...providing retirement news snippets from various sources for federal employees, postal employees, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who receive Social Security . Your resource for retirement living, investment, employment, health care, and retirement leisure. - Stay Informed!
Title: The US is mailing Americans free COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
Article Snip: "...reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov. The tests will begin shipping, via the United States Postal Service, as soon as next week. ..."
Reference: www.dailybreeze.comTitle: West Virginia is the most affordable state, study says
Article Snip: "...CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — If you’re looking for an affordable state to live and buy a home, several recent studies say that West Virginia is your best option in the U.S. A recent report by doxo used the 2024 Cost of Bill Index (COBI) found that West Virginia’s standard cost of living is 25% lower than the national average. ..."
Reference: www.wboy.comTitle: Stocks Retreat After Fed Minutes Show Uncertainty Over Inflation
Article Snip: "...Stocks fell Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting showed concerns about persisting inflation and cast more doubt on when officials might cut interest rates. The S&P 500 declined 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite edged 0.2% lower after ..."
Reference: Wall Street JournalTitle: 76% of Americans feel it's a bad time to buy a house: Gallup
Article Snip: "...the 30-year fixed mortgage rate still sits above 7%. Meanwhile, according to a Gallup Poll, 76% of Americans feel it is a bad time to buy a home. ..."
Reference: finance.yahoo.comArticle Snip: "...2024 will be a record-breaking year for retirement in the U.S., with an average of 11,000 Americans a day expected to celebrate their 65th birthday from now until December. Approximately 4.1 million Americans are poised to turn 65 this year and every year through 2027, according to a report from the Alliance for Lifetime Income. Dubbed by experts as "peak 65" or the "silver tsunami," the figure represents the largest surge of retirement-age Americans in history...."
Reference: www.cbsnews.comArticle Snip: "...careful look at the labor market now will suggest that hiring has just ground to a halt...The problem is that the Fed badly misread how long high inflation would linger...In December, the core inflation print notched an annual 3.2% increase. "They've never missed in that direction by that magnitude ..."
Reference: www.businessinsider.comArticle Snip: "The 77-year-old Trump recorded the biggest margin of victory in the modern history of the Iowa GOP caucus ...“I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki...“I think they both actually did very well. I really do. I think they both did very well.” ...“I really think this is time now for everybody in our country to come together. We want to come together — "
Reference: nypost.comTitle: 2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
Article Snip: "...On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. ...Each year, the Medicare Part B premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates are determined according to provisions of the Social Security Act. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $174.70 for 2024, an increase of $9.80 from $164.90 in 2023. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $240 in 2024, an increase of $14 from the annual deductible of $226 in 2023. "
Reference: www.cms.goveverify Social Security Lock | Protect Yourself From The Foreign Invasion Snippet of Article: "...Self Lock is the unique feature...