Social Security bill would give recipients an extra $200 per month
“One of my highest priorities is protecting Social Security, which millions of Americans rely on, including hundreds of thousands of Oregonians. The Social Security Expansion Act would: • Extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund 75 years, through 2096, by requiring the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share into the fund, just like everyone else. • Expand Social Security benefits across-the-board for current and new beneficiaries. Under this bill, Social Security benefits for someone turning 62 next year would be $200 per month higher. • Combine the Disability Insurance Trust Fund with the Old Age and Survivors Trust fund to help senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
mlive.comAnother record-high Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2023 could put more money in retirees' wallets and impact the program's funds
Early signs point to a higher Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2023. That may put more money in retirees' wallets and impact the program's funds.
cnbc.com‘Full investigation’ pledged of vast fines imposed by Social Security
Three House leaders with oversight of the Social Security Administration called on President Biden and acting commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi to investigate Inspector General Gail Ennis's administration of an anti-fraud program that levied massive fines on poor and elderly disabled people accused of wrongly receiving disability benefits.
washingtonpost.comTop 10 baby names: The most popular names for boys and girls
The Social Security Administration (SSA) just released its list of most popular baby boy and baby girl names for 2021 in the U.S., so if you’re a future parent you might want to keep reading. This year marks the fifth consecutive year that Liam has topped the list for boys’ names. It is also the third year in a row that Olivia has topped the list for girls’ names. The SSA has released an annual list of most popular baby names for boys and girls since 1997. Here is the full list of top 10 girls’ and top 10 boys’ baby names in the U.S.:Top 10 baby girls’ names in the U.S.:Olivia Emma Charlotte Amelia Ava Sophia Isabella Mia Evelyn HarperTop 10 baby boys’ names in the U.S.:
mlive.comI never paid into Social Security. Can I still collect benefits?
Someone told me that I am entitled to collect spousal Social Security. “You have the option to start taking these benefits as early as 62, but they will be permanently reduced.”The Social Security Administration has a quick online calculator to help you estimate the reduction of benefits by taking Social Security early. Social Security explains this as: Under Social Security’s “dual entitlement rule,” a person’s spousal benefit is reduced, dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of his or her own Social Security. However, note that your husband needs to be receiving Social Security benefits for you to receive spousal benefits. Scheibner notes that Social Security says: “If you receive a retirement or disability pension from a federal, state, or local government based on your own work for which you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, we may reduce your Social Security spouses or widows or widowers’ benefits.”“We’ll reduce your Social Security benefits by two-thirds of your government pension.
mlive.comSocial Security offices will reopen for first time since March 2020
Social Security offices have been closed nationwide since March 17, 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they will reopen Thursday, April 7. The Social Security Administration announced the news on Monday, April 4, via a statement from Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi. They can be made online or via the phone number above. Offices tend to be busiest first thing in the morning, early in the week and early in the month, Kijakazi said. Michigan has 36 Social Security Administration offices in the following areas.
mlive.comWest Michigan woman sentenced for $660K Social Security fraud scheme
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Newaygo woman was sentenced to federal prison for creating fictitious identities and falsified documents to obtain nearly $660,000 in Social Security benefits for non-existent people for roughly 17 years. Terrie Lynn Christian, 58, will serve 30 months in prison for her role in the fraudulent scheme, U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou ordered Tuesday, March 22. The judge noted Christian deserved the sentence because she essentially stole financial benefits that were earmarked to help the children of military members and the poor. Christian pleaded guilty in October 2021 to defrauding the Social Security Administration of over $550,000 by obtaining benefits for two fictitious children. “Her egregious acts resulted in a fraud loss of over $540,000,” added Gail S. Ennis, inspector general for the SSA.
mlive.comFewer hot showers, less meat: How retirees on fixed incomes are dealing with inflation
Rising prices are squeezing household budgets around the country and putting additional strain on its 56 million older residents ages 65 and up, many of whom rely on fixed incomes and limited savings to cover monthly costs for prolonged and unpredictable periods of time.
washingtonpost.comSocial Security hike in 2023 could be even bigger than this year
Social Security recipients received their biggest cost-of-living increase in decades this year, but they could be set for an even bigger bump in 2023, according to one early estimate. Seniors and others receiving Social Security benefits could see their checks rise by as much as 7.6% next year, according to the Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group, CNBC said. Social Security’s cost-of-living hike for 2022 was 5.9%, the biggest increase since the 1980s. There’s a strong chance inflation will continue through 2022, but if price increases slow or subside completely, Social Security benefits would rise less. The Social Security Administration generally announces each year’s cost-of-living increase in October and it takes effect in January.
mlive.comMore LGBTQ couples can access Social Security survivor benefits. The challenge is getting the word out.
Until this year, LGBTQ people who contributed part of their paycheck to the pot weren’t getting anything back in terms of survivor benefits — simply because of their sexual identity, a lawyer said.
washingtonpost.comA Harvard-trained economist shares his top 21 money rules: 'Own your home, don't rent—and try to buy in cash'
Making education, career, marriage, housing, investment, retirement or Social Security decisions? A Harvard-trained economist shares the money rules he follows for a richer, happier and safer financial life.
cnbc.comSocial Security payment schedule 2022: When will big increase start?
A calendar with payment schedule information for 2022 has been released by the Social Security Administration. According to the calendar, beneficiaries with a birth date on the 1st-10th of the month will receive payments on the second Wednesday of the month starting on Jan. 12. Supplemental Social Security beneficiaries are paid on the 1st of each month. Social Security benefits from prior to May 1997, or those receiving both Social Security and SSI, will be paid on the third of each month. COLA increaseThe 2022 payments will include a 5.9% increase, the biggest boost in 39 years.
mlive.comGenesee County bank manager admits to stealing $169,967 in Social Security funds from dead man
BAY CITY, MI — A Midland man admitted to stealing Social Security funds while working as the manager of a JPMorgan Chase Bank branch in Genesee County. Jeffrey Piecka, 46, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, in federal court pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris. Piecka admitted that between May 2012 and June 2020 he stole $169,967.63 from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Piecka managed the JPMorgan Chase branch at 4154 Davison Road in Burton from January 2008 through January 2013. In February 2017, Piecka used the dead man’s name, bank account number and bank routing number to generate a counterfeit online check, which drew from the decedent’s JPMorgan Chase bank account and was made payable to Piecka.
mlive.comWhen will I get my Social Security increase in 2022?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has released its payment schedule for 2022. These payments also will include the newly approved increase — a 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment. Here is what to know about when you will be receiving payments if you are eligible to receive Social Security with the new cost-of-living adjustments, according to GoBankingRates.com.
mlive.comSocial Security’s big 2022 increase: How to calculate your new payment
Social Security beneficiaries are slated to receive a 5.9% increase in 2022, the biggest boost in benefits in 39 years. The Social Security Administration will be sending out letters to beneficiaries detailing how much increase they will see but you can do a little math to find out how your payment will change. Add that amount to the original payment and you will see the increase that will be reflected in your check. The increase of $29.60 will be taken directly from Social Security checks so whatever increase is added to your existing benefits, you will have to deduct $29.60 to get the final amount. For people with birth dates on the 21st of the month through the 31st of the month, benefits will be paid on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
mlive.comMonroe Police Department warns residents about phone scam
MONROE, Mich. - Over the last few weeks, the Monroe Police Department has received several calls from local residents who say they were contacted by the U.S. Marshal's Office or the Social Security Administration. The caller is able to disguise their phone number to appear as if it were coming from a local telephone number, including the local police department. The Monroe Police Department does not store or keep social security numbers. To contact the Monroe Police Department about the phone scam, call 734-243-7500.
Texas woman admits addressing bombs to Obama, Texas governor
Julia Ann Poff, 47, admitted to addressing package bombs to former president Barack Obama, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Social Security Administration. HOUSTON - A Houston-area woman had admitted that she addressed package bombs to former president Barack Obama, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Social Security Administration. Julia Ann Poff pleaded guilty in a Houston federal court Monday to transporting explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate.