By Mary Johnson, editor The announcement of the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the following year is like watching Charlie Brown trying to kick a football. Charlie Brown, our beloved cart ...
Author Archives: georgette
New Legislation Limits Stiff Increase Expected for 2021 Medicare Part B Premium
With Medicare outlays spiraling due to outlays for COVID-19, Congress recently passed legislation to head off an expected Part B premium spike, by restricting the increase for 2021. TSCL has been warning about the poten ...
Social Security Announces 1.3% COLA For 2021, One of Lowest Ever Paid
Social Security recipients will receive an annual inflation boost of just 1.3% in 2021. The increase is so small, it’s one of the lowest on record. The 2021 cost of living adjustment (COLA) will increase the average re ...
Q & A: September 2020
Why Did Dad Get a Bill for $2,944 After Hospitalization for COVID-19? Q: Why did Dad get a bill for $2,944 after his recent hospitalization due to COVID-19? I thought emergency legislation required coronavirus care ...
Ask the Advisor: September 2020
How Would a Payroll Tax Cut Impact Social Security Benefits? Q: How would President Trump’s Executive Order cutting payroll taxes affect Social Security? I recall, there was a payroll tax cut in the stimulus package ...
Best Ways to Save: September 2020
With Mortgage Rates So Low, Is Now a Good Time For Retired Homeowners To Refinance? The coronavirus has caused a dramatic decline in home mortgage rates, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good time for everyon ...
Legislative Update: September 2020
There’s A Simple Way to Prevent a Medicare Premium Spike — Provide An Emergency COLA By Shannon Benton, Executive Director Once again, retirees are likely to receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) t ...
Benefit Bulletin: September 2020
Low-Income Health Programs, Working and Laid Off Workers Take the Biggest Hit When Medicare Part B Premiums Spike By Rick Delaney, Chairman of the Board In years when there has been no, or almost no cost-of-living ...
An Emergency 2.5% COLA Could Add $5,000 To Your Social Security Income Over the First Ten Years
By Mary Johnson, editor Use of a consumer price index (CPI) that does not reflect the costs experienced by retirees to calculate the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) suppresses the amount of lifetime Social Sec ...
Low COLA & COVID-19 Costs Could Trigger A Medicare Premium Spike
When the Social Security Administration announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2016 would be zero, a stunning thing occurred. The Medicare Trustees projected that the monthly Part B premium would increa ...