MAC: Social Security Changes

Did you know …

Social Security beneficiaries are getting a 1.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), starting with their January 2020 benefits payment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that the average benefit paid to all retired workers will increase from $1,461 to $1,485 per month. The average beneficiary will see a jump of approximately $24 per month, or $280 for the year. Unfortunately, most of that increase will be deducted as Medicare medical insurance this coming year will increase from $134 to $145 per month. Believe it or not, MAC got all of $1 for his 2020 cost-of-living increase.

The maximum monthly benefit will also rise. A single recipient can get as much is $3,011 per month in 2020, up from $2,861 per month.

According to the AAA Bulletin, if you have begun receiving benefits but you won’t reach the full retirement age of 66 until 2021 or later, you will be able to earn more in 2020 before one dollar is deducted for every two you earn. The new limit is $18,240. If you will turn 66 in 2020, you will be able to earn $48,600 before the agency deducts $1 for every $3 you earn until you reach full retirement age. Some of those paying into the system will pay more. Workers pay 6.2 percent of their earnings to fund Social Security. In 2019, that was capped at the first $132,900 earned. That cap will rise to $137,700.

How much you have to earn to gain a Social Security “credit” edges up from $1,360 per three-month quarter to $1,410. In most cases, to qualify for benefits, you will need a minimum of 40 credits, or 10 years’ worth.

Those on supplemental Social Security income, a federal program that aids the aged, blind, and people with disabilities who have little to no income, will see a rise in their benefit from $771 a month to $783. The amount for couples rises from $1,157 to $1,175.

Verizon telephone poles are in the process of being checked for quality and safety by Verizon subcontractors who dig around the pole and drill holes into the pole to detect decay or degeneration. They then fill in the holes with a plastic substance or rubber plugs. A number of telephone poles have been found that need to be replaced or reinforced.

Five Canton musicians played in the Brockton Symphony Orchestra during the past holiday season. They include Grace-Mary Burega (bass clarinet), Susan Caplan (flute piccolo), Irene Kelley (violin), Wayne King (trumpet), and Jonathan So (violin).

The Battle of the Bulge, the Nazis’ last-ditch effort in World War II, lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. In the Boston Globe’s December 8, 2019 issue, a number of veterans from that battle were interviewed. One of them was Joseph Slavet, 99, who now lives at Orchard Cove in Canton.

In that same December 8 issue of the Boston Globe, the Metro section had a story titled “A Wish Granted” about Rose Gefteas, the 18-year-old daughter of Cantonites Stephen and Gail Gefteas, on her quest to be pain-free from pancreatitis disease. Her wish came true thanks to the medical team at the University of Minnesota Medical Center led by Dr. Melena Bellin. Rose’s story was previously highlighted in a February 2019 edition of the Canton Citizen.

Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird on Sesame Street from 1969 to 2018, recently died at the age of 85. Spinney also played Oscar the Grouch. Oscar and Big Bird were two of the most popular characters on Sesame Street.

The amount of red meat consumed by the average American each year is 109 pounds.

According to the Board of Selectmen, Jill Hayes donated $2,500 to the Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) Serenity Garden to be installed at Pequitside Farm on Pleasant Street.

Edward Zuker of Chestnut Hill Realty donated $1,000 to the Canton Police Department.

On September 9, 1960, the Denver Broncos beat the Boston Patriots 13-10 in the very first American Football League game.

Not many people have ever heard of George Laurer, who recently died at the age of 94, but every day we see what George developed. George designed and developed the ubiquitous vertically striped barcode that appears on billions of items, helping to speed up checkout lines at supermarkets, airlines, for parcel deliveries, at the post office, hospitals, and for hundreds of other trackable items. George will be remembered for the barcode, the original 11-digit formula, six identifying the manufacturer and five for the product, and one digit was added later as a check.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.  –Confucius

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jan 18 2020. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.