Trump: ‘Under no circumstances’ should Republicans cut Social Security or Medicare

Title: Trump: ‘Under no circumstances’ should Republicans cut Social Security or Medicare

Article Snip: "...“Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security to help pay for Joe Biden’s reckless spending spree, which is more reckless than anybody’s ever done or had in the history of our country,” Trump said in a recorded video statement posted to Truth Social. The former president, who in November launched a 2024 White House campaign, called for cuts to a slew of other areas, including funding for “corrupt foreign countries,” “climate extremism,” “left-wing gender programs from our military” and “waste, fraud and abuse everywhere we can find it.”..."

Reference: yahoo.com
Trump and Social Security,debt ceiling,Democrats will force Republicans to Shutdown Government on Debt Ceiling Fight, Democrat Pork and the Debt Ceiling,

How early can I apply if I want to draw Social Security at age 62?

Title: How early can I apply if I want to draw Social Security at age 62?

Article Snip: "...You can apply for retirement benefits up to four months before you want to start receiving your benefits. Even if you are not ready to retire, you still should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. ..."

Reference: ssa.gov
How early can I apply if I want to draw Social Security at age 62?

How many years must you have worked to apply for Social Security benefits?

Title: How many years must you have worked to apply for Social Security benefits?

Article Snip: "...The Social Security Administration was established in 1935 to provide financial support for retired workers who contributed to the program through taxes on earned income. Additional programs have been added over the years to cover benefits for disability, survivors and those with limited financial means. While the standard amount of credits a worker must obtain to apply for retirement benefits is 40, each program has its own requirements. Here’s a look at how long you need to work in order to qualify for Social Security benefits. ..."

Reference: as.com
Social Security

What is the federal government's new retirement program?

Title: What is the federal government's new retirement program?

Article Snip: "...Under the new program, the federal government will deposit a 50% match on up to $2,000 of a worker’s contribution to a workplace or individual retirement account — a maximum of $1,000 per person. Eligibility is based on income, and the match is reduced over certain limits. ..."

Reference: www.seattletimes.com
federal government's new retirement program, Saver’s Credit,Secure 2.0,

Want that $7,500 EV tax break? Why buyers need to talk with an accountant and not just a car dealer

Title: Want that $7,500 EV tax break? Why buyers need to talk with an accountant and not just a car dealer

Article Snip: "...Consumers considering electric vehicles, solar panels or other home energy efficiency upgrades should do some tax planning before making big-ticket purchases ...Want that $7,500 EV tax break? Why buyers need to talk with an accountant and not just a car dealer /tt>"

Reference: www.marketwatch.com
Tesla, Tax Credit, EV tax break,Taxes in Retirement,

Which state is the worst to retire? You guessed it, California

Title: California ranked one of the worst places in US to retire, study says

Article Snip: "...Blacktower Financial Management Group ranked every state in the U.S. based on several factors, including cost of living, crime, and life expectancy. ..."

Reference:
Worst State to Retire (California),

Average Retirement Income 2022: How Do You Compare?

Title: Average Retirement Income 2022: How Do You Compare?

Article Snip: "...The numbers you will review below represent both mean (average) and median income. Median income is closer to the reality for most households of retirement age. ...Average Household Retirement Income 2022 is $...down from $56,632 in 2019..."

Reference: www.newretirement.com
Median vs Mean,Average Household Retirement Income 2022,

Oversight of Federal Employment, Retirement Issues Ahead

Title: Oversight of Federal Employment, Retirement Issues Ahead

Article Snip: "...“Republicans will return the Oversight Committee to its primary duty to root out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government and hold the Biden Administration accountable,” he said in a statement. Those priorities will include, he said, Biden family business dealings, immigration, the origins of Covid-19, the withdrawal from Afghanistan and how pandemic relief funds were spent. Not a word about federal employees and retirees, except indirectly in a reference to making the government “more efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable to the American people.”..."

Reference: www.fedweek.com
Biden family business dealings, Hold the Biden Administration accountable, Immigration ,retirees,

Here’s what Secure 2.0 means for you if you’re getting close to retirement

Title: Here’s what Secure 2.0 means for you if you’re getting close to retirement

Article Snip: "...Because there are more than 90 provisions in Secure 2.0, there are other changes that could impact your retirement planning. For instance, there are modifications related to annuities and qualified charitable distributions that may factor into how you plan financially for your retirement.  Additionally, if you’ve lost track of a retirement plan you had at a previous employer, be aware that Secure 2.0 directs the Labor Department to create, within two years, a national online, searchable “lost and found” database. ..."

Reference: www.cnbc.com

If I have retiree coverage through the FEHB, do I need to enroll in Medicare?

Title: If I have retiree coverage through the FEHB, do I need to enroll in Medicare?

Article Snip: "...Should I enroll in Part B if I have FEHB coverage? Deciding whether to enroll in Part B is complicated. And unlike Medicare Part A, all enrollees pay a premium for Medicare Part B ($171.10/month in 2022 for most people). While FEHB plans cover most of the same types of expenses that Medicare covers, FEHB plans’ coverage may be more limited than Medicare Part B when it comes to orthopedic and prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, home healthcare, medical supplies, and chiropractic care. Conversely, FEHB plans cover emergency care received outside the United States, and this isn’t covered by Original Medicare at all – and is rarely covered by Medicare Advantage. FEHB plans may also pay for vision and dental care that’s not covered by Original Medicare and is limited in Medicare Advantage. ..."

Reference: www.medicareresources.org
Medicare and FEHB,Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, FEHB plans, vision and dental care,

How Current and Future Federal Retirees Could Be Affected by the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

Title: How Current and Future Federal Retirees Could Be Affected by the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

Article Snip: "...Many health insurance professionals recommend that federal retirees enroll in both an FEHB health plan together and in the “original” Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B). In so doing, they will minimize -and for most federal retirees – eliminate any out-of-pocket medical expenses. This means no deductibles, no co-insurance, no co-payments. ..."

Reference: www.myfederalretirement.com
Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, Medicare Parts A and B, Original Medicare,

Retired Postal Worker’s Poem Reflects on Service with USPS

Title: Retired Postal Worker’s Poem Reflects on Service with USPS

Article Snip: "...In 1962, William Costello, the Superintendent of Mails for Willimantic, Connecticut, wrote the poem, “The Veteran Letter Carrier’s Farewell,” which marked the end of his 40 years of service with the Unities States Postal Service. ..."

Reference: www.danapointtimes.com
William Costello, Poet, ...a retired postal worker, 'The Veteran Letter Carrier’s Farewell',

People in their 60s and older play pickleball because they can

Title: People in their 60s and older play pickleball because they can

Article Snip: "...Pickleball is a low-impact sport that can be played by more people. You will regularly see people in their 60s and older play pickleball because they can. The court size is only 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, or about 1/4th the size of a tennis court. Hence, there is much less ground to cover. ..."

Reference: www.financialsamurai.com
Pickleball,Retirement Activities,Sports in Retirement,

Will Social Security be taxed when I retire?

Title: Will Social Security be taxed when I retire?

Article Snip: "...When you’re calculating taxes, you must include in income a portion of your Social Security benefits depending on your income, said Bernie Kiely, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant with Kiely Capital Management in Morristown. ...The `base amount’ for a single person is $25,000 and for a married couple filing jointly it is $32,000,” Kiely said."

Reference: www.nj.com
Social Security Benefits,Taxes on Social Security,

The Downsides of Retirement That Nobody Talks About

Title: The Downsides of Retirement That Nobody Talks About

Article Snip: "...The realities you face when you stop working might be a far cry from your retirement dream. Of course, retiring broke or not being able to retire at all are among the worst-case scenarios. Click through to find out 14 downsides of retiring that no one talks about, along with solutions to avoid each potential problem. ..."

Reference: www.gobankingrates.com
Downsides of Retirement

Average Social Security Benefit for 2023

Title: Average Social Security Benefit for 2023

Article Snip: "...Most seniors don't manage to score the highest possible Social Security benefit. In fact, it's estimated that the average monthly benefit in 2023 will be..."

Reference: www.nasdaq.com
Average Social Security Benefit for 2023

OPM Retirement Center

Title: OPM Retirement Center

Article Snip: "...OPM is here to help you transition from serving the American people to enjoying your retirement. These links are useful to new and existing retirees throughout their retirement journey...."

Reference: www.opm.gov
OPM Retirement Center

Genetic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity in Humans

Title: Genetic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity in Humans

Article Snip: "...Like most complex phenotypes, exceptional longevity is thought to reflect a combined influence of environmental (e.g., lifestyle choices, where we live) and genetic factors. To explore the genetic contribution, we undertook a genome-wide association study of exceptional longevity in 801 centenarians (median age at death 104 years) and 914 genetically matched healthy controls. Using these data, we built a genetic model that includes...and our findings suggest that different variants of these genes may have a protective role. The most intriguing examples are LMNA and WRN: while specific variants of these two genes determine progeria and accelerated aging, alternative variants may increase life span. "

Reference: nih.gov

Is longevity determined by genetics?

Title: Is longevity determined by genetics?

Article Snip: "The duration of human life (longevity) is influenced by genetics, the environment, and lifestyle. ...Now people in the United States live about 80 years on average, but some individuals survive for much longer. Scientists are studying people in their nineties (called nonagenarians) and hundreds (called centenarians, including semi-supercentenarians of ages 105-109 years and supercentenarians, ages 110+) to determine what contributes to their long lives. They have found...The study of longevity genes is a developing science. It is estimated that about 25 percent of the variation in human life span is determined by genetics, but which genes, and how they contribute to longevity, are not well understood. A few of the common variations (called polymorphisms) associated with long life spans are found in the APOE, FOXO3, and CETP genes"

Reference: medlineplus.gov

The Worst 11 Foods to Eat When You're Trying to Lose Visceral Fat, According to Dietitians and Doctors

Title: The Worst 11 Foods to Eat When You're Trying to Lose Visceral Fat, According to Dietitians and Doctors

Article Snip: "...foods high in carbohydrates like bread, cereals, and processed fats lead to an increase in visceral fat." Unlike subcutaneous fat that you pinch and feel, visceral fat is hidden deep in your abdomen and coils around your organs. It's been linked to some cancers, type 2 diabetes and more. "Too much visceral fat is unhealthy because of its location in relation to key organs...There's a number of ways to lose visceral fat like ..."

Reference: www.eatthis.com
Health,Diet,

Never Too Late: Building Muscle and Strength After 60

Title: Never Too Late: Building Muscle and Strength After 60

Article Snip: "Retirees, take note and flex that bicep...The UAB Center for Exercise Medicine at the University of Alabama has carried out many studies showing that people in their 60s and 70s, who were supervised in a weight-training program, were able to build muscle and strength. ..."

Reference: baptisthealth.net

Can you build muscle after 70 years old?

Title: Can you build muscle after 70 years old?

Article Snip: "...Seniors Can Still Bulk Up On Muscle By Pressing Iron Our muscle mass decreases at surprising rates as we get older. But researchers found that people older than 50 can not only maintain but actually increase their muscle mass by lifting weights. ...The muscle has to adapt to the damage and build itself up to be prepared for the next weightlifting assault. In this way, muscles build fiber and actually increase in size. ..."

Reference: www.npr.org

What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)

Title: What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)

Article Snip: "...CDC recommends that adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix, as they have a higher risk of getting shingles and related complications. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm. Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN..."

Reference: www.cdc.gov
CDC recommends,Shingles, Shingrix, recombinant zoster vaccine,

Why Does Shingles Lead to Stroke? Scientists Might Have an Answer

Title: Why Does Shingles Lead to Stroke? Scientists Might Have an Answer

Article Snip: "...According to recent research from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, scientists looking into why people who have had shingles are at a higher risk of stroke now believe the answer lies within lipid vesicles called exosomes that transport proteins and genetic information between cells. The study explores the mechanisms behind the connection between shingles and strokes and was recently published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. “Most people know about the painful rash associated with shingles, but they may not know that the risk of stroke is elevated for a year after infection..."

Reference: scitechdaily.com