club plants sunshine at soldiers’ home

Photo courtesy of Hill and Dale Garden Club

For the past three years, members of the Hill and Dale District of garden clubs have been planting daffodil bulbs at the Orting Soldiers’ Home.  This year the district was a little short of money and none of the local nurseries had bulbs to donate, however, the the home is facing cutbacks and the residents are so appreciative it is something the women want to do.  They’ve applied for a grant and went ahead with fingers crossed.  They’ve now planted 1,900 daffodils.

Karla Stover by — November 2, 2011 in Everything Else

Initiative 1163 must be defeated because its $80 million cost cannot be paid for without tax increases or cuts to vital senior services.  Like the rest of the nation, the State of Washington has grappled with crippling budget deficits for four legislative sessions.  With Governor Gregoire calling a special 30-day legislative session to deal with the crisis, there’s an additional 1.4 billion reasons to oppose I-1163.

As the Washington Research Council wrote in its new initiative analysis:  “I-1163:  One, twice, still not a priority.”

Voters, don’t be fooled. I-1163 represents the wrong priorities.  Mandatory caregiver training and criminal background checks are already required by law.  I-1163 costs $80 million in the next two years and benefits just one interest group – Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Every daily newspaper in the state, including the News Tribune and the Seattle Times, have taken a position on this measure and urge voters to say NO 1163.

State officials agree.  At a time when they couldn’t agree on much, 82 percent of lawmakers voted to delay the previous training initiative, I-1029.  At a time when the Legislature was eliminating entire programs, elected officials were unwilling to fund a new government project.  Only SEIU and their few allies supported the expensive new program.

Last spring, the Legislature cut more than $500 million in medical services and in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities.  Eliminated were vision and hearing aids, dental care, and a reduction in prescription drugs coverage.  In-home care services, which allow seniors and the people with disabilities to safely stay in their homes with the help of visiting caregivers, were slashed. Overall, there were more than $2 billion in cuts at DSHS, affecting children, the mentally ill, and the working poor.  Other areas of the state budget were slashed as well, including public education and prisons staffing.

Less than four months later, state agencies have prepared additional 10 percent cutbacks to address the latest shortfall, including the elimination of another $873 million at DSHS.  Care will end for 17,000 seniors and adults with disabilities; the Health Care Authority has sharply reduced emergency room visits for poor people receiving Medicaid; and our correctional facilities are releasing hundreds of inmates and mental patients into the community.

The state is desperate for money.  There is simply no way to pay for I-1163.

Our industry is absolutely committed to the highest standards of training and professional business practices.   That isn’t what this initiative is about. It’s about a powerful special interest writing self-serving policy for their own benefit.

How does SEIU propose to pay the $80 million price tag of I-1163?   SEIU’s selfish, cavalier approach to the current budget crisis is unconscionable. Whose medical services will be eliminated to pay for I-1163? Whose school lunches do they intend to cut? Whose taxes do they intend to raise?  How many seniors will go without care so the SEIU can fund their training program?

In addition to forcing a new program onto an unwilling state government, 1163 will require significant new costs on long term care, which will drive up the cost for residents and clients.  Nursing homes, adult family homes, and home care businesses will have to pay thousands of dollars per year to fund SEIU’s new program.  How many long term care workers will lose their jobs?  How many vulnerable adults will see the quality of their care diminished because long term care centers are forced to cut costs to pay for new training they neither want nor need?

To preserve services for seniors and people with disabilities, the only responsible thing to do is vote NO on 1163.

For addition information on the No on Initiative 1163 campaign, please visit: http://www.no1163.com/

 

(Julie Ferguson is co-chair of People Protecting Our Seniors – NO 1163 (www.no1163.com) is a broad-based coalition that includes organizations advocating for senior protection, disability rights, residential housing, long term care, business and consumer advocates.  The coalition members care for more than 500,000 seniors and people with disabilities in the State of Washington.)

Contributing Author by — October 28, 2011 in Everything Else