...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: 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: "...cope with the runaway inflation of earlier this decade and the continued high prices for food, housing, utilities and other necessities.
That’s forcing more of them to spend their emergency savings, carry debt on credit cards or apply for assistance programs, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan public education and advocacy group. ...senior citizens are often in a more difficult predicament because many live off fixed incomes. Many depend heavily on Social Security – some 42% of elderly women and 37% of elderly men rely on the monthly payments"
Title: Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Study Reveals
Article Snip: "...Using cannabis may cause changes in the human body's epigenome, a study of over 1,000 adults suggests. The epigenome functions like a set of switches, activating or deactivating genes to change how our bodies function.
"We observed associations between cumulative marijuana use and multiple epigenetic markers across time," Lifang Hou, a preventative medical doctor and epidemiologist from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine explained in July 2023.
Cannabis is a commonly used substance in the United States, with 49 percent of people ..."
Title: Dave Pascoe | I’m 61 but have the body of a 38-year-old — here’s how I biohacked the aging process
Article Snip: "...Dave Pascoe, who hails from Michigan, is a retired network-security engineer and a “full-time biohacker” devoted to turning back his genetic clock.
On his website, the age-defying singleton shares his elaborate exercise and diet plans, claiming that he takes a whopping 158 supplements per day. ..."
Title: OPM Video | A Quick Guide to the Federal Retirement Process
Article Snip: "...The Retirement Quick Guide walks you through what to expect as your retirement application is processed and your benefits are determined. Federal employees can see an outline of the steps they should take prior to retirement, as well as links to more information about different benefits..."
Reference: www.youtube.comA Notice by the Postal Service on 02/22/2013
Title: Federal Register Notice Relating to a U.S. Postal Service Web Site Called keepingposted.org
Article Snip: "The U.S. Postal Service has a Web site called keepingposted.org available for retired USPS employees who want to stay connected with postal news, events and people. This site also provides links to other retirement resources and services. ...
II. Rationale for Changes to USPS Privacy Act Systems of Records
The Postal Service wants to contact postal retirees to make them aware they can find on the Keeping Posted Web site up-to-date news and information about the organization, messages to retirees from the Postmaster General, as well as continuing federal retiree benefit information. ..."
Title: Legislation to Restrict ESG Investing in Retirement Plans Resurfaces
Article Snip: "...Retirement plans, like 401(k)s, that are tax-advantaged to help individuals save for retirement should be managed to maximize return, not to invest in risky holdings like those propped up by ESG factors,” Rep. Murphy said in a statement. “Americans' nest eggs should be built on a solid foundation that confers the greatest growth probability, not investments that are unstable and whitewashed with fake ethical and sustainability scores. ..."
Reference: www.asppa.orgTitle: I paid my 40 quarters, why is my social security benefit reduced?
Article Snip: "...While your annuity cannot be reduced, any Social Security benefit you are entitled to will be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision. The WEP reduces that benefit if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. For a full explanation of the WEP and how it will affect you, go to https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf . ..."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comTitle: Cost of Renting vs. Owning a Home in Every State
Article Snip: "According to conventional financial wisdom, it’s more cost-efficient to own a home than to rent one. But with high home prices across the U.S., is that still the case?...To find out the more affordable housing option, GOBankingRates analyzed the average price of renting versus owning a home in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. The study found that in the majority of states, it is..."
Reference: yahoo.comArticle Snip: "Illegal Aliens in Denver and New York City Purchasing Fraudulent Social Security Cards...Top destination choices for illegal aliens due to their sanctuary policies – are experiencing an uptick in illegal aliens purchasing fraudulent social security cards...This uptick is concerning given it signals both a growing amount of identity fraud perpetrated on Americans and the use of these numbers to illegally obtain jobs. In New York City, where nearly 180,000 illegal aliens have entered since 2022, criminals with ties to MS-13 and the 18th Street gang are openly selling social security cards to migrants on street corners in Queens."
Reference: finchannel.comArticle Snip: "...The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set up a process whereby noncitizens can apply for a Social Security number as part of the immigration process. Typically, immigrants will simultaneously apply for both a Social Security number and work authorization...what qualifies a person for Social Security benefits, and how non-citizens and immigrants can oftentimes participate. ...Immigrants who have work permits — or those who acquire lawful permanent resident status — can qualify for Social Security benefits in the same manner as U.S. citizens. ...important note for immigrants is that if you have worked in a country that the U.S. has a “totalization agreement” with, you may be able to use your foreign work credits to help qualify for U.S. Social Security."
Reference: yahoo.comTitle: A bill to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits has been reintroduced
Article Snip: "...bill announced in the U.S. House could scrap federal taxes on Social Security benefits starting in 2025... dubbed the “You Earned It, You Keep It Act,” that would repeal the taxation of Social Security benefits, putting money back into the pockets of retirees."
Reference: www.msn.comSnippet of Article: "...Joe Biden stated that funding in a Ukrainian aid package, and later approved by our lawmakers, could be used to pay Ukrainian pensions.
This February, a former Texas city councilman stated that Biden’s announcement means that U.S. Taxpayers are paying pensions and welfare for Ukrainians. Meanwhile, millions of Americans including veterans are unable to pay for food, housing or medical, and thousands more are homeless on the street.
Biden stated funding provides food, water, medicine and shelter to displaced Ukrainians. It also supports pensions in order that the Ukrainians “have something in their pocket.”..."
Title: US Inflation Rises in February in Sign Price Pressures Remain Elevated
Article Snip: "Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge...Prices rose 0.4% from January to February, higher than the previous month's figure of 0.3%, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices rose 3.2% last month, faster than January's 3.1% annual pace.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called "core" prices also climbed 0.4% from January to February... "
Title: 11 States That Will Tax Social Security Benefits in 2024
Article Snip: "...These are the 11 states that tax Social Security benefits in 2023 and are expected to do the same in 2024: Colorado..."
Reference: yahoo.coTitle: I’m a Retirement Expert: These 7 States Are Better for Retirement Than Florida
Article Snip: "..the state’s ongoing insurance crisis is spiraling toward catastrophe and the hurricanes that have long plagued Florida’s summers and falls are becoming more frequent and severe. All of that, plus the state’s emergence as an epicenter of America’s political and culture wars, is making some people rethink the Sunshine State as the go-to retirement destination. But which states offer a better alternative?...“Alabama is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees,” said Shelley. “The state has no taxes on Social Security benefits, pension income or withdrawals from retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. This makes it an attractive destination for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income. In addition to its tax-friendly policies, Alabama also boasts a low cost of living"
Reference: finance.yahoo.comArticle Snip: "...She attempted to mitigate her feelings of isolation by reading and doing various projects at home, but Maki told me that between not having close contact with family members and living alone in a new city, she reached a point where "enough is enough." Her outlook shifted in March of last year when she..."
Reference: www.businessinsider.comTitle: Sen. Lee introduces bill to protect taxpayer dollars from woke ESG funds
Article Snip: "...“Last year, the Thrift Savings Plan began allowing federal employees to invest their taxpayer-funded salaries into ESG plans. The U.S. Government has no business propping up woke scams like ESG. ..."
Reference: www.lee.senate.govArticle Snip: "...claims that new ones are on the way are due in part to the growth of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in creating content, says McKenzie Sadeghi, AI and foreign influence editor for NewsGuard, a company that monitors misinformation in online media.
Imminent stimulus checks are a staple of “content farms,” she says — supposed news sites that regurgitate dubious information and often rely on AI-generated articles with little or no human oversight. ..."
Title: Keeping a Mortgage After 65: A ‘No Brainer’ or a Big Risk?
Article Snip: "Conventional wisdom dictates that retiring with debt — especially a debt as large and significant as a mortgage — is financially dicey at best and potentially ruinous at worst.
That’s not how Brian Lindmeier sees it. ..."
everify Social Security Lock | Protect Yourself From The Foreign Invasion Snippet of Article: "...Self Lock is the unique feature...