topic Re: Social Security in Community Chat

Social Security

elated — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:55:27 GMT

I read today the below info on increases for 2017:

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.

Re: Social Security

Rosebud 06 — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:00:20 GMT

I was just thinking about this the other day,since we didnot get a raise last year I am glad to hear that we are getting something this year. I just hope medicare doesnot get a raise. Thank you for the info.

Re: Social Security

SharkE — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:02:54 GMT

I got 2.00 raise

Medicare,just raised last yr. I don't look for it to raise again for some time.

All those still paying 104 will be lifted to, 120,probably, so, we will all pay the same.

Re: Social Security

LogoFan — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:06:41 GMT

I just received an email from Michael Phelan at Social Security Works. The increase will amount to $5 per month.

If you are interesting in protesting through this agency, you can contact them at "info@socialsecurity works.org." There should be a way to sign the petition to protest this small increase. They bascically are asking people to sign a petition to ask that everyone, including the wealthy, pay their fare share to Social Security,

Re: Social Security

SharkE — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:16:07 GMT

My letter was from the SS office and they told me 2.00

Re: Social Security

SharkE — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:17:04 GMT

unless that's for the folks drawing in the 2,000 range I guess.

Re: Social Security

Snowpuppy — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:28:16 GMT

Read the entire article. The raise includes those on disability as well as SSI.

65 million Americans get a check every month. That's more than 20% of our population or 1 in 5.

Think it's all retirees? Hardly.

Re: Social Security

CatsyCline — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:36:06 GMT

i just saw that on my local yokel news. the two 30ish anchors were snickering about how that averages to around $4 a month. hah hah chortle chortle and then hah hah your Medicare will be going up hah hah these two make close to $ 200,000 each.

Re: Social Security

fthunt — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:36:22 GMT

$5.00 isn't going to help much with a package of stew beef I saw at Wegmans today - couldn't believe my eyes.....$13 plus change for stew quality. I passed!

(and other selections of beef were all in the upper range - $18 - $22 which is why I usually shop a local family owned market for most thing and they have their own butcher shop on site)

Re: Social Security

bonnielu — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:47:40 GMT

Yippee. I will stay all night trying to figure out how I will spend it all.

Re: Social Security

Snowpuppy — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:54:32 GMT

@ashleigh dupray wrote:
i just saw that on my local yokel news. the two 30ish anchors were snickering about how that averages to around $4 a month. hah hah chortle chortle and then hah hah your Medicare will be going up hah hah these two make close to $ 200,000 each.

That's nothing.

Tune into CNN where Wolf earns an estimated $10M a year. Anderson probably outpaces that.

I cut the cord. Why tune in & make them wealthier?

Re: Social Security

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 23:57:51 GMT

All of this is unbelievable. I HAD to go on Medicare. I didn't want it, didn't need it, wanted to keep paying for my own insurance (which incidentally was hundreds of dollars a month). But I have the money and liked my insurance. Because I was self-employed I didn't have a choice. How'd you like that? That money could have gone to people who could use it.

As far as social security, I worked for the government before I had children so I didn't pay into social security. I didn't apply for social security until this year (I turn 70). For some reason they backed up the payments to October of 2015 so I received a large sum of money (I don't understand any of it). i receive money every month from Social Security.

Most of the people paying into it now will never get it back. They will have run out of money. I think it is totally mis-handled. My daughter bugged me to death when I was in my 60's to apply. I was told that due to investments I made too much money and for every $2 I was given one would have to be given back and it wouldn't make sense. She said, "It will be like you weren't here. Come back when you turn 70."

I know everyone says, "Your husband paid into it, you DESERVE it". I'm sorry but I think differently. I think you should be able to decide to whom to give your social security to and they'd get it. I receive it because it wouldn't make any difference helping others who really need the money.

I sit in my Drs offices and talk to people waiting. They tell me how this is the last visit because the Dr will no longer take only Medicare or for this or that reason. It breaks my heart. Medicare pays Drs next to nothing for these visits.

This is one more thing becoming like I say, "The have's and the have nots". I have friends who have "Concierge Medicine" (look it up). They pay the Dr X amount of money and he is specifically their Dr. In some cases they submit reimbursements and in a few the Dr does but they pay up front .....they have the money to do that. The Dr is always available to them.

This has always been a country for the young. However, they used to respect older citizens by taking care of them. You tell me, is this still the case?

Re: Social Security

SilleeMee — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:04:40 GMT

Old people who are poor are in serious trouble in this country when it comes to many things, especially healthcare.

Re: Social Security

SharkE — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:20:54 GMT

yep, and gonna get worse.

Re: Social Security

Kachina624 — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:25:40 GMT

Better be thankful for that pitiful increase. There's talk in some corners of reducing benefits.

Re: Social Security

Cakers3 — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:27:25 GMT

Medicare Part B increases cannot be more that SS increases.

But the increases in Medicare Part B will affect new enrollees in 2017 and unless Congress steps in this November there could be a steep jump for them.

Unfortunately COLA for SS basis some of the inflation factors on goods most seniors do not purchase-large ticket items.

But if anyone has been food shopping lately-and I'm sure we all have - food prices are not stable at all.

We shall see what happens but so far it isn't looking up for a lot of folks.

Re: Social Security

viva923 — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:50:47 GMT

that will give me about 1 1/2 gallon of fuel for me.

Read today that medicare is going up ,that should cancel out the pay raise and then some

Re: Social Security

tansy — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:51:54 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Better be thankful for that pitiful increase. There's talk in some corners of reducing benefits.

Yep. People need to pay attention.

Re: Social Security

Snowpuppy — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 01:09:48 GMT

Look at the proposals for paid family leave. It will be funded by SS.

So if 20% of the population gets a check, who is left that's paying in?

Re: Social Security

BlingQueen022 — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:49:28 GMT

All I know is that if you have Medicare you have "gold." When you have a secondary insurance you pay nothing. I can't wait to get medicare when I'm eligible. I'm tired of getting nickled and dimed to death from Federal Blue Shield. If I had Medicare, I'd pay nothing when I see doctors.