When should you claim your Social Security benefits?
The best time to claim your Social Security benefit depends on your individual situation but for the majority of Americans, waiting until normal retirement age is a smart move. According to a recent NPR story, avoiding the temptation to start…
Social Security benefits fail to cover basic expenses for elders
The Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies released a report on the The National Economic Security Standard Index. According to the report, in no state does the average Social Security…
Annuities: seniors targeted by insurance companies
Insurance companies and financial institutions are targeting seniors in an effort to sell annuities. Annuities promise guaranteed payouts but seniors should be cautious of the fees and obligations involved. According to a recent NPR story, Annuities Explained: The Choices And…
california grandparents caring for their grandchildren more likely to live in poverty than other adults
According to recent studies by Child Trends, the national number of children living in a grandparent’s household rose from 4.6 million in 2005-2007, to 5.2 million in 2008-2010. Among all grandparent caregivers, the rate of poverty in 2008-2010 was twice…
most older adults receive ineffective depression care
According to a study released by the John A. Hartford Foundation, “Silver and Blue – The Unfinished Business of Mental Health Care for Older Adults,” most older adults receive ineffective depression care and are not aware of the health risks associated…
SSA Announces 35 New Compassionate Allowances Conditions for Disability Benefits
Effective December 1, 2012, 35 additional conditions were added to the Social Security Administration’s list of Compassionate Allowances. Bringing the total number of conditions to 200, these additions include Sinonasal Cancer, Fatal Familial Insomnia, Aplastic Anemia, Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and…
Decrease in number of Seniors Living Below Poverty Level
According to a recent report, Older Americans 2012: Key Indicators of Well-Being, cited by NPR, the number of seniors living below the poverty level has decreased from 35% in 1959 to 9% in 2010. In 2010, senior women (11%) are more…
Few Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Choose Cheapest Plan
According to a recent Health Affairs report, only 5.2% of beneficiaries choose the cheapest plan that meets their medication needs. Using 2009 Part D data, the report found that beneficiaries spend on average $368 more a year than they would spend had…
Bill extends Tenant Protections to survivors of Elder abuse
A new bill expands existing laws that protect domestic violence survivors to survivors of elder abuse. Existing law prohibits a landlord from evicting a tenant based upon an act of domestic violence. The bill expands that protection to survivors of elder…
Veterans Benefits Administration Releases Pension Fact Sheet
The Veterans Benefits Administration released a new fact sheet that provides eligibility criteria for the different types of veteran pension benefits. Many veterans are not aware of the benefits that they may be eligible for. According to a recent New…